Fickle Hearts, Shifting Ties

Back in the hall,Chris had already changed his clothes,but every time she got close,she could smell the strong scent of perfume that still clung to him.

She seemed to understand how the smell on his body had tainted him.Carmen approached with a flushed face,her voice sweet and smug."Anya,I really love the necklace you gave me."

Chris glanced at Anya,concern lacing his tone."Anya,where did you go just now?I couldn’t find you anywhere."

He looked as if he genuinely cared,but Anya could no longer muster any emotion.Her expression was empty as she answered numbly,"I went to the bathroom."

He seemed about to say more when her phone rang.It was Gregory.His voice came through the receiver,calm yet firm."Anya,have you met Samuel?What do you think of him?"

Anya did not answer his question.Instead,her voice was soft but resolute."Dad,I will follow your arrangements."

Gregory spoke gently,"If there are no issues,the Harrington Family has set the wedding for the 28th of this month.I’ve checked the date and it’s a good one."

"Okay."

As soon as she hung up,a hand suddenly grasped her wrist."Anya,who are you going to marry?"

She turned to see Chris staring at her,his face filled with nervousness,completely different from the look he had just moments ago.The contrast was almost laughable.

Had he been pretending for so long that he could not stop himself from acting?

Her tone was calm and indifferent."It’s not me."

With just one sentence,Chris let out a breath of relief.His stiff posture eased as he said,"I thought you were leaving me because you were marrying someone else."

He even looked aggrieved as he spoke,but Anya had no patience for his nonsense."Don't overthink it."

Back home,Anya received a message from Carmen.Attached were pictures of Carmen and Chris naked on the balcony.

They had the audacity to do this,so brazenly,in front of so many people.Truly,they were a perfect match.

Carmen's message followed shortly after.[Stop pretending.I know you saw it.Anya Morrison,even after six years,the only person he will ever love is me.]

Anya's reply was brief.[If you like him so much,take him.I won’t be giving out gifts for free anymore.]

With that,she blocked Carmen’s contact.Since Carmen wanted him so badly,they could have each other.

Then,she began packing.She gathered everything at home,every gift Chris had ever given her,every carefully designed piece,every outfit.

That day,Anya received a message from Chris,which was a hotel address along with a selfie of Carmen nestled in his arms in an unmistakably intimate pose.

Carmen's tone was smug as she taunted,[Anya,you have no idea how much Chris loves me.He won’t even let me get out of bed.He’s so cruel.]

[Compared to me,you are nothing!]

Anya did not bother replying.Instead,she sent the photo straight to a news agency.She had no time to waste on their affairs.

To her,they were nothing more than strangers now.

That night,she burned every piece of clothing Chris had ever given her,watching as the flames consumed the beautiful fabrics,reducing them to ashes.Her face remained expressionless.

In her heart,Chris had become synonymous with the word filth.The mere thought of him filled her with utter disgust.

The next day,news of Chris’s infidelity exploded across social media,landing him on the trending list and shocking countless people.

[What the hell!Doesn’t he still have a girlfriend?]

[Oh my God,six years of dating and he still cheated?How am I supposed to believe in love after this?!]

[I used to admire their relationship.His girlfriend must be devastated...]

Anya,however,had no time to dwell on the public's reaction.

She was busy since Samuel had taken her to get her wedding dress custom-made,even inviting the most renowned designer in the country to create something exquisite just for her.