He chuckled, a hint of embarrassment in his tone. “I remember I gave you 999 roses back then, and you refused them all. I convinced myself that this paper rose was your way of giving something back to me. Silly, wasn’t it?”
His eyes softened, a nostalgic light flickering in them, and for a brief moment, his handsome face radiated love—the kind that used to make my heart race.
I wanted to feel moved, to believe in the sincerity of the moment. But my gaze fell to his collarbone, where faint marks marred his skin.
I pointed, my voice calm but cutting. “Killian, why is your collarbone red?”
His reaction was instant—panic flashed across his face before he quickly buttoned his shirt all the way up, his hands fumbling. “Oh, that? Probably a mosquito bite. My neck’s been itchy all day, so I must have scratched it raw without realizing.”
I said nothing, just watched him in silence as he awkwardly fumbled through his excuse.
The smell of alcohol clung to him, and he announced that he was going to shower. But before he could leave, I stopped him.
“Killian,” I said, my voice steady, “do you remember the vows we made at our wedding?”
He blinked, caught off guard. “Why are you asking this all of a sudden?”
Even so, he recited them smoothly. “When we become husband and wife, we are one in this life. Between you and me, there is no betrayal, no change of heart, and no deception.”
He hadn’t forgotten. For a fleeting second, I almost wondered if he still meant them.
Killian stepped closer, his lips brushing against my forehead in a soft kiss. His eyes, brimming with what seemed like love, locked onto mine. “Don’t worry, my wife. I will never betray you, let alone deceive you. This is my promise to you.”
His words lingered in the air, heavy with irony. Moments later, he disappeared into the bathroom, leaving me alone in the living room.
Not long after, the doorbell rang.
I opened it, and standing on the other side was his assistant—Anastacia.
Anastacia stepped into the room, her emerald jewelry gleaming under the lights. She wore emerald earrings that caught the light with every movement, three necklaces draped around her neck, and emerald bracelets that glittered on her wrists. The large emeralds on her fingers only added to the display of wealth. As expected, the jewelry bought at 900 million was nothing short of breathtaking.