Chapter 2My Vampire Fiance Abandoned Me for a Human Girl，So I Married His Brother

Elena's POV

The next day, I went to the Elder Council as usual to sit in on their daily session.

News of what had happened at last night's birthday banquet had already spread throughout vampire society.

The moment I stepped into the council hall, I felt the piercing stares from every direction.

Some offered sympathy. Some sighed with regret. Others made no effort to hide the fact that they were waiting for more entertainment.

"I heard Prince Adrian left again last night for that human girl."

"How many more times is their engagement going to be postponed?"

"The Valerie girl really can endure."

"Her Fiancé walks out on her in front of everyone, and she actually pretends nothing happened."

The whispers were kept low, but every word reached my ears clearly enough.

In the past, moments like these would have made me feel ashamed. I would instinctively make excuses for Adrian.

Vicky's parents had died protecting him from silver bullets.

It was only right that he couldn't let go of that guilt.

I would even think that those vampire nobles simply didn't understand what he was carrying.

But after last night, I suddenly didn't want to make excuses for him anymore.

They were right.

At my coming-of-age ceremony, he left halfway through to comfort Vicky after a nightmare.

At a family banquet, she suddenly fell ill, and he didn't come back all night.

At our first engagement ceremony, Vicky ran out of the estate, and he chased after her in front of every single guest.

Yesterday was my birthday, and he still abandoned me, not returning until three in the morning with her in tow.

Every important moment that should have been mine ended up bearing Vicky's name instead, leaving my reputation in tatters.

I used to believe I was special to Adrian.

He would remember my preferences, prepare birthday gifts for me himself, and gently take my hand in front of everyone.

But looking back now, I couldn't even pinpoint when it had started. Every bit of his attention toward me had to be split in half with Vicky.

Whenever I received a gift, I knew Vicky would be upset, and Adrian would inevitably give her an identical one.

Whenever I stood in the banquet hall, I worried about when she would summon Adrian away again.

I couldn't even remember the last time an important moment belonged to just Adrian and me.

After the council session ended, I had barely stepped out of the hall when I saw Adrian standing at the end of the corridor.

He seemed to have been waiting for a while. An attendant carrying a gift box stood behind him.

When he saw me come out, he quickly walked over.

"Elena."

His voice was still gentle, his face wearing just the right amount of remorse.

"Last night was my fault."

I didn't respond.

His gaze dropped to my neck, and his brow furrowed immediately.

"You're not wearing the birthday gift I gave you?"

I looked at him, hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod.

The gift box had been delivered to my room last night.

I hadn't opened it. I hadn't even touched the ribbon on the box.

In the past, whenever I received something from Adrian, I would always open it right away, imagining the moment he would see me wearing his gift.

Even if he had been absent from the entire banquet, I would use that gift to convince myself that I still mattered to him.

Last night, I simply hadn't felt that anticipation anymore.

Adrian looked at me, seeming somewhat surprised.

Just then, Vicky appeared from the other end of the corridor.

She wore a pale dress, and around her neck hung a necklace I had never seen before.

I looked at that necklace, and everything suddenly became clear.

"The birthday gift you gave me yesterday was also a necklace, wasn't it?"

Adrian answered without thinking. "Yes."

The moment the word left his mouth, his expression shifted slightly.

He had clearly realized why I was asking.

I didn't press him or call him out. I just waited quietly.

After a moment, Adrian sighed softly.

"That necklace was custom-made specifically for you.

"Vicky's is just a similar design. The gemstones are different.

"She doesn't have much jewelry. She saw the design sketch I'd prepared for you and said she liked it too.

"If I only made one for you, I was worried she'd overthink it."

He paused here and glanced at Vicky.

"She hasn't been doing well lately. I didn't want her to be upset over something so small."

I looked at the necklace on Vicky's neck and let out a bitter laugh.

"It's lovely. It suits her."

I didn't have the attendant open the gift box that had been sent to me last night.

I had no interest in checking how different the two necklaces actually were.

Even the thoughtfulness Adrian claimed was meant just for me still had to be shared with Vicky.

It had always been this way.

I once mentioned I liked a set of rare, out-of-print antique books. Adrian searched everywhere and eventually brought back two sets.

One for me. The other went straight to Vicky's study.

When I admired a master jeweler's work, he would commission two similar pieces.

One as a surprise for me. The other would soon appear on Vicky.

Even the flowers he had delivered to my room often had a matching bouquet placed by Vicky's window.

He said he didn't want her to feel excluded.

He said she had already lost her parents and couldn't bear the feeling of being overlooked.

And so my birthday gift could become two. My surprises could be shared with someone else. And on my most important days, I could be abandoned at any moment.

I used to think Adrian was simply trying to honor the couple who had died for him.

It wasn't until I decided to give up on marrying him that I finally saw through this so-called fairness.

What Vicky received was his favoritism.

What I received was one reassurance after another: "You're the most understanding," and "I knew you'd get it."