Chapter 2On the anniversary day, after my girlfriend missed the date and went to be with first love, I saw a pregnancy test form

"Of course, I've been holding one for you. I'm glad you've finally decided. I've been waiting for your call these past few days," my mentor said cheerfully.

The year I graduated, he invited me to join an international project. I had heard of it and was interested, but I stayed because of Lydia.

I remember how disappointed he was, talking to me privately several times to focus on my career, but I didn't listen.

Fortunately, the opportunity was still there.

After a few more words with him, setting a time, I left the bedroom.

I planned to find my passport but saw a delicate gift box on the table.

I knew it was another gift from Lydia.

I opened a drawer beside it, revealing neatly arranged ties, perfumes, and designer watches.

All gifts Lydia bought out of guilt after seeing Jasper Grey.

It started on my birthday when she went to pick up Jasper Grey from the airport and shopped for him but bought me the same gift. I was so happy that night, I didn't even question why she missed my birthday.

Later, she repeated this trick.

Seeing my emotions stabilize, she seemed to understand something. After every meeting with Jasper Grey, she'd bring me a gift.

She thought I liked the presents, but she didn't know it comforted me that she still cared about me.

So no matter how Jasper Grey provoked me, I convinced myself that no matter how much Lydia interacted with him, the past was the past, and I was still the most important to her.

But today's pregnancy test brought me back to reality.

Whether Lydia loved someone or not didn't matter anymore.

What mattered was her endless cover-ups, making me realize this pregnancy test could become real one day.

I didn't open the latest gift from Lydia, placing it with the others.

After some thought, I put a bank card inside.

It's what I owe Lydia.

In college, with my family struggling, she'd find ways to give me money under the guise of needing tutoring.

When I was hospitalized, and my family didn't care, she didn't hesitate to steal a large sum of money from home to pay my medical bills and got scolded for it.

I learned about this from others.

She saved my life, so I let her do as she pleased.

She wanted me to stay, so I gave up the chance to go abroad. She said her health was poor and needed care, so I gave up a high-paying job to take care of her.

Even so, I still felt indebted to her.

In my spare time, I worked part-time jobs.

In seven years, I saved exactly 200,080, the same amount as the surgery cost.

Maybe fate thought we should settle things.

After packing, Jasper Grey sent me a message.

I opened it to see a selfie of him and Lydia showing peace signs, with Lydia smiling in his arms, looking very intimate.

Then he sent an emoji.

A green hat.

The meaning was clear.

I ignored it. Ten minutes later, Jasper Grey sent another message.

"Sorry, wrong send, Finn. I didn't mean anything by it, don't overthink."

I knew he was provoking me on purpose.

But since Lydia and I broke up, whose green hat it was wasn't clear.

I forwarded the last message back to Jasper Grey.

Less than a minute later, Lydia called.

I didn't hesitate to decline it.

I knew Jasper Grey was stirring things up again.

It's a green hat.

The implication is clear.

I ignored it, but ten minutes later, Jude sent another message.

"Sorry, sent it to the wrong person. Callum, I didn't mean anything by it, don't overthink."

I knew he was deliberately trying to provoke me.

Since Lydia and I had already broken up, it wasn't clear who exactly was being unfaithful.

I forwarded the last message back to Jude.

Less than a minute later, Lydia called.

I didn't hesitate to hang up.

I knew Jude was stirring up trouble again.

It was always the same. He would provoke me, then act innocent, while Lydia would blame me and mock my sensitivity.

It seemed like every time we argued, I was always the one at fault.

After packing my things, I left with my suitcase.

I went to a hotel to check in, but when I tried to pay, the receptionist told me my card was frozen.

I was momentarily stunned and checked my phone, only to see a message from Lydia.

"Regretting it? This is your punishment for not answering my call."

Lydia had set up the card for me. She had convinced me to quit my job to take care of her, and to compensate, she deposited two thousand bucks a month for my living expenses.

It was my only source of income.

I knew she was using this to force me to apologize to Jude.

The receptionist handed back the card, suggesting I use another card or pay in cash.

But all my money was on that card. I never thought things with Lydia would reach this point, so I hadn't made any backup plans.

Seeing my hesitation, the receptionist looked at me with disdain and impatiently asked if I still wanted the room.

"Sorry, could I use this as collateral?"

I took off the ring and handed it to the receptionist.

It was custom-made for our second anniversary. I had designed it, and when she first got it, she wore it all the time.

But after Jude returned from abroad, her ring disappeared.

I had asked her about it, and she casually replied, "Maybe I lost it."

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but laugh.

The rings were a pair, and if hers was already lost, why should I cherish mine?

The receptionist examined the ring for a moment, then handed me a room key, muttering, "A grown man doesn't even have a few hundred bucks and needs to pawn things?"

I felt embarrassed and apologized awkwardly, then took my luggage into the hotel.

With my card frozen, even tomorrow's meals were uncertain, let alone a plane ticket.

After thinking for a few minutes, I called a few friends, hoping to borrow some money.

But when I called, they either made excuses or were evasive.

Then, I got another call from Lydia.

After a moment of thought, I answered.

"Callum, what's your problem?"

"I froze your bank card, and now you're trying to scam money off others?"

"Your friends just called me, asking if I'm going bankrupt?"

As soon as the call connected, Lydia started berating me.

I didn't explain. When she finished, I calmly said, "Unfreeze the card. The money is mine, and you have no right to touch it."

"What did you say?"

Lydia sounded incredulous.

I knew what she was thinking.

In the past, whenever she confronted me, I'd either defend myself or apologize to avoid conflict.

This was the first time I spoke to her with such authority.

"I've been taking care of you all these years. Even a nanny gets paid."

"We've broken up. Consider the money my wages. You have no right to touch it."

I stated clearly.

"Break up?" Lydia sneered. "Callum, haven't you had enough?"

"You've tried breaking up with me twice. Do you think I won't do it?"

"I suggest you think it through. You have nothing now. What can you do after breaking up with me? Who would want you?"

"You want to split hairs over money, so should I return everything I gave you?"

"They're already in the drawer in the living room. You can go check." I felt a chill in my heart. After thinking it over, I softly said to her, "I've decided to leave. Before I go, we..."

Before I could finish, I heard Jude's laughter.

"Callum is so amusing. I really thought he was breaking up just now. I got a bit nervous, but it turns out he's just trying to get you home."

"Lydia, maybe you should go back. I don't want you two to quarrel over me."

Lydia scoffed softly, seemingly responding to Jude, "Don't worry about him."

Then she sighed and said to me, "Callum, I see through your tricks. Stop it, it's boring."

"You're just worried about something between Jude and me? I'll be honest, he's not feeling well lately, and I'm taking care of him. I'll return when he's better."

"Stop being jealous, will you?"

"I was going to unfreeze the card, but your earlier words upset me, so I've decided to wait three days. Think of it as a lesson."

Without waiting for my response, Lydia hung up.

Before the call disconnected, I heard her and Callum laughing.

I didn't care. I had to leave the day after tomorrow, and three days would be too late.

Since I couldn't get the money from Lydia, I had no more hope.

After thinking it over, I decided to get a part-time job.

That night, I worked as a waiter at a karaoke bar, earning five hundred bucks.

By the time I returned to the hotel with the money, it was morning. I was exhausted, but holding the cash gave me a rare sense of peace.

Feelings may change, but money will never betray you.

It's a pity I realized this so late, but at least it's not too late.

I slept until noon. When I woke up and checked my phone, there were only a few spam messages.

Lydia was afraid of the dark. When I wasn't home, she'd call and message me constantly, but now she hadn't contacted me, likely not returning home all night.

But I didn't care anymore.

That night, I went to work as usual.

Even through the thick doors, the noise from the private room was loud.

Lydia often visited places like this, but I didn't like them.

One night, Lydia sent me a distress message from a karaoke bar. I rushed over in my sleepwear without changing, only to find Jude and her friends laughing at me when I opened the door.

It turned out they were playing truth or dare.

I was sweaty, in pajamas, and wearing flip-flops, starkly different from Jude in his suit.

Lydia's friends ridiculed me, and Lydia coldly blamed me for embarrassing her.

Since then, I've had a strong aversion to such places.

However, knowing I was leaving, I felt surprisingly calm.

But some things were still unexpected.

At midnight, the manager asked me to deliver wine to a VIP room, repeatedly reminding me it was a big client. I agreed without much thought.

As soon as I entered, I heard a burst of cheering.

Instinctively, I turned my head and saw Lydia and Jude surrounded on the sofa.

The two of them were facing each other closely, playing a game where they both ate an apple. Their lips nearly touched.

The atmosphere was charged with tension.

"Kiss, kiss."

Someone cheered, and Lydia's face turned red.

"Time's up, you two were too slow. There's a penalty."

"How should they be punished? Let's have the wine guy decide."

Someone pointed at me with a smile.

Everyone's eyes turned to me, Lydia included. Her smile froze when she saw me.

Jude also recognized me, a flicker of disdain crossing his eyes before he quickly recovered and smiled.

"Hey, isn't this Callum? Why are you in a waiter's outfit?"

Lydia's friends also laughed mockingly.

"Lydia, what's going on? How could you let your boyfriend work here?"

They exchanged knowing glances and offered to order drinks to help me earn commission.

I knew they intended to humiliate me.

They never approved of me, thinking I was beneath Lydia.

Despite my efforts over the years to prove myself and help them with problems, nothing changed.

In the past, I might have felt hurt and disappointed.

But now, I was unexpectedly calm.

Their attitudes were ultimately because of Lydia.

Since Lydia no longer mattered to me, why should their opinions?

I politely recommended drinks to them, suggesting several expensive options, and then asked, "These drinks are sold by the dozen. How many would you like?"

They were stunned, not expecting me to be so bold. They were left speechless.

In the past, I would have felt hurt and let down.

But now, surprisingly, I feel at peace.

Their attitude towards me ultimately stems from Lydia Bennett.

Since Lydia is no longer significant to me, what does their opinion mean?

I immediately and politely suggested some drinks to them, highlighting several high-priced options before smiling as I asked, "These are sold in sets of twelve bottles. How many would you like?"

They stood there, caught off guard by my boldness, momentarily speechless.

"If that's too much, you might not finish it all. How about 24 bottles?" I suggested kindly. "That'll be 160,000. Could one of you please proceed to the front desk to pay?"

With that, I turned away, ignoring their embarrassed faces, and prepared to leave.

Just as I reached the door, Lydia Bennett caught up to me, her expression dark as she sharply questioned me.

"Callum, are you done causing a scene? Why did you follow me here?"

I calmly replied, "I'm not following you. I'm here to earn a living."

Lydia clearly wasn't convinced, her tone becoming sharper. "Does our family need you to make money? Even if I cut off your card, selling just one or two of those gifts would support you for a year."

Not bothering to explain further, I nodded.

"You're right."

I thought Lydia would be satisfied, but her expression only worsened.

Before she could say more, Ethan Quinn interjected.

"Lydia, since Callum is already here, don't rush him off. Let's have a few drinks together."

I assumed Lydia would, as usual, refuse to let me stay, and I was ready to decline. But to my surprise, Lydia said, "You stay here for now. We'll go home later."

I was a bit taken aback—she was always quick to dismiss me when we were out.

And now she wants me to stay with her?

Before I could ponder further, Ethan suddenly clutched his head, saying, "Lydia, my stomach suddenly hurts."

"What happened? Is it acting up again? I'll take you to the hospital."

Lydia hurried back to Ethan's side, her eyes filled with concern.

She never seemed this worried when I was sick with a high fever.

Seeing her concerned gaze, I smiled with a sense of acceptance.

"I'm leaving. You guys take care."

"Wait," Lydia suddenly called out to me.

I turned back, puzzled, only to see her with an odd look in her eyes as she fiddled with her phone.

"The card is unfrozen. Take a cab home."

"Wait for me at home; I have something to tell you."

This was the first time she thought of me while with Ethan. In the past, I would have been thrilled.

I responded half-heartedly and left.

The commission from the drinks was enough for me to buy a plane ticket. After booking the earliest flight, I returned to the hotel, grabbed my suitcase, and took a cab to the airport.

As I boarded the plane, I couldn't help but look back at this familiar yet unfamiliar city.

I knew this was truly goodbye to Lydia.

——VIP——