Chapter 2

Those photos didn't just show birthday cakes. There were anniversaries, Valentine’s Days, and New Year’s Eves.

The very last photo showed a cake with the words [999 Days] written on it.

I stood there, frozen, for what felt like an eternity.

Doing the math, Vivian had been with another man since the third year of our long-distance relationship.

She used to tell me, *"Asher, baby, please understand. Work is so crazy right now, and flights are so expensive. Let's save every penny we can so we can get married sooner."*

My heart had ached for her back then. I swallowed all my loneliness and promised to be patient.

That was why we talked less and saw each other less. It turned out she was spending all that saved time in the arms of another man.

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms, desperately suppressing the bitter wave of betrayal and fury rising in my chest.

The man didn't notice my distress. He offered his hand. "By the way, I'm Julian."

"What a coincidence that you're celebrating today too. I booked the best rooftop restaurant overlooking Manhattan tonight. If you don't mind, why don't you join us?"

My mind was a chaotic mess. Acting on pure, desperate impulse, I nodded.

Until I saw Vivian with my own eyes, I refused to let my heart die.

We took the elevator up to the 49th floor. The restaurant had a breathtaking view, offering a stunning panoramic look at the NYC skyline.

"Grab a seat, bro. I need to set up a little surprise for my baby. She went all out for me on New Year's and Valentine’s, so I have to return the favor."

I managed a tight nod, my heart aching with a sharp, stabbing pain.

Vivian had always told me she hated "senseless, commercial holidays." So, in our ten years together, we only ever celebrated our actual birthdays.

But for this man, she made exceptions.

"Man, they are so disgustingly cute. Pure couple goals," Julian's friend said, looking on with envy.

"You have no idea. When his fiancée made her first million from her startup, she spent almost the entire thing on a Patek Philippe watch for Julian. Over a hundred and fifty grand, just like that."

"Julian loves the ocean, so every year she rents a luxury yacht and sets off private fireworks over the harbor just to make him smile."

I stopped breathing.

Vivian had lied to me. She told me her startup was struggling, that she was barely making ends meet.

I had worked day and night at my job in Ohio, sending her money transfers under every excuse I could think of, terrified she was starving or stressed.

On my birthday last year, Vivian said she was too busy to travel and only ordered a tiny, cheap grocery-store cake to be delivered to my apartment.

I had eaten every single bite of that dry cake and sent her a video.

*"Thank you, baby. The cake is great. It feels like we're celebrating together anyway. My only wish is to finally end the distance and move in with you."*

She hadn't replied until the next day: *"Great. You're so understanding, Asher."*

Julian was busy pinning polaroid photos onto silk ribbons hanging from the ceiling.

"Are you celebrating your birthday alone? Your girl didn't come with you?"

My eyes scanned the photos. Every single one of them was a sweet, intimate shot of him and Vivian.

Them kissing with their eyes closed, him carrying her bridal-style, her laughing as she sat on his shoulders...

Vivian smiled so brightly in those pictures. I couldn't remember the last time she had smiled at me like that.

"We're long-distance. I wanted to surprise her," I said, staring at Julian. "I was actually planning to move to her city, propose, and finally end the distance."

When we graduated, Vivian chose to stay in New York to build her business, while my father fell gravely ill, forcing me to go back to Ohio to care for my parents.

She always told me to wait. To wait until her startup took off to get married, to wait until her company was stable so she could move to my town.

I never once doubted Vivian’s love. So, the moment my parents' health stabilized, I rushed here to be with her.

I didn't want her to exhaust herself traveling back and forth for me.

But I never expected to walk into this.

"Is that so? Sounds like you love her a lot," Julian said, his smile unchanged.

"But honestly, bro? If a man has nothing to his name, if he can't even afford a decent life for himself, what kind of happiness can he really offer a woman? Better not drag her down."

Before I could reply, his friend gasped, looking at his phone.

"Julian! Get ready! Boss Vivian is downstairs!"