Finding Love With Someone Else

Four hours later, I received a message from Olivia with a photo attached. "Guess what I found in Mr. Felton's clothes?" The photo showed the ring Shawn had given me.

I stared at the picture, feeling as though my heart was being tightly squeezed.

Then, Olivia sent another message, "This is the ring that Mr. Felton gave you, right? Too bad. I just played around a bit, and now it's mine."

My vision went dark, and I felt like I was suffocating. I was trembling so much that I could barely hold my phone. In the end, it slipped from my hands to the floor.

Shawn had claimed that this ring was mine alone, yet he'd still given it to someone else. I couldn't help but feel the irony of it all.

After all these years, the love we shared was no longer mine.

My phone lit up a few more times, but I no longer had the courage to look at it. I numbly washed my face, trying to erase the last trace of affection I had for him.

By the time I woke up the next morning, Shawn had already returned.

He was beaming with satisfaction, and I could see several faint red marks on his neck.

I stared at him in silence.

Quickly, he guiltily averted his gaze. Then, he edged closer to me. "Anna, I'm really sorry. There was so much happening at the company. I just couldn't get away." His warm breath brushed my skin as he leaned in, but all I felt was a coldness that cut straight to my heart.

A wave of bitterness rose within me. I gently pushed him away and nonchalantly said, "I've changed my mind. The ring is the tangible symbol of our love." Then, I turned to him and demanded, "Shawn, where's my ring?"

Shawn froze for a moment, his expression flickering between guilt and uncertainty.

At that moment, it felt as if I had been plunged into an icy abyss. I already knew what his answer would be.

After a brief pause, Shawn pursed his lips and said, "Anna, I think the ring's design was too old-fashioned. It didn't suit you.

"Why don't we pick a new one? I know a place with some nice, modern designs…"

I shook my head and cut him off, "Forget it. It's useless now."

Though I had expected this, the reality stung harder than I'd expected.

A flicker of panic flashed across Shawn's face as he grabbed my hand and frantically said, "Anna, are you mad at me? How could it be useless? We're getting married soon. Don't scare me like this. I'll have a new one made right away."

Upon listening to his words, all I felt was disgust.

"It's fine. I'm not angry. How about you make it up to me by taking me out to dinner?" I suggested.

Shawn immediately seemed relieved and replied, "I'll take you to dinner right now."

I looked at his relaxed expression and wondered if he would still be so calm if he knew I had already decided to leave him.

At the restaurant, Shawn thoughtfully cut my steak and placed it in front of me. He then called the waitress over and asked her to pour some hot water for me.

However, the waitress looked oddly familiar.

It was only then that I realized it was Olivia.

She smirked and proudly showed off the diamond ring on her finger.

Shawn frowned and shot Olivia a cold look. "Once you're done, leave. Don't hang around here," he flatly said.

With that, Olivia stormed off.

Throughout dinner, Shawn stayed by my side, but he seemed distracted. He shifted uneasily in his seat, and his gaze was constantly drifting.

Finally, he took my hand and stood up. "Anna, I'm going to the bathroom."

I nodded and watched him leave.

A few minutes later, I received a message from Olivia. It said, "Come to the bathroom."

I quietly pushed open the door and immediately overheard their conversation in the stall.

Shawn's voice sounded restrained. "Don't show up in front of Anna again. I'll give you whatever you want."

Olivia teased in a playful tone, "Then I want you to stay with me tonight."

Shawn sighed as if he was giving in. "Alright, but I need to go home and be with Anna first."

The moment he finished speaking, I expressionlessly closed the door and walked out of the restaurant.

I quickly sent a message to Charles Godwin, my fiancé. He was the person I was arranged to marry. "Didn't you say the wedding dress had arrived? I'll go try it on now."

…

By the time I got home, Shawn was anxiously pacing in the living room.

When he saw me, he immediately pulled me into a tight hug. "Anna, where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere."

I gently pushed him away. Then, I walked straight to the sofa and sat down. I thought about the wedding dress and gave a faint smile. "I went to try on my wedding dress."

Shawn seemed relieved by my response. "Anna, I know you're excited about our wedding. But next time, please don't leave without saying anything, okay?"

I nodded slightly but didn't argue with him. I didn't tell him that the dress I tried on wasn't the one for our wedding.

After all, I was leaving him tomorrow. While he was walking down the aisle with someone else, I would be marrying another man.

Shawn crouched down and pressed his face against my knees. From this angle, I could see the faint red marks on his neck.

"Anna, I got you a new ring," he said and held out a ring box. The diamond on the ring was massive, and the craftsmanship was exquisite. It was clear that Shawn had put thought into it.

Yet, I wasn't excited about it. I simply smiled, then handed the box back to him. "Let's save it for the wedding."

Shawn didn't notice anything different about me. He simply gazed at me with the same loving expression he always had, as if nothing had changed between us.

However, I knew he was no longer the man who loved me, and I wasn't the woman who only loved him anymore.

Just then, his phone rang.

Shawn's eyes flickered with unease as he saw the name flashing on the screen.

"Anna, there's some work at the company. I might need to go check on it. You can sleep alone. You don't have to wait for me," he said.

I obediently nodded as I watched him leave in a hurry. I could hear the car engine roaring as he drove off.

I then stood up and began to pack my things.

Once the house was empty of my presence, I let out a deep sigh of relief.

Then, I opened my phone and looked at a message from Olivia.

"Tomorrow, Mr. Felton will throw me a wedding even grander than yours. He's buying me a wedding dress that's supposedly more expensive than yours too."

I smiled softly, then calmly replied, "What a coincidence. I'm getting married tomorrow too."

I then placed the printed chat logs between Olivia and me on the coffee table and walked downstairs.

Meanwhile, in the Maybach outside, Charles had been waiting for me.

I got into the car, took one last look at the house I had lived in for so long, then closed my eyes.

From this moment, Shawn and I were strangers.