When the Substitute Lover Unveils the Truth

I threw up violently, and almost all of my dinner came back up.

Nathan thought I was unwell and turned on his phone to order takeout and some stomach medicine for me.

With his back to me, it only took a few seconds before he turned around and looked at me, his voice hoarse.

"Did you look through my phone?"

I lay in bed, shaking all over.

I didn't look at him or say anything. I just felt so cold, as if I were about to die.

"There's nothing between Angela Roland and me. It was her birthday today, so I just gave her a gift. Don't overthink it."

Angela Roland?

So that girl's name was Angela Roland, and she even shared the same last name as Nathan. What a coincidence.

"Do you remember the most expensive gift you've ever given me?"

I slowly raised my eyes to look at him. "It was 999 dollars, a Coach bag you got during a flash sale. You told me it was a great deal, that it was hard to get."

"Molly..."

Nathan took my hand, trying to explain something, but ended up saying nothing.

"You like her?" I stared at his slightly guilty face and suddenly asked.

Nathan didn't speak.

He turned his head away, not even showing me his profile.

But at that moment, I understood everything.

Nathan and I met in high school. He was a friend of a friend, and at a group gathering, I noticed him right away.

Nathan was very handsome, tall, and the most dazzling, radiant one in the crowd.

I've always been bold. Seeing a handsome guy, I just had to talk to him, so I boldly followed him around for three years.

After the college entrance exams, I confessed my love to him. I thought he would reject me, but he accepted.

We got into the same university, the same major, and after graduation, we worked at the same company.

Later, the company prohibited office romances. For Nathan's future, I decisively resigned and joined another company.

But soon after I left, Angela joined his company.

I never thought that Nathan, who I believed would love me forever, would one day have a change of heart.

I didn't sleep that night.

Nathan knew I was upset and went to the guest room.

Coco slept beside me. I hugged her and only fell asleep in the second half of the night.

When I woke up in the morning, he had already gone to work.

He made breakfast for once and put it on the table.

I touched it; it was already cold, as cold as my heart.

I looked around the apartment we had lived in for two years, then packed up all my things.

Almost everything in this apartment was bought by me, but the place itself was his.

These things disgusted me now, so there was no need to take them, except for Coco.

Before leaving, I sent Nathan a message.

[Let's break up.]

I couldn't find a house yet, so I stayed in a hotel.

I sat on the floor, staring blankly out the window.

Coco kept barking; she probably didn't like the unfamiliar environment and whimpered constantly.

Nathan kept calling me. Watching the screen light up and dim repeatedly, tears streamed down my face.

[Molly, where are you? Stop messing around and come back!]

[There's really nothing between us, why don't you believe me?]

[Molly Jenkins, are you serious? Do you really want to break up with me?]

[You like LV, I'll buy it for you. Can't you stop being so childish?]

He sent me many messages, but I didn't reply to any of them.

Then my phone rang again. It was my best friend calling.

"Hello?"

"Molly, where did you go? You broke up with Nathan? When did this happen? Even if you broke up, there's no need for her to announce it so quickly, right? That bitch Angela already posted it on Instagram!"

Summer Vincent was my best friend from high school and worked at the same company as me. She was also friends with Nathan.

"What did you say?"

I was stunned, not understanding what she meant by "announce" or "Instagram."

"You're driving me crazy!" Summer's voice was on the verge of tears. "I'll send it to you! Check your messages!"

The call ended abruptly, and soon, Summer sent a message.

It was a photo of a girl snuggling in a guy's arms, smiling brightly.

And Nathan, with a gentle smile, had his arm around her.

That smile—I hadn't seen it in a long time. How long had it been? So long that I almost couldn't remember.

At that moment, I felt as if I were plunged into an ice cellar, the cold seeping from my heart to every corner of my body.