Chapter 1Three Years Too Late to Know the Truth

Three years after I disappeared with every cent my first love had,

he stood at a banquet, holding another woman’s hand.

“This is my fiancée, Vivian.”

He looked radiant, powerful—

as if he had never lain on an operating table, half-dead.

Someone asked about me.

Vivian answered for him, gentle and certain:

“She left when he needed her most.”

I was pushed into the spotlight.

He finally saw me, gaze paused for a second, then turned mocking.

“Three years, and you’re serving drinks?”

“Perfect. We’re short on staff tonight.”

I nodded, pulling my sleeve down to hide the bruises from IV needles.

“Alright.”

He didn’t know—

the kidney that saved his life three years ago

was mine.

Sebastian’s gentle voice gradually reached my ears.

It had been three years since we last met. Back then, in the early stages of kidney failure, his cheeks were sunken, and he was burdened by illness.

Now, he was a completely different person—full of life and prestige.

The engagement was lavish, with journalists gathered around the venue.

Every corner was adorned with hibiscus flowers, just as I had imagined for our engagement.

But it wasn’t me Sebastian was engaging with.

A nosy journalist, noticing Sebastian’s good mood, tried to dig for some scoop: "Mr. Sebastian, why did you and Mrs. Sebastian miss three years together? Do you have someone you consider 'The One That Got Away'?"

The last question was meant to be a joke, but it wiped the smile off Sebastian’s face.

Vivian, clutching Sebastian’s hand, explained with a mix of sympathy and indignation, "Sebastian did have an ex-girlfriend, but she heartlessly abandoned him when he was in trouble."

"This has always been a scar in Sebastian’s heart, so please don’t bring it up again!" Sebastian patted Vivian’s hand to comfort her, but his voice grew colder: "That’s all old news now. I’ve made a name for myself and have a wonderful fiancée like Vivian. That woman is left with nothing but regret!"

"If it weren’t for her ruthless abandonment, I wouldn’t have bounced back so strongly."

I knew Sebastian too well; even though he tried to hide his emotions, I could sense the bitterness in his tone.

Just as I was lost in thought, my colleague nudged me: "Evelyn, quickly bring the cake-cutting knife! Evelyn!"

Pushed by my colleague, I accidentally stumbled out of the crowd. Upon seeing me, Sebastian’s eyes widened. Vivian exclaimed in disbelief, "Evelyn, what are you doing here?!"

Clinging to Sebastian’s arm, she eyed me suspiciously, "Why are you here? You abandoned Sebastian three years ago, and now you want to cling to him because he’s successful? Evelyn, how can you be so selfish!"

With every word Vivian spoke, Sebastian’s gaze grew colder.

I awkwardly got up from the floor: "I’m not, I’m just working here..."

Hearing my words, Sebastian chuckled dismissively, looking me over from head to toe with disdain: "Three years and you’re reduced to being a waitress, how laughable."

"Evelyn, do you regret leaving me back then?"

Speaking of the past, Sebastian’s voice tightened, his eyes piercing through me.

After all, it must have been the most humiliating time of his life. Not only diagnosed with kidney failure but also abandoned by me, his girlfriend of many years.

To his surprise, I mustered a standard smile: "No regrets."

"Mr. Sebastian, I earn my living with my own hands; there’s no shame in that."

"You should go cut the cake with Mrs. Sebastian."

Sebastian was momentarily stunned when I calmly referred to Vivian as "Mrs. Sebastian."

Back in the day, after every setback in his startup, Sebastian would hold me and promise: "Evelyn, I’ll succeed someday. I want everyone to respectfully call you Mrs. Sebastian!"

And I would boldly wrap my arms around his neck: "Whether or not you succeed, Mrs. Sebastian can only be me!" Now, after all the twists and turns, I respectfully handed over the title of "Mrs. Sebastian." "Evelyn," Sebastian said with a bitter laugh, "you really haven’t changed!"

With those words, Sebastian pushed over the three-tiered cake. Cream and chocolate splattered all over me, and I stood there like a clown, enduring the mocking gazes of the crowd.