Fickle Hearts, Shifting Ties

Anya Morrison and Chris Roswell met in college and it was he who had pursued her.

From their university days until now,she had always believed they would get married,build a life together and start a family.

Never did she imagine that after six years of devotion,Chris would betray her again and again.

Having lost her mother in a car accident as a child,Anya had always longed for love,for a sense of security.That was why,after graduation,she had brought up marriage multiple times.

Chris knew this.He knew how much she wanted to be with him,how much she wanted to marry him.And yet,he had turned her down time and time again.

Now,looking back at those moments,she realized that perhaps he had never intended to marry her at all.The thought stung,sharp as needles piercing her heart.

Just then,her phone vibrated with a message from her father.[Anya,I’ve already arranged for you to meet with the Harrington Family on Sunday.]

Anya stared at the screen for a long time.Suppressing the storm of emotions within her,she tapped at the keyboard,hesitated for a moment and finally replied with a single[Okay.].

As if sensing her low spirits,Chris had been unusually attentive over the past two days.He took her out,brought her to the trendiest places and even led her into the most exclusive boutique in Ashbourne City.

The moment they stepped inside,a store employee approached,presenting a luxurious,royal green gown.

The intricate embroidery looked entirely hand-sewn,every stitch crafted with exquisite precision.Tiny diamonds were delicately embedded throughout,catching the light and making the dress shimmer with elegance.

At the sight of it,Chris's expression stiffened.He parted his lips as if to speak,but the moment his gaze landed on Anya beside him,he hesitated and fell silent.

Seeing the odd look on Chris’s face,Anya felt a flicker of unease.Before she could dwell on it,the store employee stepped forward with a bright smile.

"Mr.Roswell,the dress you personally designed has been completed.Would you like to check if any adjustments are needed?"

Then,as if realizing something,the employee hesitated before glancing at Anya."Since you've brought the young lady with you,she can try it on herself."

The moment those words left her lips,a flash of panic crossed Chris's eyes.His expression darkened instantly."What nonsense are you talking about?"

The store clerk was startled by his reaction and fell silent.Realizing she had misspoken,she dared not say another word.

Anya caught the nervous flicker in his eyes.Lowering her gaze,she reached out and lightly traced her fingers over the sapphire-green fabric before looking up at him."Did you design this?"

For a moment,his expression stiffened,but he quickly composed himself."Anya,a relative asked me to design it.I couldn’t refuse."

Chris was a renowned designer of both fashion and jewelry in the country.Every outfit,every accessory Anya owned down to the necklace resting against her collarbone had been gifts from him,tokens of his love.

She still remembered how he once had told her that since they had met in winter,he had designed the Winter Love Song necklace just for her.He had said that after meeting her,she became his only source of inspiration.

There had been many who sought his designs,but he turned them all down.He even publicly declared online,"From now on,I will only design for my girlfriend."

Even his own mother could not persuade him to design jewelry for her.She had only laughed and scolded him,saying,"You will completely forget your mother when you have a wife!"

At the time,they had posted a picture of their intertwined fingers online,drawing admiration and envy from countless people.Now,as she recalled those memories,they felt like they belonged to a distant past.

At that moment,a trace of unease flickered across Chris’s face.He had never done anything against his will.Not even his mother could convince him to design for her.

So,who was this relative who had managed to persuade him?And why did the mere mention of it make him so nervous?

A sinking feeling settled in Anya’s chest.She had a hunch that whatever answer awaited her was something she did not want to hear.

Lowering her gaze,she withdrew her hand from the dress and turned to leave.However,before she could take a step,a familiar female voice rang out behind her.

"Is the dress my boyfriend customized for me ready?I need it for my birthday in two days.Don’t waste my time.I expect it to be perfect."