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His hand trembled as he opened the envelope. 

Several photos tumbled out. Liam and Chloe at the amusement park with Milly… I’d known about his affair all along. 

Liam’s eyes 

welled up. 

Beneath the photos was a letter, my elegant script faded. 

“Chloe, you won. Life’s short. I always believed vows were eternal. When we first met, you promised to be my best friend forever. I believed it. But you weren’t good enough at hiding it. I found out anyway. Your child is adorable. It’s a shame you’re her mother. I have no idea how you got together with Liam. And frankly, I don’t care.” 

“I don’t want Liam anymore. If you want him, take him. Everything you’ve given me is in the box. Even the smallest trinket felt precious. I was blind, and I deserved it. I wish because those who betray trust don’t deserve happiness.” 

I’d known everything for days. 

Liam was in tears, clutching the letter, his gaze falling on the box. 

In a corner, 

you unhappiness, 

nestled among the other items, sat a small pineapple hairpin, 

It was a birthday gift from Chloe. 

Every year, I showered Chloe with expensive gifts. 

She’d always given me small trinkets, but I cherished them, never complaining. 

Yes, those who betray trust don’t deserve happiness. 

He and Chloe didn’t deserve it. 

He couldn’t imagine what I’d endured knowing about his affair, never even confronting him. I’d suffered silently. 

Liam slapped himself hard. In my letter, I’d said I didn’t want him anymore. 

No, no! We loved each other deeply. 

We’d vowed to be together forever. 

How could I give up on him? 

He refused to give up. 

༽ 

He’d find me, even if he had to beg on his knees, spending the rest of his life atoning. As long as I was by his side. 

He called his sister, Vivian. We were close. 

Vivian’s voice was strained, urgent.“Liam, I got a message this morning. From Summer.” 

“What did she say?” Liam felt a surge of desperate hope.“Summer’s gone. Tell me everything.” 

Vivian said, “She sent a picture… from Chloe’s birthday dinner…” 

Liam felt a crushing blow. He braced himself against the armrest of the sofa. I’d seen the pictures of their family birthday dinner for Chloe? 

12:52 

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God… What had he done? 

He couldn’t imagine the devastation it must have caused to me. The irony was, he’d thrown me a romantic balloon show that night. 

He’d even shamelessly asked if I liked it, expecting me to cry. 

He was a monster. 

Vivian was consumed with guilt and regret. 

I’d been kind to everyone in their family, particularly her. 

Nie’d helped Liam deceive me. 

She’d known about Chloe for seven years; she’d seen Milly born. 

“Liam, I’m awful. Summer was so good to me. She always helped me after breakups, always 

affair for keeping your cheered 

me up. 

I’m 

a 

terrible 

person 

“And I I helped Chloe 

Chloe celebrate her birthday. I shouldn’t have 

“What do we do now? How do I ever face Summer?” 

Facing me wasn’t the issue; he couldn’t find me. 

Liam’s heart was breaking. 

He regretted everything… He shouldn’t have pitied Chloe. 

The doorbell rang. 

Liam, thinking it was me, rushed downstairs. 

“Summer, you’re back…” 

a secret.”