Chapter 1

"Ms. Hart, this marriage certificate is fake..."

The clerk looked at Estella Hart with a mix of pity and hesitation.

"According to our system, Mr. Jenson Moore got married to a woman named Emily Blanchard two weeks ago."

Hearing that her boyfriend of six years had secretly married his first love behind her back, Estella wasn't even surprised.

"Alright. Thanks for your help."

She slipped the fake marriage certificate into her bag, put on her sunglasses, and turned to leave.

Standing outside the vital records office, she sent a message to her senior from school, Zoe Gardner.

"Zoe, I'm going with you to Anebert to start the business."

Zoe seemed busy and didn't reply right away. Estella put her phone back into her pocket, hailed a cab, and gave the driver an address.

By the time she got home in the evening, exhaustion weighed heavily on her. Just as she pulled out her keys, she heard the elevator ding behind her.

Jenson stepped out, smiling as he asked, "Where'd you go, Estie?"

Estella stared at his face, momentarily dazed by how naturally he could still smile at her.

"I went to the city hall. Thought I'd take a few pictures to remember the day we registered our marriage. But it turns out, it's just an empty lot now. Any idea why?"

As she said that, she watched him closely, looking for even the slightest flicker of guilt.

For a split second, his expression stiffened. But then, as if nothing had happened, he regained his usual calm demeanor.

"You must've gone to the wrong place. We already have the certificate. We can take photos another time. Anyway, I got you macarons. These are new flavors from your favorite bakery. See if you like them."

With that, Jenson handed her a bag and walked straight into the bathroom.

Estella lowered her gaze, the corners of her lips curling weakly.

"Jenson, there is no 'another time' for us."

She silently walked into the study and placed the fake marriage certificate back in the safe.

Three days ago, when they'd gotten the certificate, Jenson had only let her glance at it before locking it away. She'd thought it was because he cherished their marriage.

But last night, when she'd gotten up to get some water, she'd accidentally overheard him on the phone on the balcony.

"Jenson, are you seriously back with Emily? You pursued her for three years, and the second she said yes, she ran off with another guy. She almost ruined you. Don't tell me you still love her."

Jenson went quiet for a few seconds before answering slowly, "I married Emily two weeks ago. Her parents were forcing her to marry some old man. I couldn't stand watching her suffer."

Estella froze on the spot, the cold seeping into her bones.

She and the person on the other end of the call both knew this wasn't just about how Jenson "couldn't stand watching her suffer".

Jenson had never gotten over Emily.

For six years, Estella thought she'd finally won, that she would spend the rest of her life with the man she loved.

But in the end, she realized that Jenson had never loved her.

The city hall was fake, and so was their marriage certificate. This entire six-year relationship had been nothing but a lie.

How ridiculous. How utterly pathetic.

Since Jenson was already married to Emily, Estella decided there was no point in humiliating herself any further. From now on, she would move forward to a future without him.

Chapter 2

Jenson's phone rang from the coffee table. Its custom ringtone was loud and unmistakable in the silent living room.

Estella hesitated for a second before walking toward it.

But before she could reach the table, a damp figure barreled past her and shoved her aside. Her shin slammed hard against the sharp edge of the table. The intense pain brought tears to Estella's eyes instantly.

And yet, the man responsible—Jenson—didn't even notice.

He snatched up his phone and disappeared back into the bathroom.

Clenching her jaw, Estella limped to the couch.

She'd barely sat down when she heard his voice from the bathroom. It was low and anxious, even as Jenson tried hard to sound calm.

"Don't be scared. Stay in your room and don't come out. I'm coming right now."

A bitter taste filled Estella's mouth. In their six years together, Jenson had always been composed and rational. Yet tonight, he was frantic over a single phone call.

It was at this moment that Estella realized he wasn't naturally cold—he just didn't love her.

Jenson rushed out of the bathroom, his face tense. He walked past her without stopping, only saying one sentence.

"Something came up at work. Don't wait up."

And just like that, he was gone.

What he failed to notice was that the woman who'd used to hand him his coat and remind him to come home early didn't even lift her head this time.

Estella sat on the couch for a long time.

Only when the pain in her leg dulled did she finally stand and head to the bedroom. There, she started packing.

The mugs she'd bought for them but Jenson had never used, the rings she'd handcrafted but never gotten to give him, the custom wedding ribbon she'd designed, and the vows she'd carefully written—one by one, she tossed them into a trash bag without hesitation.

Two hours later, half the room was empty.

Just as Estella let out a breath, her phone rang. Zoe's excited voice burst through the speaker.

"Estie! I'm on a business trip abroad and just woke up to this great news! Welcome to the team! I'll be back in a week, and we can head to Anebert together. But… didn't you say you were planning your wedding with your boyfriend? Is he okay with you going to Anebert?"

Estella paused.

For the past six years, Jenson had kept their relationship so low-profile that barely anyone knew they were together.

It was only three days ago, when Zoe had asked if she wanted to join her new studio in Anebert, that Estella had told her about the upcoming wedding.

And now, in just a few days, everything had fallen apart.

Her voice was calm as she replied, "It's fine. The wedding's canceled."

At that moment, Jenson stepped into the room and caught those three words. His eyes flickered with a trace of panic.

"What do you mean 'the wedding's canceled'?"

Startled, Estella turned to see him standing behind her. She steadied herself and made up a random excuse.

"A friend had an emergency, so they called off their wedding."

Jenson didn't question it.

"Oh. By the way, didn't you say on your birthday that you wanted to do a couple's photoshoot? The photographer called today. They have an opening tomorrow."

Estella instinctively wanted to refuse. But before she could say a word, Jenson's gaze landed on the now-bare dresser. His brows knitted in confusion.

"Estie, were you cleaning? Why does it feel like half the stuff is gone?"

Estella nodded casually. "Yeah. I wasn't using any of it, so I got rid of it. There's no point keeping things that take up space."

For some reason, Jenson felt an odd sense of unease creep into his chest.

Chapter 3

Jenson's gaze lingered on the cleared dresser for a long time.

Estella swallowed the refusal on the tip of her tongue. She just wanted to leave quietly, without unnecessary complications.

So, she said evenly, "Get some rest. We have the photoshoot tomorrow, don't we?"

Seeing nothing unusual in her expression, Jenson didn't think much of it.

That night, they lay back-to-back, each lost in their own thoughts.

The next morning, as they were leaving, Estella struggled to drag a heavy trash bag downstairs.

Jenson took it from her without hesitation and asked, "Why is it so heavy? What's in here?"

As he spoke, he reached out to tug the bag open to check what was inside.

Instinctively, Estella pressed his arm down. "Just a bunch of useless stuff."

Right then, the elevator arrived on their floor. The moment passed, and Jenson lost interest. He tossed the bag into the dumpster without a second thought.

Watching it disappear, Estella felt a weight lift off her shoulders.

…

At the studio, the staff led them to pick outfits for the shoot.

Rows of wedding gowns lined the racks. Just as Estella was about to ask if there were other options, Jenson suddenly stopped in front of one.

"Try this one, Estie. Didn't you say you liked this style?"

Estella blinked at the gown—a regal, vintage-style wedding dress.

Half a month ago, she'd sent Jenson a picture of a similar design. If this had happened before she'd found out about Emily, she would've been overwhelmed with emotion, touched that he remembered.

But now, she felt nothing.

She couldn't be bothered to pick something else, so she went along with it.

A few minutes later, as the staff adjusted Estella's flowing gown, she smiled and complimented her.

"Ms. Hart, you and your boyfriend must be so in love. He picked the perfect dress for you. Your photos are going to turn out amazing!"

As soon as she said that, another staff member entered hesitantly.

"Mr. Moore said there's an emergency at work. He can't stay for the shoot today. We'll do a solo session for you first, and you can come back another day for the couple's photos."

The staff member's smile was forced, and she kept her distance. She was probably bracing herself for an emotional outburst from Estella.

After all, scenes like this had played out at the studio before.

But to her surprise, Estella only nodded and accepted the news with complete indifference.

…

After the shoot, Estella took a cab home alone.

Before she even stepped inside, she heard a woman's soft laughter from the living room.

"Jenson, I can't believe I get to eat your cooking again after all these years."

At the dining table, Jenson peeled a shrimp and placed it naturally onto the woman's plate. Just as he was about to say something, he turned and saw Estella standing at the door.

For a few seconds, he looked caught off guard.

Then, as if suddenly remembering, he said, "Estie, this is Emily Blanchard. She's going through something right now, so she'll be staying with us for a few days."

Sitting across from him, Emily stole a quick glance at Estella before speaking in a soft, delicate voice. "You must be Jenson's girlfriend. I've heard about you. Thanks for having me over. Oh, Jenson made my favorite salt-baked shrimp. Why don't you join us?"

As she spoke, she stood up and gave up the seat across from Jenson. Then, she casually took a spot beside him, settling in like she belonged there.

Estella had thought Jenson's feelings were one-sided. But looking at them now, they seemed like two sides of the same coin.

"You two enjoy," she said calmly. "I'm tired. I'll rest in the bedroom."

With that, she turned to leave. But the moment she opened the door, she froze.

Chapter 4

A large wedding photo hung on the wall.

Emily, dressed in a strapless wedding gown, was pressed closely against Jenson.

Their noses nearly touched as they gazed into each other's eyes. They looked every bit like a couple deeply in love.

Jenson hurried in from the living room. "Estie, you should rest in the guest room. Emily hasn't been feeling well, and this bedroom gets the best sunlight, so I thought it'd be better for her to stay here…"

Mid-sentence, his eyes landed on the wedding photo. He froze for a moment before continuing, "This was just to appease her family. They were pressuring her to get married."

So, their marriage certificate was just a favor, and the wedding photos were just for show.

Meeting Estella's cold gaze, Jenson felt a sudden panic rise within him and instinctively reached for her arm.

"Don't overthink it, Estie. I just—"

She stepped away. "Don't touch me."

This was the first time Estella had ever shown such resistance toward him in their six years together. Jenson's chest tightened.

He was about to explain when Emily suddenly rushed in and said in a trembling voice, "Ms. Hart, please don't fight with Jenson. It's my fault. I shouldn't have moved in. I'll leave right now."

Jenson immediately stopped her. "This has nothing to do with you."

Tears streamed down Emily's face at once.

"Jenson, you've already done so much for me. I can't let you upset Ms. Hart because of me. Maybe this is just my fate. Maybe I'm being punished for the mistakes I made in the past. I accept it."

Her tear-filled eyes and fragile voice struck Jenson hard.

Gently, he reassured her, "Don't worry. As long as I'm here, no one can force you into marriage. And Estie isn't upset over this. You don't have to go anywhere. Just stay."

Watching the scene before her, Estella let out a soft chuckle.

"Why should I be upset? After all, this is your home now."

With that, she turned and walked out.

Emily let out a delicate sob. "Is Ms. Hart angry?"

This time, Jenson didn't answer. Estella's words sent shockwaves through his mind. Without thinking, he rushed after her and grabbed her wrist.

"What do you mean by that? What do you mean this is her home now? Emily's being forced into marriage and is being harassed by some stranger. I'm just trying to help her! You're a woman too. Can't you have a little empathy? Do you really have to throw a jealous tantrum at a time like this?"

Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass echoed from the bedroom.

Jenson's expression paled instantly. He shoved Estella aside and rushed back inside.

"Emily! What are you doing?" His voice was filled with panic.

Emily was kneeling on the floor, and there was a long gash trailing down her wrist. Tears streamed down her pale face.

"Just leave me alone. No one in this world cares about me. If my death can make Ms. Hart happy, then at least I'll have done something right."

Jenson snatched the shard from her hand and pressed hard against her wound to stop the bleeding. Then, he whipped around to glare at Estella.

"Estella! Are you satisfied now? Do you feel no guilt at all seeing this? No wonder people call you heartless. Even when your own father died, you didn't shed a single tear. How could someone as cold and selfish as you ever care about another person's life?"

His words slammed into Estella like a hammer. Her hands trembled, and her body went cold.

Her childhood had been filled with the stench of alcohol and the bruises left by a drunken father.

So, when he'd died unexpectedly, she hadn't cried. Not once. Her relatives had called her ungrateful, a heartless wretch.

For years, those words had been a buried wound, reopening at every mention.

Later, when Jenson had found out, he'd spent a long time comforting her until she'd finally let it go.

But now, he was the one driving the blade back in.

Whatever love Estella had left for him slowly drained away at this moment.

"Jenson, I never said she couldn't stay, and I never threw a tantrum. The only reason I avoided you is because I have a severe allergy to seafood."

Only then did Jenson notice the angry red rash spreading across her wrist right where he'd grabbed her.

As he met Estella's reddened eyes and recalled his own words, a pang of guilt swept through him.

"Estie, I—"

Seeing this, Emily clenched her teeth and struggled to get up again. "Don't stop me, Jenson. Just let me die."

As she thrashed about, more blood oozed from her wound.

Jenson no longer cared to comfort Estella. He scooped Emily up and rushed out.

"I won't let anything happen to you. Let's go to the hospital right now!"

Estella stood there, unmoving, as their figures disappeared.

Chapter 5

The bedroom floor was a mess.

After taking her allergy medicine, Estella gathered her things and moved into the guest room.

As she passed by the shattered glass on the floor, she paused, then bent down to pick up a photo. It was the only picture she and Jenson had together—the last one, too.

The last time she'd come across it when she'd been packing, she hadn't decided what to do with it yet. It seemed like Emily had made the choice for her.

Estella's lips curled into a faint smirk. She tore the picture into pieces and tossed them into the trash.

That night, Jenson didn't come home.

…

The next day at 5:00 am, Estella was woken up by noises from the kitchen.

Still groggy, she walked out to find Jenson cooking. When he saw her, a flicker of guilt crossed his face.

"Did I wake you? Emily didn't eat much last night, so I'm making her some seafood congee. You should have a bowl too."

Estella stared at the pot of simmering congee. Even after all these years apart, Jenson still remembered Emily's likes and dislikes down to the smallest details.

Meanwhile, she'd lived with him for six years. Just yesterday, she'd reminded him about her severe seafood allergy. Yet, he hadn't even registered it.

In fact, she hadn't even known he could cook until last night.

Sometimes, the difference between love and indifference was painfully clear.

"I'm not hungry," Estella said flatly. "No need to save any for me."

With that, she turned to head back to her room.

Suddenly, Jenson spoke up. "Estie, about last night... I was just panicked when I saw Emily hurt. I said some things I didn't mean. Don't take it to heart, okay?"

Estella nodded calmly. "I understand. It was an emergency. I don't blame you."

Jenson hadn't expected her to let it go so easily. As he watched her lowered gaze, a pang of guilt twisted inside him.

"We haven't gone on a date in a while," he said. "Once Emily's situation is settled, let's go on a trip and have a proper break."

Estella made a hum of agreement.

It didn't matter. She'd be gone in a few days. Whether she agreed or not made no difference.

…

Three days later, after a shopping trip with a friend, Estella came home to find that Jenson and Emily were back.

The two of them were curled up on the couch, flipping through an old photo album.

When Emily spotted her, her eyes lit up.

"Ms. Hart, you're back! Jenson and I were just looking at old photos. Our friends used to say we looked alike, like a married couple. I always thought they were joking, but when we took our wedding photos the other day, even the photographer said the same thing! What do you think? Do we really look alike?"

The air in the room seemed to freeze for a second.

Emily's words were an open provocation, but Estella simply nodded, unfazed. "I think they're right. You two really do—"

Before she could finish, Jenson abruptly cut her off, saying, "We have a class reunion tonight. Come with us, Estie."

Estella almost laughed. So he thought she was upset, and this was his way of making it up to her?

The car ride was silent. They were all lost in their own thoughts.

At the hotel, Emily stuck close to Jenson's side, chatting animatedly about their school days. At one point, she even reached out and wrapped her hand around his arm.

Estella said nothing. She simply followed a few steps behind them.

As soon as they entered the private room, a few old classmates immediately crowded around them.

"What's going on here?" someone asked, their eyes darting between Jenson and Emily.

"Wow, after all these years, you two still ended up together, huh?"

Emily didn't explain. She just blushed and smiled shyly.

Just then, someone finally noticed Estella standing at the door. "Who's that?"

Chapter 6

Jenson stiffened, as if he'd just remembered Estella was there. He opened his mouth to explain.

But before he could, Estella spoke in a calm voice, "I'm a friend of theirs."

As she said that, Jenson glanced at her with a complicated expression. But with Emily right beside him, he ultimately chose to stay silent.

The others found her response a little odd, but no one pressed the issue. Instead, they ushered her in to take a seat.

Since they were old friends catching up after years apart, there was no end to the conversation. They talked about everything and anything.

Jenson chatted along while thoughtfully picking out dishes for Emily, even taking the time to remove the cilantro she didn't like.

Meanwhile, Estella sat quietly, playing her role as a "friend".

Halfway through the dinner, she stepped out to use the restroom.

On her way back, just as she reached the private room's door, she overheard someone inside ask, "Be honest, Jenson. After all these years that Emily was abroad, did you ever fall for anyone else?"

The room fell silent. Everyone was waiting for his answer.

Sitting right next to him, Emily was the first to speak to smooth things over.

"Alright, stop asking that kind of question. I've been gone for so many years. It would be completely normal if he fell for someone else."

Though her words seemed understanding, her eyes glistened with unshed tears. The smile on her face looked forced as well.

Jenson's chest tightened at the sight. After a sigh, he lowered his voice and reassured her, "No. I never fell for anyone else."

The moment he said it, Emily's face broke into a teary smile, and she shyly leaned into his embrace.

The room erupted into cheers and teasing laughter.

Estella had no interest in spoiling their moment. She simply left and took a cab home on her own.

…

A few hours later, Jenson came back, carrying a very drunk Emily in his arms. As he carefully laid her on the bed, she looped her delicate arms lazily around his neck.

"Don't go, Jenson. If I hadn't been so stubborn and gone abroad back then, Estella never would have come between us. I'm the one who signed the marriage certificate and took wedding photos with you. We're the real couple, aren't we? Jenson, please... don't leave me."

Jenson froze at those words. Emily took the opportunity to pull him closer and kiss him.

As soon as Estella pushed open the bedroom door, she was met with this intimate scene. She froze for a moment, then turned and walked out.

Most people would feel devastated watching their boyfriend kiss another woman. But maybe because she'd already seen this coming, it didn't even hurt that much.

As Jenson watched Estella's retreating figure, a wave of panic surged through him like never before. He shoved Emily aside and rushed after Estella.

"Let me explain, Estie. She—"

"I get it," she interrupted. "Emily's drunk. You should go take care of her. I'm not upset."

Her eyes were steady and sincere. That only made Jenson feel even more unsettled. A strange fear crept into his chest, as if something was slipping out of his grasp.

His voice came out rough. "Why aren't you angry?"