Chapter 1
“When you graduate, we’ll get married.”
I believed him.
So I pushed myself to the limit, taking extra courses and trying to graduate early,
Until one night, I stayed up studying too late and missed the dorm curfew, I went to the bar to find him.
And by accident, I overheard his conversation with his friends.
“James Anderson, is your girlfriend Laura Parker really that wild?”
“Of course. Who else but me trained her?”
“What about Lily Young?”
James exhaled a puff of smoke, his gaze soft and tender.
“She’s different. She’s pure.”
At that moment, I began to hate him.
When I returned to campus, I called my professor Howard without hesitation.
“That secret project you mentioned–I want in.”
From now on, my life belongs only to my country.
“Professor, about the Spark Project you mentioned earlier–I want in.”
The professor paused, clearly surprised.
“Are you sure? Once you join the Spark Project, you won’t be able to contact the outside world for at least five years.”
“Didn’t you refuse last time? You said you were going to marry your boyfriend after graduation.”
I stood before the mirror, running my fingers over the countless marks on my skin–reminders of past intimacy. My lips curled into a bitter smile.
“Not anymore. From now on, I dedicate myself to my country.”
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Dating Two Years: He Still Wants The Innem
Chapter 1
Seeing my unwavering determination, the professor sighed but didn’t try to dissuade me further.
“The transport to the base leaves in three days. Take this time to properly say goodbye to your boyfriend.”
“After all, you two are engaged.”
1 hummed in response, lowering my gaze to the engagement ring on my finger. My eyes burned.
Yes. We were engaged.
Lost in thought, my phone suddenly buzzed. It was a message from James.
‘Why aren’t you replying? Come out and keep me company.’
The address he sent… was the same bar from earlier.
I didn’t rush to respond. Instead, I opened my laptop and double–checked my application form.
Only after confirming everything was in order did I leave to meet him.
“Why are you so late?”
James lounged lazily on the sofa, displeased with my tardiness.
“No taxis. Had to wait a while.”
I made up an excuse, intending to sit beside him.
But before I could, he grabbed my waist and smirked.
“Get up. That’s not your seat.”
His words flipped a switch in the room, triggering laughter from the others.
“Yeah, Laura, that’s not your spot.‘
One of James’s childhood friends spoke first, his tone full of amusement.
“How could you sit on the sofa? You should be sitting on James’s lap.”
The others chimed in, their voices dripping with teasing.
“Exactly! Look, all our girls are sitting in our laps.”
I lifted my gaze, taking in the scene.
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They were right.
Every man in the room had a woman in his arms–women in revealing outfits, their bodies draped over them with practiced ease.
My heart plummeted.
I recognized those women.
They were well–known socialites of the bar.
And I… was James’s fiancée.
At least, in name.
My fingers brushed against the engagement ring on my hand. I turned to look at James, waiting for him to say something.
But he didn’t even glance at me. Instead, he idly swirled his drink, as if oblivious to the mockery in the air.
Only when the room fell into complete silence did he finally stretch out a hand toward me, offering the most perfunctory reassurance.
“They’re just joking. Don’t take it to heart.”
When I didn’t respond, he sighed and finally put on a show of mild irritation, half–heartedly scolding his friends before pulling me down beside him.
“Alright, don’t be mad. Next time, I’ll tell them to watch what they say.”
The atmosphere quickly returned to its usual liveliness.
I leaned against James, mind already formulating how to break up with him.
Then, the bar’s doors swung open.
A woman in a white dress walked in.
Lily.
In an instant, every man in the room shoved the women off their laps, scrambling to straighten their
clothes.
James included.
He pushed me aside and strode over to her, gently covering her eyes with his hand. His voice was as soft
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Chapter 1
as the night breeze.
“Lily, be good. Let us clean up first.”
Then, he shot a glance at the others, his expression carrying an unspoken warning.
“Well? Hurry up and get these people out of here. Don’t dirty Lily’s eyes.”
At his words, the room erupted into action.
People rushed to open windows, ushering the women away.
Someone even thoughtfully switched on the white ceiling lights, brightening the entire private room–yet failing to illuminate the darkness in my heart.
So this is how James acts when he truly cares about someone.
Suddenly, I had no desire to stay any longer.
I stood up and walked toward the exit.
The abrupt movement startled the others, and someone quickly reminded James.
“James, your fiancée is still here.”
James frowned, responding instinctively.
“So what? It’s not like-”
Mid–sentence, he seemed to catch himself. He withdrew his hand from Lily’s eyes, masking his reaction with a casual explanation.
“Lily is innocent. She’s not like you.”
I laughed softly, though bitterness curled at the edges of my smile.
He had forgotten–Lily was actually a year older than me.
But because I didn’t matter to him, my feelings were irrelevant.
I stepped past them, ready to leave.
Yet Lily suddenly blocked my path, her voice delicate and hesitant.
“Laura, don’t be upset. I came to return something.”
