Chapter 2

When morning came, Stefan, as usual, gave Alyssa a good morning kiss. "Lyssa, I missed our wedding anniversary yesterday. How about I make it up to you today? Let's go to the amusement park. You wanted to go to one, didn't you?" Alyssa wasn't interested and was about to refuse, but he had already started preparing everything for the outing. He even picked out clothes for her to wear. After they arrived at the amusement park, Stefan paid her constant attention. The moment Alyssa pursed her lips slightly, he thoughtfully brought water to her mouth without delay. If she glanced at a stuffed toy for even a second longer, he bought it for her on the spot. Carousel rides, bumper cars, Ferris wheels… Stefan didn't care how childish the activities might seem; as long as Alyssa enjoyed them, he was willing to join her. He held her hand almost the entire time, refusing to let go. Even when she resisted and tried to pull away, he would clasp her hand firmly. At the end of the day, he bought a balloon and tied it to her bag, smiling as he said, "Lyssa, this way, I will never lose you." Never lose her, huh? But Alyssa was planning to go to a place where Stefan would never find her. "Stefan, you've already lost me a long time ago," she thought to herself. The beautiful couple looked so affectionate that they caught the attention of many visitors at the amusement park. Before long, someone recognized them. "Look, that's Mr. and Mrs. Splenstone! I can't believe we're seeing them in person! They're so sweet!" A young woman excitedly jumped in place and pulled her boyfriend toward Alyssa. "Um… Can we take a photo with you? We're huge fans of yours!" Seeing how enthusiastic the woman was, Alyssa agreed to the request as she didn't want to let her down. While Stefan wasn't fond of taking photos, he cooperated for Alyssa's sake. With a click of the camera, the photo was taken, and the young couple beamed with excitement. "You two are such a perfect match. I'm so envious. Please, stay happy together forever!" Stefan smiled gently and nodded. But what he failed to notice was that Alyssa, standing silently by his side, never said a word. She alone knew that they didn't have a future together. As they ate during their lunch break, Stefan kept glancing at his phone repeatedly. Noticing Alyssa's gaze, he quickly apologized with a look of guilt. "Lyssa, I'm sorry, I have some urgent work to handle. Be good and eat first. I'll focus on spending time with you in a bit, okay?" However, in the very next moment, a notification popped up on his screen. It was a "Luxury Castle" gift from a live-streaming platform. Stefan was lying. He wasn't working—he was watching a live stream. Alyssa's lips curled into a sarcastic smirk as she silently opened Juliette's live stream on her own phone. Juliette Landon was a small-time influencer. However, not long ago, Stefan had signed her to his company and even made her the spokesperson for "Love, Lys". Speculation swirled among the public. How could someone like Juliette land such an enviable opportunity? Many wondered if someone powerful was backing her. What they didn't know was that the person supporting her was none other than Stefan. At that moment, Juliette stood at the amusement park entrance, streaming live. Holding her phone, she flaunted to her viewers, "Look, everyone! This amusement park was a gift from my boyfriend. You even get a discount if you mention my name at the entrance. Come and have fun!" Alyssa's hand, clutching her phone, turned cold and stiff at those words. The amusement park Stefan had brought her to today… was a gift for Juliette. The comment section was flooded with skepticism. "Stop bluffing. How could a small-time influencer bag such a wealthy benefactor?" "You're just clout chasing. Without proof, I could also claim the park's mine while standing at its gates." "You're out of your mind if you think anyone would believe you. You do know this park is worth billions, don't you?" Aggrieved, Juliette bit her lip. "I'm not lying! Look, my name is on this, no?" As she spoke, she pulled out a property deed from her bag. In black and white, Juliette's name was clearly written on the document. Comments flooded the screen of the live stream instantly as viewers expressed their astonishment. "I was ignorant, alright? So this is what a big shot looks like." "Giving away an amusement park? This level of spoiling is on par with the legendary Mr. Splenstone and his undying love for Mrs. Splenstone!" "They say a man would only spend on where his heart is. Why can't I meet a dream guy like this?" "Because there are only two dream guys in the world. One is Mr. Splenstone, and the other is Juliette's mysterious boyfriend. Let's vote! Who do you think loves their partner more—Mr. Splenstone for Mrs. Splenstone or Juliette's boyfriend for Juliette? Type 1 for the former, 2 for the latter." The screen was flooded with "1" votes. After all, Stefan's devotion to his wife was legendary—he had not only spent a fortune but nearly sacrificed his life for her. Just then, an account named Dear Julie suddenly appeared and sent a wave of 10,000 Yacht gifts in one go. The dazzling effects filled the entire screen, leaving everyone dumbfounded. The live stream's viewership skyrocketed from hundreds of thousands to over ten million in an instant. Soon after, a message appeared on the screen. "Of course, I love Julie more." Chaos erupted as the viewers spammed the comments, expressing their awe. "The rich man himself has shown up!" Juliette smiled triumphantly, her eyes filled with the arrogance of someone thoroughly spoiled. "See? I told you all; my boyfriend loves me." Alyssa's hand trembled as she clutched her phone, her grip tightening with every second. When she looked up again, she caught sight of Stefan's faintly curled lips, his eyes brimming with adoration. He was "Dear Julie". It felt as if Alyssa's heart had been wrenched with all the force in the world. Even though the grip was gone now, the lingering pain refused to subside.