Love Fading

Tears finally streamed uncontrollably down my face, landing precisely on the caption beneath Catherine's post.

"The beautiful memories of last night. He said, a fake is just a fake, it can never compare to me, the original treasure."

I wiped away my tears and absentmindedly tapped "like" on the post.

Turning away, I left the company and ran into my best friend, Sophia, who was there on business. Without hesitation, I told her the news that I was about to go back and get married.

Over the years, because of Ethan's request to keep our relationship a secret, every time I talked to Sophia about matters of the heart, I would deliberately change the subject. But now that I was leaving, I felt it was only right to tell her and say a proper goodbye.

Sophia's face was filled with shock. "Is it really happening so suddenly? Does that mean we won't be able to see each other again for a long time?"

I helplessly nodded, but before I could say anything, she pouted and grabbed my arm. "Kate, you always said you were too busy with work and I never had a chance to get my mom to meet you, my best friend. Now that you're leaving, there's no way you can back out today! So, you must come with me, no matter what!"

And just like that, I found myself being dragged by Sophia to attend the family dinner her family was hosting that evening.

I had always avoided Sophia's invitations because Ethan had told me that he would wait until the day he officially revealed our relationship before bringing me to meet his mother.

After all these years together, I never got to experience that moment where he would introduce me to his family.

To my surprise, now that I was about to leave, I finally had the chance.

After finishing my styling, Sophia and I arrived at the Clark Family residence, only to find that the family dinner was already halfway through.

Ethan stood next to his parents, with Catherine by his side. Various socialites and influential figures came forward to offer their blessings for their engagement.

It turned out that tonight's family dinner was organized to officially announce their engagement.

It seemed Ethan couldn't wait to announce to the whole world that he was marrying Catherine.

I instinctively wanted to leave, but Sophia had already grabbed my arm and was pulling me toward them.

“Dad! Mom! I brought my dear best friend to meet you!”

When Ethan saw me, his expression froze for a moment and he slightly loosened his hold on Catherine.

As soon as his mother saw me, her face brightened with joy. "I've heard my daughter talk so much about you, how you're an ambitious and kind-hearted friend. Now that I see you in person, you really are as beautiful and familiar as she described!"

I awkwardly shook my head.

Seeing his mother treat me with such closeness and affection made my heart ache with an indescribable sense of desolation.

We could have almost become a pair of well-matched mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

"By the way, Miss Johnson, I heard from Sophia that you’ve been busy with work all these years and haven’t had time to date. Today, we have many good young men at our family dinner. Would you like me to help introduce you to someone?"

Before I had a chance to decline, Ethan let out a cold laugh. "She doesn't need it."

Of course, I didn't need it anymore—after all, I was about to go back for a marriage alliance.

Sophia, standing beside me, quickly added, "Mom, Kate really doesn't need it. My dear best friend is about to get married in Brightvale. I don’t even know how many times a year we’ll get to see each other from now on..."

When Ethan heard this, the smug expression on his face froze and his gaze became dark and unreadable as he fixed it on me.

I went to the restroom for a moment and when I returned to the banquet hall, Ethan caught me in the corner and pulled me into his arms.

With a lazy movement, he lowered his head, his voice tinged with reproach as it echoed in my ear.

"Baby, don't make up stories about marrying someone else in the future. I’ll get jealous if I hear it."

I looked at him, a strange feeling bubbling up inside me and I couldn't help but find it a little amusing.