Chapter 3Decade-Long Love, One-Day Betrayal

When I pushed open the door to our apartment, an unfamiliar perfume filled the air.

Chloe lay on the leather couch, wearing the expensive face mask Gaylen had given *me*.

Seeing me, she arrogantly lifted her head, flashing the pigeon-egg diamond ring on her ring finger.

"Gaylen gave me this. Pretty, right?"

"He also said that once he's firmly seated as CEO, he'll kick you to the curb and marry me, you know."

A dull ache throbbed in my lower abdomen, and a warm liquid trickled down my legs.

The bathroom door opened, steam swirling out.

Gaylen emerged shirtless, several crimson scratch marks across his chest.

In the trash can, there were used condoms.

Everything screamed that Gaylen had been loving another woman in *our* home.

The blood under me plopped onto the floor.

Chloe clutched her nose in disgust, scrambling to Gaylen's side.

"Gaylen, do older women just get dirty now?"

"The air is full of blood; it's making me sick."

She faked a gag.

Gaylen, however, merely frowned deeply and made a quick phone call.

The cleaner arrived promptly.

She cleaned every nook and cranny of the apartment.

But the blood between my legs just kept flowing.

Gaylen used to be so incredibly attentive; he knew my cycle dates without fail.

When I was younger, I didn't take care of myself, which led to irregular periods.

Gaylen had insisted on me taking supplements for two years, and he'd practically memorized my monthly cycle.

He would have just needed to glance at the period tracking chart on the fridge.

He would have known something was wrong.

The cleaner, looking at the blood beneath me, worriedly advised,

"Miss, are you feeling unwell?"

Gaylen glanced at me, his lips parting.

But before he could speak, Chloe sagged weakly into his arms.

"Gaylen, you were so rough just now."

"My back hurts, and I can't stand straight. Carry me to the bedroom, please."

Gaylen pulled his gaze away, and as he brushed past me, he muttered an annoyed reminder.

"Older people should definitely pay more attention to personal hygiene."

"You should probably stay somewhere else tonight."

He handed me a hotel keycard.

I suddenly remembered the first time I met Gaylen; he was huddled under a freeway overpass.

His shirt was drenched, caked in mud.

I handed him a keycard, just like this, for a suite at the hotel I frequented, telling him to go take a hot shower.

The fragile, helpless boy I had nurtured and guided had slowly grown into someone capable of standing on his own.

Even, someone who was now my equal.

My hands and feet were icy cold. I took the keycard Gaylen handed me.

He looked surprised.

"You're actually agreeing to move out?"

I gave Gaylen a heartbreaking look, but said nothing.

I just numbly packed my bags and slammed the door shut.

My chest ached with a dense, suffocating pain. I sat in my car, finally unable to control my emotions, and burst into uncontrollable sobs.

The next day at the office, everyone's eyes held a mocking glint.

In the breakroom, Chloe was the center of attention, surrounded by younger girls like she was royalty.

"Chloe, did Gaylen pursue you?"

"When you become the CEO's wife, please don't forget to promote us!"

Chloe shot a triumphant glance at me, standing outside the door, preening like a peacock.

"Of course Gaylen pursued me! After all, I'm young and pretty, unlike some people who are old and unwanted."

"And shamelessly chase after someone else's boyfriend."