Chapter 1

• I waited for Rhys for five years. He always said he would marry me after sorting out the company.
• For this, I gave up my opportunity to study abroad and used all my savings to fill any financial gaps in the startup.
• On the day the company went public, I dressed up and watched him come towards me.
• I clenched the engagement ring box in my hand, about to speak.
• But he lowered his head, his voice hoarse: "I'm sorry."
• "Lilian has returned to the country, bringing our... eight-year-old son with her. She has been too hard on her own these years, I can't let her wait any longer."
• My voice trembled a bit: "I have to have surgery tomorrow, it might..."
• He interrupted me, his tone gentle but non-negotiable: "Don't be silly, Selene, I will help you hire a caregiver."
• With that, he hurried towards Lilian standing at the other end.
• I stood still, taking out from my pocket the surgery risk form marked "critical risk".
• Then slowly crossed him out from the emergency contact list.
• I forced myself to go back home.
• Looking around, every corner still shined with memories of Rhys and me over the past five years.
• He didn't come back all night, I didn't sleep all night.
• My tears had dried up long ago, leaving only a numb kind of wakefulness.
• As dawn approached, I threw away the carefully selected engagement ring into the sewer and burned the pre-wedding photos.
• Suddenly, my phone screen lit up, it was a Facebook post from Rhys. I had his notifications on.
• In the video, fireworks bloomed brilliantly in the night sky, forming the words "Hope Milo is safe and happy"
• The camera turned to show Rhys holding the boy, Lilian leaning against him, the three smiling at the camera.
• I stared at the words, my nails deeply pinching into my palm.
• Safe...
• How I wish I could be safe too.
• Just then, Rhys's call came in.
• "Selene," his voice sounded tired: "You said you were going to have surgery yesterday, is it serious?"
• "Liver cancer, tumor removal tomorrow." I paused, "The surgery risk is very high."
• "How is that possible?" His voice suddenly raised, incredulous: "Selene, I still have your medical report from last year, I've looked at the liver function page three times, everything was normal."
• I couldn't help but clench my fist. So he remembered the details of the medical report, but he didn't remember me saying I was tired last month, he didn't remember me curling up in bed in a cold sweat in the middle of the night in pain, he didn't remember me suddenly losing a lot of hair.
• Seeing that I didn't speak, he softened his tone, "Selene, I know you're angry, but there's no need to lie to me... Milo has always been weak since he was a child, with poor immunity. He's been coughing and running a fever these days, and he has to go for a check-up early tomorrow. I really can't focus on anything else."
• He paused, as if convinced of his own judgment, with a hint of helplessness in his voice, "I know you must feel uncomfortable seeing Lilian and Milo. It's my fault for not explaining it to you earlier, but you can't use this method to get my attention."
• I sarcastically curled my lips, "Rhys, I didn't lie to you."
• Suddenly, a soft voice came from the phone, "Rhys, Milo wants you to play Lego with him."
• Rhys's tone immediately became extremely gentle, "Okay, I'll be there soon, buddy."
• Then he said to me, "Selene, I'll come see you after I accompany Milo for the check-up tomorrow. Don't be mad, okay?"
• I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, "Rhys, let's break up."
• "Don't talk nonsense!" His voice sounded panicked, "I'll come see you after Milo's check-up tomorrow, and we'll talk things out. I love you, Selene, you know..."
• I didn't wait for him to finish and hung up the phone, then proceeded to block and delete all of his contact information.