Chapter 2

With a thud, my backpack hit the floor.

As I crouched down to pick it up, a prenatal examination report fluttered down near my feet.

Twelve weeks pregnant. In the mother's name column: Summer's name.

During that period, Summer kept saying she was too busy, only answering my calls once a week.

One time when Summer finally agreed to a video call, I clearly noticed a hickey on her neck.

"Mosquito bite," Summer immediately explained. "Mason, in all these years of long distance, have you ever seen anyone else around me?"

I believed her and even apologized to Summer for being too suspicious.

Now, she'd become someone else's wife.

She was even carrying his child.

The man took the prenatal report from my hand, smiling as he thanked me.

Seeing me standing there motionless, he asked, "Are you here to see Summer too?"

I nodded.

"Let's go up together then. Summer's meetings always run long."

In the reception room, the man introduced himself. His name was Gilbert, the head of the Gilbert family in Harbor City.

"Summer acts tough but has a soft heart. She always says she's too busy, but she obediently comes with me to every prenatal checkup."

He looked at the prenatal report in his hand, his eyes full of affection.

"She's been working overtime constantly lately, says she needs to earn enough for the baby's formula. As if the whole company doesn't belong to her family—making up excuses to humor me."

I gripped my bag tightly, suppressing my rage.

Summer had lied to me, saying she was just an ordinary employee, bullied at the company, struggling to get promoted.

Seven years of long distance—she complained our distance was too far, kept dragging her feet about marrying me.

So after finishing my last project at year-end, I immediately quit my job and specially rushed to Harbor City to propose to her.

Footsteps sounded from the doorway.

Several men in suits passed by the reception room, greeting Gilbert one after another: "Mr. Gilbert here waiting for his wife again?"

When Summer entered the reception room, her colleagues immediately teased her.

"Miss Summer, your husband's here checking up on you again!"

Gilbert stepped forward and naturally wrapped his arm around her waist, his tone complaining.

"Honey, what kind of meeting takes this long?"

"Today ran a bit late, won't happen next time."

Summer kissed the man's chin, softly soothing him.

She looked up and saw me, the smile on her face instantly freezing.

Just for a second—then she regained her composure, speaking coldly: "Why are you here?"

Gilbert turned to look at me. "Honey, who's this?"

The colleagues exchanged glances, laughing as they explained for Summer.

"What else could the relationship be? Must be Miss Summer's friend."

"Don't worry, Mr. Gilbert. Everyone knows how much Miss Summer adores you."

Summer stepped forward, positioning herself between me and Gilbert, explaining with polite distance: "He's my college classmate."

She turned to her assistant: "Please see this gentleman out. Don't let him interfere with everyone's work."

I looked at her in disbelief.

But her gaze was entirely on Gilbert.

When the assistant came to escort me out, Summer only focused on holding Gilbert's hand.

"Let's go, honey. Time for the prenatal checkup."

Gilbert lowered his head to kiss her, laughing: "Such an obedient wife."

As he passed by me, Gilbert glanced back. "Honey, leaving your classmate like that isn't very nice."

Summer didn't look back at me.

"Just a classmate I barely know. How could he be more important than you?"

Tears fell uncontrollably. Passing employees watched my humiliation with mocking eyes.

Ten years together, seven years long distance, traveling over a thousand kilometers—only to receive "just a classmate I barely know" in return.

On my phone still lay a message Summer had sent three days ago.

She'd said: "Mason, give me a little more time. Once my work stabilizes, I'll marry you."

For those words, I'd quit my job and traveled a thousand miles to her.

Never imagining it was all a lie.