Chapter 3

At Dusk Bar.

The air was thick with the scent of alcohol and hormones, as men and women swayed freely on the dance floor, their bodies moving with abandon.

I pushed through the noisy crowd and immediately spotted Sophia in a long red dress that clung to her curvy figure, accentuating her perfect silhouette.

She sat seductively at the bar, her expression a mix of confidence and subtle defiance. Her gaze shifted lazily, at times sharp, at times playful.

"Jenny, over here!" Sophia waved excitedly.

"Jenny, look at all these handsome guys! Just point out the one you like, and I'll bring him over," Sophia teased, raising an eyebrow.

"Sophia!"

"Alright, alright, just kidding! But seriously, I don't get it—there are so many good men out there, why are you still holding onto Daniel? What's so good about him?"

"Sophia, I need to use the restroom first," I cut her off.

I hurried away, but the bar was so dimly lit that I got a little lost.

Not sure where I ended up, I passed by a private room and heard a familiar voice.

The door was slightly ajar.

Through the crack, I saw Katherine sitting on his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck.

Egged on by the surrounding friends, he cupped Katherine's chin and leaned in to kiss her.

Daniel didn't notice me, but Katherine did. She caught my eye and gave me a smug, taunting smile.

"Daniel, when are you planning to divorce Jennifer? You can't keep dragging Kate along without a proper status. Don't tell me you've actually fallen for her?"

The voice belonged to someone I recognized—Daniel's close friend, Tony.

Although I wasn't that familiar with Daniel's friends before, they had always treated me well.

"How could that be? I've never loved her. If it weren't for the Davis Group in her hands, I'd never have married her."

"Back then, every time I saw her with that superior attitude, I hated it. Who cares about her pathetic charity? What I wanted most was to shred her pride and watch her kneel one day, begging for my mercy."

I froze where I stood, my heart feeling as though it had been struck by a bullet. My entire body was paralyzed.

"Hahaha, Daniel, you're ruthless. Aren't you afraid Jennifer won't be able to handle it when she finds out the truth?"

"Heh, don't worry. She's been under my control for five years now." Daniel let out a cold laugh.

At that moment, my mind completely shut down. I couldn't even think.

So, what was this love for the past five years? What was our three-year marriage? It was all a lie.

My chest felt like it was about to explode, and my eyes gradually filled with tears.

I stared hard at Daniel, trying to see something in his eyes.

But all I could find was disdain.

In the end, I didn't push the door open. Instead, I turned around, expressionless, as if nothing had happened, and walked away.

I wandered the streets, watching the endless stream of cars, my mind replaying the moment I first met Daniel.

Back in college, Daniel had been a poor student, living off school subsidies.

But even then, there was a determination in his eyes, a refusal to give up. He studied tirelessly, and his grades were excellent, carrying an air of pride that drew me in.

I started chasing after Daniel, doing everything I could to be good to him, spending money on him.

At first, Daniel didn't accept my kindness. He ignored me, keeping his distance.

But then, suddenly, he began to accept my kindness, started talking to me, even offering to help me with my studies.

He would show me a tender smile, playfully tap my forehead, and excitedly run to me whenever he saw me.

Later, Daniel confessed his feelings to me at a school anniversary party.

I was so thrilled that I couldn't sleep for three days straight.

I thought I was special to Daniel, that he was mine.

Eventually, Daniel and I got married. He was always there to fulfill my every request, speaking softly, smiling gently, and affectionately patting my head.

He once held me tenderly and said, "Jenny, It's so luck to meet you. I will treat you well for the rest of my life."

I believed I had married happiness and that I was the happiest person in the world.

But now I realized that these five years had been a lie.

From the moment Daniel's attitude toward me changed, it had all been part of a devious scheme.

It turned out Daniel despised me.

My blood seemed to turn to ice, and I shivered uncontrollably.

The twilight blurred, the stifling evening breeze turned into a cool wind, and the sky seemed to understand my mood, pouring down a torrential rain.

Even though it was September, my world felt like a frozen wasteland.