Chapter 6

When Caspian woke up, it was already noon. He instinctively reached out to touch the space beside him, only to feel the cold fabric of the sheets.

He sat up abruptly and saw a note by his hand, the handwriting messy but familiar: [Let's just pretend last night never happened.]

He angrily crumpled the note into a ball, his chest feeling like something had slammed into it hard, the dull ache making it almost impossible to breathe.

She left. She left again!

Just like seven years ago, leaving behind only these few casual words before disappearing.

Caspian ran his hand through his hair in frustration, picked up his clothes from the floor and put them on irritably, then walked out of the room.

Only then did he notice how quiet the yacht was. The guests had long since left, with only a few cleaners tidying up.

"Where's Evelyn?" He grabbed a waiter and asked urgently.

The waiter paused: "That lady in the black dress? She left by boat before dawn."

Caspian let go, his face dark. He picked up his phone and dialed Evelyn's number. After a few rings, the call was hung up. He called again, but this time it went straight to voicemail - she'd turned off her phone.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He kept telling himself he didn't care.

It was better that she left, so he wouldn't have to feel annoyed seeing her.

The engagement ceremony was tomorrow anyway. He'd soon be with Kiera.

Evelyn was just a woman he'd hated for seven years. She abandoned him, deceived him, betrayed him. She was a complete jerk.

But then why did his chest hurt so much?

When Caspian returned to the villa, it was already 2 PM.

He pushed open the door and instinctively looked toward the storage room under the stairs. It was empty, the thin blanket on the cot folded neatly.

Why was he still thinking about that woman? Caspian warned himself mentally, shaking his head in annoyance, trying to clear everything about Evelyn from his mind.

He pinched the bridge of his nose hard and turned to go upstairs. As he passed the guest bedroom, he heard soft breathing from inside.

He pushed open the door to find Evelyn lying on the guest bed, still wrapped in his jacket, fast asleep.

Tear stains remained on her face, her eyelashes trembling slightly, as if she was having a bad dream.

Caspian stood at the door watching her for a long time. It had been too long since he'd seen Evelyn wrapped in his jacket. Complex emotions churned inside him.

He wanted to turn and leave, but his feet seemed nailed to the floor.

Finally, he pushed the door open and walked in.

"Who said you could sleep here?" He deliberately spoke with anger, making his concerned question sound more like an accusation.

Evelyn woke with a start, sitting up suddenly. Seeing it was him, a flash of panic crossed her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

She removed his jacket, lowered her eyes, her voice hoarse: "I'm sorry. I was too tired, so I..."

"Did I say you could sleep in the guest room?" Caspian crossed his arms, looking down at her.

What he really wanted to say was: "Why are you sleeping in the guest room? You should go back to the master bedroom. That's your place."

But he'd forgotten that he'd already let Kiera move into the master bedroom.

Evelyn lowered her head, bit her lip, looking somewhat embarrassed: "I understand. I'll leave now."

She slowly moved off the bed. As soon as she stood up, pain shot through her waist and her legs went weak, nearly causing her to fall.

Caspian instinctively reached out to steady her, but pulled his hand back halfway.

"Forget it," he turned his face away, speaking somewhat awkwardly, "just sleep here."

Evelyn froze, looking up at him, confused by his almost gentle words.

Realizing what he'd said, Caspian immediately put on a stern face and added: "I mean, don't wander around, in case Kiera sees you and gets ideas. You'd better know your place."

She was clearly his legitimate wife, yet now she had to hide like a mistress.

Evelyn thought this to herself, but outwardly just nodded: "I won't tell her."

Caspian was taken aback by her compliant attitude, the tightness in his chest growing heavier.

He'd said that to make her jealous, to make her show even a hint of caring.

But her reaction was like cold water, extinguishing all his expectations.

"Good that you know." Somehow angry, he coldly threw out these words, turned and walked out of the guest room, slamming the door hard.

From that day on, Caspian intensified his torment of Evelyn.

He made her clean the master bedroom after he and Kiera had sex. Kiera's clothes and shoes would be scattered on the floor, her cosmetics covering the vanity, and used condom wrappers on the nightstand.

Evelyn crouched on the floor, picking up those clothes one by one. Her movements were slow, but her expression was as calm as if she were doing ordinary housework.

Caspian made her prepare bath water for Kiera. Kiera would adjust the temperature several times each bath, and Evelyn would crouch by the tub, testing the water temperature over and over until Kiera was satisfied.

Caspian kept watching her, wanting to find a trace of jealousy on her face, but there was nothing.

She did these things so calmly she didn't even frown, not even a flicker in her eyes.

This indifference made him even angrier.

One evening, Caspian and Kiera deliberately got intimate in the living room.

He had Kiera sit on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and they kissed passionately.

Evelyn walked past from the kitchen carrying a glass of water, unsurprised. Caspian suddenly called out to her.

"Come here," he commanded.

Evelyn stopped, holding the water glass, standing to the side with her eyes lowered, not looking at them.

"Look at me," Caspian ordered. Only after noticing Evelyn look up did he continue.

He cupped Kiera's face and deepened the kiss. Kiera let out a suggestive moan, her fingers threading through his hair.

Evelyn quietly witnessed the whole thing, completely unmoved.

Caspian released Kiera and looked up at Evelyn, wanting to find something in her eyes, but that calmness once again pierced his heart.

"Go clean up the master bedroom," he waved his hand dismissively, his tone full of disappointment.

She didn't care about him, didn't care that he was sleeping with another woman, didn't care that he'd fallen in love with someone else.

Evelyn nodded and turned to go upstairs.

Late that night, after Kiera fell asleep, Caspian went downstairs for water. Passing the kitchen, the cold light from the streetlamp outside revealed a figure curled up in the corner.

Evelyn sat on the floor, her back against the cabinet, clutching something in her hand.

Her head was lowered, shoulders trembling slightly, as if crying, or desperately holding something back.

Caspian walked over. His eyesight was good - he could clearly see she was holding a ring.

It was an old ring, simple in design, with a small inscription: [E&C, Forever.]

He recognized it as their token of love from college.

He'd saved up two months of part-time work wages to find this gemstone ring at a vintage shop. It was the best thing he could afford.

That day he knelt before her, put this ring on her finger, and said: "Evelyn, when I make money, I'll definitely get you a bigger, better ring. Will you be my girlfriend?"

She'd smiled with her eyes crinkling, nodding first, then after a while continued: "I don't want a better one. I just want you to always love me, always be by my side."

Those promises and sweet words seemed even more ironic now. Loving him and staying by his side - she hadn't done either.

Caspian burned with anger, snatched the ring away, and demanded: "Why do you still have this? Don't you only love money? How much is this piece of junk worth?"

Evelyn looked up, her eyes red, but her expression wasn't as reluctant or nostalgic as he'd imagined. She remained cold like a robot.

"I just checked online, this thing could sell for quite a bit," her voice was flat. "Antiques are worth a lot these days."

Caspian trembled with rage, but he couldn't detect the flaw in her words, only gripping the ring tightly.

"Are you jealous?" he suddenly asked, his voice carrying a hint of hope even he didn't notice. "Were you just crying? If you regret it, I can..."

"Regret what?" Evelyn interrupted him, looking impatient. "Regret not getting more from you back then? Yeah, if I'd known you'd be this rich now, I should have signed an agreement."

With each sentence she spoke, Caspian's face grew darker.

But Evelyn seemed to think her words weren't harsh enough. She stood up, dusted off her skirt, looked up at him mockingly: "You want me to act the way you expect? Just pay more. Want me to cry? Want me to beg you? Want me to kneel and say 'Caspian, I was wrong, I still love you'?"

"As long as you pay more, I can act anything. You think I still love you? Have you forgotten that when you knelt begging me not to leave, I could still walk away without looking back? Don't you know me well? I'm just a woman who only cares about money."

"If you went bankrupt now, I'd turn around and leave just the same."

Caspian's pupils contracted sharply, his blood boiling with Evelyn's sarcastic words.

He remembered seven years ago, covered in blood, begging her not to leave, but she didn't even glance at him.

That was the most painful memory of his life.

His voice choked: "Do you know how long I looked for this ring?"

This question was like asking "do you know how much I once loved you," but Evelyn once again trampled on his sincerity with her cold expression, making everything about him seem so ridiculous.

Caspian pressed his lips together and didn't continue.

Evelyn's gray-blue eyes were like a frozen lake, reflecting his misery.

Caspian gave a bitter laugh, took a deep breath, and suddenly threw the ring on the floor. The gemstone ring bounced a few times and rolled under the cabinet.

"It's just a piece of secondhand junk anyway. If you want to sell it for money, go ahead. Consider it payment for helping us pick up condom wrappers these past few days." His thin lips curved up slightly, cold and proud.

Caspian turned and left without hesitation, without looking back, so he didn't see that the moment he turned around, Evelyn crouched down, her fingers trembling as she reached under the cabinet for the ring.

It took her a long time to reach it. A thin crack had appeared on the stone from the fall.

Just like the crack between her and Caspian that could never be repaired.