The laughable part? The day before he left, he'd proposed to me in a church. Said he wanted to marry me.

After he left, staying in Eldoria felt pointless. So I flew back too.

I wanted to surprise him. I even brought his favorite almond cookies.

Straight from the airport, I went to his luxury apartment.

The moment I pushed open the door, something felt wrong.

A woman's perfume hung in the air—but not the rose scent I wore.

I picked up the lace leopard-print nightgown draped over the sofa.

A chill shot through me.

I clenched my teeth until my jaw ached, fighting the urge to rip it to shreds.

"You know." Alex stopped the car and looked at me, calm as ever.

I didn't want to deal with him. I kept my eyes closed.

"I know you're not asleep. Her name is Mia Summers. She's my arranged marriage partner." He pushed my shoulder, irritated. "But the one I love most is still you. She's just a tool for my family."

My heart went cold. I opened my eyes and smiled—sharp, mocking.

"Is that so?"

The night he flew back, I called him.

A woman answered. I heard heavy breathing in the background.

He must have changed my contact name, because she sounded confused: "It's so late—why's the delivery guy calling?"

I hung up.