Chapter 2

All these years with Daniel, he knew I was an introverted social recluse, always needing someone by my side.

So this morning, he’d woken up early and prepared everything.

When I woke up, all that was left was to eat breakfast and follow him to the plastic surgery clinic.

Before he led me into the operating room, he even kissed my forehead, his eyes overflowing with what looked like deep affection.

“Chloe, as soon as this surgery is done, we’ll make it official.”

“Chloe, you know? I can’t wait to tie the knot with you!”

Looking at the man before me, I felt so incredibly lucky and happy, convinced I’d found the perfect guy.

Lying in the operating room, I suddenly remembered I was allergic to a specific anesthetic.

Just as I reached the door, I saw Dr. Miller, the plastic surgeon, in his white coat.

I opened my mouth to speak, but then I heard Daniel’s familiar voice from just outside.

“Seriously, I can’t believe it. It’s been six whole years since you broke up, and you still haven’t moved on from Lily? She’s married now, her kid’s two years old! You’re not still fantasizing about her, are you?”

After a few seconds of silence, Daniel’s voice came through, filled with a bitterness I’d never heard before. “Yeah, Lily’s etched into my very soul. All these years since we broke up, I’ve dreamt of her every single night. How am I supposed to let go?”

“Since I’m destined to never marry Lily, I might as well find a woman who’s easy to mold and reshape her into Lily’s image.”

“And honestly? This Chloe, she’s the easiest woman I’ve ever met to string along.”

“She believes everything I say. She even believes I never lie? It’s actually hilarious. Who in this world never lies?”

Dr. Miller’s voice came again. “But you clearly love Lily, yet you’re marrying Chloe. Is that fair to Chloe?”

Just seconds later, Daniel’s indifferent voice replied, “Fair or not, what’s it matter? I’ll treat her well after we’re married, won’t I?”

“Besides, Chloe likes me so much. The fact that I’d even agree to marry her? She should buy a lottery ticket, she’s so lucky.”

I leaned against the cold wall, and in that instant, I felt my body temperature drop even lower than the frigid surface beneath my back.

Before I met Daniel, I never believed anyone in this world truly never lied.

But then, I saw him risk everything to speak the truth for an old lady hit by a car, or choose to lose millions to be honest about his company’s finances.

Time and again, in countless crises, even life-or-death situations, he always chose the truth.

I’d known Daniel for seven whole years, and I’d only ever seen him lie once.

And that single lie, though it was for me, almost cost him his life.

That’s when I learned that since birth, whenever he lied, his body would break out in rashes, severe enough to be life-threatening.

Yet Daniel’s casual ‘easy to string along’ comment effortlessly negated seven years of my love for him.

Their conversation wasn’t over. Clenching my teeth against the searing pain in my chest, I picked up my phone and hit record.