Chapter 2
As she spoke, she opened a jewelry box, revealing a dazzling diamond ring.
“Last time, I saw your engagement ring and mentioned offhandedly that I liked it.”
“I didn’t expect…”
She glanced at James, her voice tinged with playful sweetness.
“I didn’t expect James to remember and even buy me one to cheer me up.”
“I heard it’s a one–of–a–kind custom design, something that can only be made once in a lifetime. I felt bad
about it, so I came to return it to you.”
Her words said “return,” but her grip on the box never loosened.
I lowered my gaze to the plain silver ring on my finger.
And suddenly, I found it laughable.
Two years of love.
Seven hundred and thirty days of companionship.
James had dismissed me with nothing more than a silver band worth less than two hundred dollars.
In bed and out of bed–I had been cheap from beginning to end.
I took two steps back. For the first time, I didn’t give James any face.
I turned and left.
The private room erupted in whispers.
Someone scoffed and sneered loudly.
“Who does she think she is, daring to throw a fit at James?”
“Shut up!”
James snapped, his face dark with anger.
By the time I walked out of the bar, it was already three in the morning.
Dating Two Years: Ho Still Wants The Inner
12.5%
Chapter 2
The streets were empty, save for the occasional gust of cold wind, stirring up memories I had buried.
Two years ago, while working a part–time job, I met James.
He told me he had never seen someone as pure as me.
He said he wanted a love that would never end.
I laughed at him.
Rejected him again and again.
Until New Year’s Eve that year–when my stepfather broke into my room in the dead of night.
Terrified, I dialed James’s number.
Through the heavy snowfall, he pulled me out of hell and promised me a home.
And I wanted a home.
For two years, he coaxed me into his bed, again and again, whispering promises of marriage.
But six months after our engagement, I finally realized-
Apart from this worthless silver ring, I had never even met his family.
Bullshit engagement.
Bullshit love.
Bullshit… me.
Tears blurred my vision as I yanked off the ring and tossed it into the trash.
James, I won’t marry you.
Two days until I leave for the classified mission.
The next morning, I got up early to pack my luggage.
James, who had been out all night, walked in. His gaze froze for a moment before he grabbed my hand.
“Where are you going?”
Without looking up, I gave a simple explanation.
18:44
Dating Two Years: He Still Wants The Inare
15.6%
“Final exams are coming up. I plan to move back to the dorms.”
James’s expression softened. He skillfully wrapped his arms around my waist from behind; his tone teasing and intimate.\
“For how many days? You know I can’t live without you.”
In the past, I enjoyed this kind of sweetness between lovers.
Now, for some reason, it made me so nauseous I wanted to throw up.
I pulled away from his embrace and continued packing my things.
James glanced casually in my direction, but his gaze quickly darkened when he noticed my bare finger.
“Where’s your ring? What happened to it? Why aren’t you wearing it?”
Three consecutive questions caught me off guard.
“It got dirty, so I took it off for now.”
I wasn’t sure if it was just my imagination, but James seemed to sigh in relief.
He smiled and made a casual promise.
“If it’s dirty, then just forget about it. It wasn’t worth much anyway. I’ll buy you a better one tomorrow.”
Yeah. It wasn’t worth much, after all.
Two years ago, when James proposed to me, it was in a hotel room.
After our passion had faded, I asked him, eyes red, “James, will you marry me?”
He froze for two seconds, then pulled a plain silver ring from his pocket and slipped it onto my finger.
No flowers. No applause. No kneeling on one knee.
Yet I was foolish enough to believe he would make me happy.
Thinking back on it now, I can’t help but laugh at my own naivety.
I zipped up my suitcase and went to the bathroom to wash my hands. Suddenly, my phone lit up with a
notification.
Lily had uploaded a proposal video on her social media.
18.8%
Chapter 2
In the shaky footage, James was kneeling on one knee amid a chorus of cheers, carefully sliding a diamond ring onto her finger.
Under the bright lights, the massive diamond sparkled dazzlingly-
And stabbed into my eyes like a blade.
By the time I exited and re–entered the app, the video was gone.
Only a message from Lily remained.
