Landing Before Dawn

Michelle once thought Parker was her destined one. Until one day, she accidentally caught him and Janet in motion in the underground parking lot.

The intense swaying of the car and the obscene moaning made her sick to her stomach. In that moment, Michelle wanted to rush up and confront him, but she froze in place when she heard Parker say, "You're more fun than her."

Thinking of this, Michelle couldn't stop her tears.

Parker, panicked, wiped her tears and cautiously asked, "What's wrong? Don't you like this ring?"

Michelle shook her head like a rattle drum, suppressing the pain in her heart as she asked, "Parker, do you love me?"

"Silly, of course I love you." Parker hugged her tenderly, his voice filled with doting affection. "Michelle, let's get married. I want to build a home with you."

Suddenly, his phone rang. When Parker glanced at the caller ID, his expression stiffened and his eyes glinted with a hint of desire. However, facing Michelle, he offered an apologetic look, "Michelle, it's an urgent matter at work ..."

"It's my birthday today. Can't you stay with me?" Michelle stared directly at Parker.

Parker chuckled lightly and ruffled her hair, "Be a good girl. Wait for me at home."

Michelle watched Parker's hurried departure, her emotional defenses slowly crumbling. The next second, a message from Janet arrived, showing the room booking receipt for her and Parker. [Parker is going to play some bedtime games with me tonight, Michelle, do you have any recommendations?]

In an instant, Michelle felt as if her heart had been stabbed. Silently, she took off the ring from her hand. Anything that could be taken away never truly belonged to her.

Feeling dazed, Michelle walked back home. Just as she reached the apartment's entrance, she saw the violently rocking car at the corner.

The car window, half rolled down, had a slender hand resting on it—a hand wearing the very ring Parker had just proposed to her with. Struck like lightning, Michelle's trembling fingers dialed Parker's number.

Inside the car, the man, still unsated, frowned impatiently. But when he saw the caller ID, his gaze softened into tenderness.

"Where are you?" Michelle asked through trembling lips.

Parker replied softly, "Almost home, honey. If you're sleepy, go ahead and rest."

Tears streamed down Michelle's cheeks. She opened her mouth but could only force out an 'Okay' before ending the call, her quiet sobs filling the void.

How could he be so brazen, bringing Janet here to cheat right under her nose?

"Aren't you afraid of my sister finding out about us?" Janet's coy voice drifted out.

His words were answered by more fervent and passionate gasps, "Who's the little seductress luring me in, huh? Seducing your sister's fiancé, how shameless can you get!"

Janet gasped in mock surprise, bashfully replying, "It only because my future brother-in-law took the bait!"

***

Half an hour passed before the car finally quieted.

Michelle felt her blood surge to her head, her limbs cold and trembling as she dragged her numb body back into the apartment.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Parker followed shortly after, entering the house and hugging Michelle from behind. When he reached for her hand, he noticed it was bare, "Michelle, where's your ring?"

Michelle said calmly, "I took it off."

"Why would you take it off? Did I do something wrong to upset you?" Parker sounded flustered.

Michelle casually responded, "It's too precious, so I put it away."

Hearing this, Parker smiled helplessly, "Silly, how can a ring be more precious than you? Besides, I personally designed this ring for you, it's a testament to our love."