Chapter 2

In Brandon's words, I was so "heartbreakingly innocent" when I was a freshman in college five years ago. He was deeply in love with me at that time, and he spoiled me rotten. He treated me like a treasure. Among all his girlfriends, I was the one who dated him for the longest, and I even got engaged to him before graduation. Alas, I was no longer the same woman, and my reputation had been ruined. Everyone in Camden City knew about the shameless actions I partook in, just to get hitched to the rich Brandon Price. Brandon said he was sick of my innocence. To pander to him, I forced myself to join his hedonist social circle and meet his kinks. He wanted a girl who was sensual, seductive, and bold. Casting aside my shame, I tried to fulfill all his desires. Yet, my cooperation only earned a few mocking remarks from him. "Reegan Rowland, you're a slut." "Even a prostitute isn't as wild as you in bed." "Look at you now. Do you even look like a woman from a proper family?" Then, he suggested we break up. When Dad heard about it, he threatened me with the well-being of my young brother and sister, forcing me to lock in my marriage to Brandon. To make Brandon stay, I resorted to extreme measures, such as cutting my wrist and taking poison to end my life. Now, he stared at me, a shell of my former self, and revealed that he was in love with Jenna. He liked that Jenna resembled my innocent self from five years ago. I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it, but I couldn't bring myself to do that. Brandon admitted, "I love her so much that I wish to make her my wife. Unlike you, she's very timid and naive. I need to take responsibility for her." I wanted to speak, but the words were stuck in my throat. I found myself voiceless. A while later, I finally forced a smile. "Fine. I understand." He said, "I'll talk to your family to get them off your back." "That's fine. I'll settle that on my own." "Fine. Whatever." Brandon got up and staggered around. Then, he took out an item from his shirt pocket and tossed it at the coffee table. Upon laying my eyes on the item, my eyelids started to twitch. It was a gift we exchanged during our engagement—a gold charm belonging to my late mother. Brandon had given me his mother's belongings—a double-layer emerald bracelet that I was currently wearing. "Take off that bracelet. I'm calling off our engagement." I looked at him. His charming eyes were frosty. It struck me at that moment that the "marriage" he had brought up was the one between him and Jenna, not with me. It turned out that our five years of relationship was no match for the ecstasy and excitement of cheating on me with Jenna. At first, I thought I would suffer a breakdown. Yet, I did not even shed a tear. He arched a brow in surprise at my calm reaction. Still, he took the bracelet from me and left without any lingering emotions.