Chapter 4

On the way home, Cyril and Trisha sat in silence. After a long pause, Cyril finally explained in a hoarse voice, "Today is Anna's birthday. When she was little, she was caught in a stampede at school. It left her with deep psychological trauma. I didn't mean to leave you behind. I was going to get her to safety first, then come back for you." After four years together, Trisha had grown used to his cold remarks and constant needling, so hearing him awkwardly trying to explain himself now felt almost foreign. And as for why he ignored her plea for help, it was simple—to him, Anna had always mattered more. She understood that. Besides, she was leaving soon, and none of this would matter anymore. She gave a small nod. "Got it. No need to explain so much. Otherwise, I might actually start thinking you've really fallen for me." Cyril's expression darkened instantly, and his tone snapped back to that familiar iciness. "I just felt I failed in my duty as your fiancé. It has nothing to do with love." Duty? Trisha exhaled softly. Very soon, this transaction would come to an end. The duty he carried, the shackles wrapped around her heart—all of it would finally be lifted. Back home, Cyril brought out the first aid kit and began tending to her wounds. Perhaps worried about hurting her, his movements were unusually gentle. This unexpected tenderness surprised Trisha. But before long, his phone rang. When he saw it was Anna calling, he immediately answered and stood up. "You kept hearing footsteps outside your door? Lock it. Don't worry—I'll have someone look into it," he coaxed. Trisha caught a glimpse of the caller ID, and her eyelashes fluttered slightly. When he hung up and didn't leave, instead picking a cotton swab again, she couldn't help but ask, "Your precious Anna is being harassed. Aren't you going to check on her yourself?" Cyril's hand paused. "Didn't we have an agreement? If we've made plans—whether going out together or staying in—I'm not allowed to leave you behind for someone else." So that was why he stayed—because of the terms they had agreed on. Trisha rubbed the bridge of her nose, then waved him off. "Given how dangerous it sounds, you should go check on her today. Consider this a one-time exception," she said wearily. In the past, she wouldn't have allowed him to leave even if Anna's house flooded at midnight. Yet now, she was actually letting him go to her? Cyril was deeply stunned. Something about Trisha felt off, and he wanted to get to the bottom of it. "Why?" he asked. "Aren't your mother, your sister, and your precious Anna the three most important people in your life? If anything happened to them, you would never forgive yourself, right? I'm just being nice. It's up to you whether you go or not." After hearing her languid tone, Cyril froze, and his gaze turned complicated as he looked at her. Still, he didn't deny it. After quickly composing himself, he grabbed the keys and went out the door. He didn't come back that night. Trisha didn't ask where he went. She just treated her wounds and went to bed. The next day, she packed all her belongings and arranged for them to be shipped to Elarin. In the process, she came across many of the couple items they had bought during their relationship, the various gifts she had given him, and even the photos she had forced him to take with her. She threw them all away without a second thought. On the third day, she met up with a few friends at a bar. Tipsy and disoriented, she couldn't find their private room. She stumbled up and down the stairs, searching the area several times. Then, outside a private room on the first floor, she suddenly heard a familiar name. "Cyril, are you really going to ditch the wedding for Anna? We've all seen how much Trisha cared for you over the years. Are you really seriously going to throw away everything for one person?" "Trisha's not a bad person, but her spoiled princess attitude is too much. If Cyril really marries her, he'll be pussy-whipped for life. Personally, I say screw the wedding. Give her a little scare—knock her down a peg or two." "I'm with you. She's so in love with you, it's like it's in her bones. She spends money on you like it's nothing, and even went against her family to propose to you. It's clear she's determined to marry only you. "Even if you stand her up, she'll come crawling back to apologize. At that point, you can just play along and give her a way out. That way, you won't have to keep treating her like some kind of queen." Amid the chatter, Cyril sipped his drink in silence. Because he didn't speak, the others couldn't tell what he was really thinking. They started probing again. "Come on, Cyril. What are you really thinking? If you're really skipping out on the wedding, we'll bring a video camera to record the chaos." "Yeah, seriously, say something. Why are you hesitating? Don't tell me you've actually fallen for her. If that's the case, just go through with the wedding." Through the half-open door, Trisha saw Cyril's frosty expression. "Fallen for her? How could anyone possibly love someone who forced them into a relationship from the start? All I've ever felt for Trisha is disgust," he coldly said.