Chapter 4

It was the year the pandemic broke out. I was juggling a part-time job while studying at Moonria University.

One day, I got an order to deliver medicine.

That was the first time I met Patricia.

She was burning with fever, barely able to stand as she clung to the doorframe.

I couldn't ignore her condition. I made her some medicine, but we both ended up quarantined in her house.

Patricia was seriously ill. I couldn't relax for a moment, caring for her around the clock.

When the lockdown lifted, we got together.

After graduation, I stayed by her side as we started a business in Moonria.

We lived in a tiny basement and survived on dry bread and cold water.

But I never imagined that one day, she'd betray all we had built together for another man.

I first heard the name Brian Ellison in the second year of our startup.

Post-pandemic, starting a company was incredibly tough.

One day, she came home excited, practically glowing.

"Guess what? I met someone amazing today. He gave us a five-million-dollar deal in one go! Our company is saved!"

After that, she always prepared gifts for him on holidays.

She said it was necessary to maintain a long-term partnership.

But I never thought she'd one day offer herself up as part of the deal.

They said love without a strong foundation crumbled like sand.

I stayed up late coding, building our website, and assembling our core team.

I worked hard to study finance, law, and management, all to support her.

But against wealth and power, my efforts seemed utterly worthless.

I lifted Patricia to new heights, only for her to play the part of a heartless betrayer.

I didn't blame her. I blamed myself for being blind.

When Patricia got home, I pretended to be asleep.

She set down a late-night snack by my side.

"You didn't eat well tonight, right? I brought you some steak. Try it.

I noticed the hickeys on her neck.

I smirked coldly.

"What happened to your neck?"

"Oh, the mosquitoes in Ganlria are so much worse than the ones up north. They're driving me crazy. I'm going to take a shower," she said, quickly covering her neck as she avoided my gaze.

It was such a poor excuse. Yet it took me until now to see through her lies.

I chuckled bitterly and threw the steak straight into the trash.

That night, Patricia snuggled up to my arm in bed.

I casually turned over, pulling my arm away.

The next morning, I packed my suitcase and left early.

"I got called back to Moonria for work," I told her.

Patricia sat up groggily. "I'll take you to the airport."

"No need. Get some more sleep."

She opened her arms for a hug. "Call me when you land, okay?"

"Sure," I replied, ignored my physical discomfort, and played along with her act.

I thought of the time years ago when I returned from studying in another city, arriving on a late-night flight. My flight was delayed, and Patricia waited for me outside the airport for five long hours on the freezing winter night.

She caught a terrible cold because of it, and I felt guilty for days.

After that, I never let her come to pick me up again.

As I reached the boarding gate, Patricia texted me.

[Are you at the airport yet?]

I snapped a photo of the terminal and sent it to her. Then I tore up my plane ticket and called a friend.