A Clean Break

One of the guys shouted, "That's the Gabriel I know! All that time you were playing the devoted, loving boyfriend to Melanie. Was that all an act? I honestly thought you'd changed!"

Gabriel finally broke the lingering kiss.

His voice was thick with drunkenness, but there was a cocky edge to it. "The one I've always loved is Yvie. But as the player she is, she just wouldn't settle for me."

Gabriel let out a chuckle and pressed a loud kiss to Yvette's cheek.

"That left me with no choice but to settle for her sister. Melanie might not be as wild as Yvie in bed, but she's got the looks and figure."

Gabriel helped Yvette up and had her lean against the bar to rest.

Someone nearby handed him a jacket, which he draped over Yvette's shoulders.

A voice from the crowd asked, "Are you going home tonight, Gabriel?"

As Yvette raised her hazy eyes to look at him, Gabriel bent down and affectionately pinched her chin.

"Melanie cares most about Yvette. I'm always second. Now that Yvette is so upset, I naturally need to comfort her."

He waved his hand toward the back.

"Isaac, message Melanie and tell her I'm too drunk to come home tonight. I'll be staying here, but I'll pick her up for her rehearsal tomorrow."

Tears blurred my vision as my phone vibrated.

Gabriel's assistant, Isaac Lawson, texted me. "Ms. Chandler, Mr. Johnson is too drunk to come home tonight. He'll be picking you up for your rehearsal tomorrow. Get some rest."

I stood there for what felt like forever. My mind was racing.

Yvette and I had always been there for each other. After our parents died, we were raised by our uncle, Edwin Chandler. My cousin, Jerry Chandler, often bullied me, and my aunt, Julissa Foley, turned a blind eye.

When I was too scared to fight back, Yvette stepped in for me. When I couldn't defend myself, she did it for me.

Academically, I was always the smarter one.

Yvette didn't care much for studying, so during our senior year, I'd spend every night doing revisions with her and breaking things down for her.

I painted a picture of a bright future for her, promising all the good things ahead. In the end, we both got into universities in the city.

When I found out my boyfriend had cheated on me right after graduation, Yvette stormed into the hotel without hesitation and gave the shameless couple a good beating.

Later, we rented a flat together. We were uncertain about what was to come. But we'd both squeeze into one bed at night, making promises to support each other when we succeeded.

"Even if we get rich, we can't forget where we come from."

"I'll give you the biggest room when I make it big."

From childhood, I always considered her the one I loved most. Maybe love from family had conditions, but I believed she would always love me back.

So when I saw her betrayal with my own eyes, I didn't even have the courage to confront her.

The one who once fought for me against the mistress was now the lover of my fiancé. My full trust in her was repaid with heartless betrayal.

When I left the outdoor bar, the full moon hung high in the sky, and the cold bit through my coat.

I recalled the first time I met Gabriel.

At 25, I became the most famous jewelry designer in Holmfirth.

During an international auction, I nearly passed out in front of my display after working for three days straight. Gabriel caught me just in time. His perfectly tailored suit and gentle gaze took my breath away.

Later, I heard he was the prince of Colchester's elite, a notorious flirt, so I made a point to avoid him. But he gave up all his bad habits to win me over and pursued me for an entire year.

That year, during Christmas, I went back to my hometown to visit my sick grandma, Rosie Pearson. The signal in the mountains was terrible, so I couldn't get in touch.

He worried I might be in danger, so he drove through mountains in the middle of the night to find me.

When I saw him standing in the snowstorm with only a thin shirt and asking villagers about my whereabouts, I knew then he was the one.

Despite three years of dating, he still treated me like the first day.

He'd fix my hair at jewelry exhibitions, always remember every important date to surprise me, and carefully prepare when introducing me to his family. He'd also proudly show me off to everyone.