Across the table, Sherina was giggling mischievously as she nibbled on Kervin’s ear, offering a half-hearted apology. But between her playful whispers, she shot a glance at me—just one look.
That single glance wiped the smile clean off her face.
Her expression darkened as she gritted her teeth and asked, “Preston, where’s the bracelet?”
She was referring to the very first gift she ever gave me.
For fifteen years—through childhood, school, and adulthood—I had never once taken it off.
Taking my time, I sipped my porridge and didn’t even lift my eyes as I replied indifferently, “It was old. It broke.”
Her jaw tensed. She let out a mirthless laugh and rubbed her temples.
“And then what? You just threw it away?”
I didn’t answer. I simply said, “I’m done eating. Enjoy the rest of your meal.”
As I stood up, entirely unaffected, Sherina slammed her palm onto the table.
But before she could explode, Kervin cried out first, “Sherina! I cut my hand with the butter knife!”
Without hesitation, Sherina took his finger into her mouth to suck the blood, then rushed off to the hospital with him in tow.
The moment they left, the moving company I had scheduled arrived.
I had them pack up all of my belongings and move everything into the new apartment my fiancée had purchased.
Afterward, I placed the keys to the villa on the entryway table and walked out without looking back.
—
Two days later.
Just as I stepped out of my personal studio, Sherina ambushed me—dragging me by force to a seaside restaurant.
Candlelight, ocean breeze, fresh seafood...
All the date fantasies I used to whisper into her ear—she’d arranged them all in one night.
Then, she took out a pristine, snow-white Buddhist amulet, and tried to put it around my neck herself.
I immediately stepped back and declined politely, “It’s too valuable. You should give it to Kervin.”
Her expression shifted slightly.
“I was gone for two days and now you’re sulking like a corpse? What’s with the long face, Preston? Don’t tell me you actually see yourself as the Andrews family’s son-in-law?”
I smiled faintly. “I wouldn’t dare.”
Seeing my cold detachment, her gaze turned sharper. “Preston, I’m warning you—know when to stop. Don’t go testing my limits for no reason.”
Shaking my head, I replied flatly, “Don’t worry. From this moment on, there will be no more connection between us. Because—”
But I didn’t get to finish.
Sherina’s phone rang. It was Kervin.
His voice was choked with emotion on the other end.
“Sherina... today is your ten-year anniversary with Preston. I shouldn’t be calling, I know. But... I’m leaving."
"No one’s forcing me—I’m doing this willingly, really...” he sighed.
With that, the call ended.
No matter how many times she tried to call back, it only rang busy.
In a rage, she smashed the Buddhist amulet onto the ground, shards flying everywhere—One slashed across my cheek, but she didn’t even flinch.
Instead, she lunged at me, her hand clamping tightly around my throat.
“What the hell are you plotting again?!” she growled.
I stared back, utterly unafraid. “This has nothing to do with me.”
Her lips curled into a bitter smile. “Preston, your fake innocence and jealous little act make me sick.”
With a final glare full of loathing, Sherina turned and stormed off.
She had barely stepped out when my phone buzzed.
It was a message from Kervin.
[Preston, so what if you’re rich and powerful? In the end, my three months still beat your ten years.]
I replied with a single word [Congratulations], then blocked him.
But I didn’t even make it to the door.
Before I could leave, five bodyguards arranged by Sherina grabbed me, covering my mouth, dragging me into the bathroom—Forcing my head into a filthy toilet bowl, again and again.
When I was barely conscious, my body trembling, gasping for air, they stripped me naked and threw me into a -99°C industrial freezer like I was a dead dog.
