Ruins of Us

I chewed my food mechanically, my eyes devoid of emotion.

Abigail was someone I had once chased relentlessly, offering my sincere devotion and begging for her love, yet she treated me like something disposable.

Once, when I said I missed her, she gave me an address. But when I rushed there in wild excitement, all I saw was a crowd celebrating their win from a bet.

When I called her, she brushed it off and said, "I was just mentioning a place. I never said that I'd be there."

She had always been like this, trampling on my feelings and self-respect at every turn without mercy. I was truly exhausted.

The waiter looked at me helplessly. I simply waved my hand and said, "It's fine. You can go back to work."

Seeing how calm and unmoved I was, Abigail's brows furrowed. She repeated her old tricks and leaned close to Louis, every movement dripping with intimacy.

Cheers and teasing noises continued to rise from those around them.

After Abigail fed the champagne to Louis from her lips for the third time and shot me a provocative look, she finally saw me push my chair back and walk away.

She shoved Louis aside, caught up to me in a few strides, and grabbed me as she mocked, "Can't you handle it anymore? I would never want such a petty man as my husband."

I shook her off and asked, "Abigail, what gives you the confidence to think that I would definitely choose you?"

Abigail reacted as if she had heard the greatest joke. "Who else could it be? The Waller family just suffered a catastrophic investment failure. The Preston family's daughter is chronically ill. As for the Sutton family—"

Her lips curved into a cruel smile. "Their daughter is just there to fill the numbers. She's not even worth mentioning. Connor Foster, you have no other option but me."

Everything would be clear on my birthday. I had no interest in continuing to be the subject of their gossip.

Just as I was about to get into the car and head home, Louis ran out.

"Connor!" he shouted.

Since Dad and Abigail weren't around, he didn't bother pretending anymore. "Don't think that marrying Abby means you'll have her. The title's not important. The one who sleeps beside her is her real husband."

He spoke crudely, while I merely touched the antique cufflink and smiled faintly. "And yet, isn't that 'unimportant' title exactly what you want the most?"

Louis' smile froze, and he was so furious he nearly lost his footing. He knew exactly what I was saying.

Dad had sponsored him since elementary school and even arranged for him to work at Foster Group after graduation. He thought that he was opening the door to a new life for himself, but it turned out that he had unlocked a box of desire instead.

The reason he disappeared in my previous life had always remained a mystery. This time, I decided to stay out of it and watch how this pair of lovebirds would end up.

…

Dad told me that once the marriage alliance was officially announced, the engagement banquet would be held soon, so I needed to start preparing.

I ran into Louis at the designer's studio. Abigail had been having him dressed head to toe in luxury lately. At first glance, he really did look like the heir of a wealthy family.

He was on a video call with Abigail. When he saw me, he smiled and said to her, "Abby, I just went to see Mr. Foster Senior. He mentioned that Connor went to pick out his engagement outfit, and I happened to run into him right away."

Abigail saw me as well, and her smile faded instantly. "Connor, don't waste your effort. No matter how expensive you dress, you won't compare to a single strand of Louie's hair in my eyes."

Louis pretended to scold her. "Stop it, don't embarrass Connor."

He spread his arms and turned in front of me. "Connor, do you think this outfit looks good? Abby insisted on giving it to me. It's just a bit tight, so she told me to come adjust the size."

I hadn't intended to pay him any attention, but when I took in the blue suit he was wearing, I was shaken to my core. "How do you have this suit?"

I looked at Abigail on the screen. "Did you give it to him?"