Ludwig and I were childhood sweethearts. We had been together since we were eighteen, now we were twenty-eight years old. We've taken countless photos together and exchanged countless gifts. I burned them all that night.

On the fourth night after Ludwig left, he finally returned. However, he had drunk a lot and Whitney had to help him back.

Seeing me sitting on the sofa in the living room watching TV, Whitney said provocatively, “Ludwig accidentally drank too much to celebrate me passing the exam. Suzy, don't be angry.”

“Who drank too much?” Ludwig retorted defiantly, pinning Whitney against the wall, "I could outdrink ten of you, you little pushover."

Whitney smiled sweetly at me, saying, "Suzy, don't mind, Ludwig is just like that when he's drunk..."

"I don't mind." I interrupted her before she could finish.

Then I got up and went upstairs, ignoring them. That night, ambiguous moans echoed from the living room. I pretended not to hear them.

Whitney even sent me a selfie; her neck was covered in hickeys. [Suzy, don't misunderstand, Ludwig mistook me for you last night. He sucked really hard; it'll probably take several days to fade.] I sneered inwardly, not replying.

The next day at noon, Jessica messaged me. [Have you packed your bags? I bought a 3 PM flight; I'll pick you up soon.]

I replied with [Okay.]

Then I opened the safe deposit box, intending to take the jade pendant my parents had left me for protection. But the safe was empty; the pendant was nowhere to be seen.

A sense of foreboding washed over me and I rushed downstairs. I saw Ludwig wearing an apron, cooking for Whitney in the kitchen. Whitney was sitting on the sofa, legs crossed, watching TV, the jade pendant around her neck.

I strode up to her and said coldly, "Give me back my jade pendant."

Whitney frowned and clutched the pendant tightly, "This was a gift from Ludwig. It is meant to protect me. I can't give it to you."

I sneered, "This is something my parents left me. Why should he give it to you?"

Hearing the commotion, Ludwig came over. Seeing Whitney and me arguing over the jade pendant, a hint of guilt flashed in his eyes.

Then he tried to reassure me, "Whitney is going to a very far place for training next month. I was a little worried about her being alone, so I lent her the jade pendant. Don't worry, I'll return it to you when she gets back."