Briefly, We Met

I was the most laid-back of all the women Isaac Sterling kept around. While the others did everything they could to win his attention and secure a place in his heart, I had long since given up trying. Instead, I spent my days lounging in the luxury mansion he bought for me, eating, shopping, and enjoying life. Every time Isaac started seeing someone new, the other women would worry that they would be replaced. I, on the other hand, barely reacted. Even when news broke that he was getting engaged, I did not care. I simply smiled and said, "Then I wish him a happy marriage and a lifetime of happiness." What no one knew was how deeply I had once loved Isaac. I had loved him enough to give up everything and stay by his side as he struggled from having nothing to becoming one of the most successful men in the city. However, the bright, noble young man I remembered had changed, and so, I proposed a breakup. With a frown, he lowered his voice and coaxed me gently. “Come on. Don't be upset. My engagement to the Harris family heiress is only a business arrangement. Just be patient for a little longer.” However, I had been patient for far too long. I endured being his lover without a title or a future. I endured the endless stream of women who came and went around him. I even endured watching him prepare to marry someone else. This time, I was exhausted, and I was leaving. Chapter 1 When Isaac Sterling returned, I was scrolling through Instagram. The headline dominating both the business and entertainment sections featured a photo of him and Grace Webb walking hand in hand. Matching rings gleamed brightly on their ring fingers, almost painfully so. Meanwhile, the group chat titled “The Exes Club” had exploded with messages. [No way. Is Isaac really getting married?] [He was so sweet to me in bed last night. I refuse to believe it!] [Seriously, what’s so special about Grace? Just because her wealthy family could help Isaac's business?] [I'm devastated. I gave him my whole heart, and this is what I get in return.] The dozen or so women in that chat were all former lovers Isaac had financially supported at one point or another. In the group chat, they shared stories about their time with him and showed off the gifts he’d bought them. Sometimes, they even compared notes about their experiences in bed with him. As for me, I had always stayed silent, never joining in on the conversation. Then suddenly, someone tagged me. [Sadie, weren't you one of those top university graduates? Think of a solution for us.] Another person immediately mocked me. [Why ask her? She’s useless. Isaac doesn’t even visit her more than three times a month.] My fingers tightened around my phone. They weren’t wrong. Among all the women Isaac kept around, I was probably the least favored. I never fought for attention. I never made demands. I never cried or caused a scene. No matter how many women came and went around him, I rarely reacted, and it wasn’t because I didn’t care. It was because I had once cared, and it changed nothing. So eventually, I learned how to be the obedient lover he wanted. Just as my thoughts drifted away, a warm body suddenly pressed against me from behind. Isaac lowered his chin onto my forehead and asked softly, “What are you looking at?” I locked my screen and replied, “Nothing.” He kissed my cheek before slipping an arm around my waist and carrying me toward the bedroom. As I buried my face in his coat, a faint scent of roses drifted into my nose. It was a woman's perfume. By now, I was long accustomed to Isaac seeing other women. However, this was the first time I'd ever found evidence of it on him. Whenever he came to visit me, he was always meticulous. Not just perfume, but even a single strand of another woman’s hair would never make it back to me. Yet today, he’d slipped up, or maybe it wasn’t a mistake at all. Maybe it was a sign of how much he indulged that woman, and the only person who could make Isaac break his own rules was probably Miss Webb. After all, they were about to get engaged. Isaac gently placed me on the bed before he shrugged off his coat and loosened his tie. “You're getting engaged, aren’t you?” His hand paused halfway through unfastening a button. “Have you been reading nonsense online again?” I looked up at him and said, “Congratulations.” A frown immediately formed between his brows, and his expression darkened. “Sadie, be reasonable. My marriage to Grace is a necessary business arrangement. The Webb family's support will be important for the company's future growth.” I let out a quiet laugh. “I know. You can get married, and we can end things here and part on good terms.” He suddenly grabbed my wrist. “Sadie, stop being stubborn. Grace and I are just putting on a show. Once the company is stable, I'll cut ties with her immediately. Just be patient a little longer.” I closed my eyes, hiding the tears gathering behind them. Over the past seven years, I had endured far too much for Isaac. For his sake, I had lowered myself into the role of a hidden lover and forced myself to act understanding while he spent countless nights with other women. And now, I was simply exhausted, mentally and physically. When I didn't respond, Isaac assumed I had accepted it. He heaved a sigh of relief and pulled me tightly into his arms. “Sadie, don't be upset. I'm doing all of this so we can have a better future together. I'll be traveling for work next week. If there's anything you want, just tell me. I'll bring it back for you.” I lowered my gaze, concealing the coldness in my eyes. Then, I said calmly, “Just focus on your trip.” However, this time, I simply wouldn't be waiting for him anymore. Chapter 2 The next morning, I opened my eyes to an empty bed. Isaac was already gone. After washing up, I headed downstairs. The mansion sat by the ocean, with a stunning view of the coastline. When I first moved in, I had been overjoyed. I thought I had finally made it, with Isaac and me having a home together. Later, however, I realized this place was never the dream castle I had imagined. Instead, it was a cage Isaac had built to keep me contained. In the early years of his startup, we were inseparable. We stayed up late discussing business plans and talking about the future we wanted to build together. Unfortunately, as his status rose, he changed. The first time he stayed out all night, I received photos of him in bed with another woman. Afterward, he knelt in front of me in tears, begging for my forgiveness. He said it was a drunken mistake, a moment of weakness. I cried until my chest hurt, and in the end, I gave him another chance. However, after that, the business dinners and exclusive parties became more frequent. Isaac was no longer an unknown entrepreneur, and people started treating him with respect. With success came temptation. So when I received another set of photos of him with someone else, he merely raised an eyebrow and said casually, “This is normal in our world. You’ll get used to it. They don’t mean anything. It’s just physical. You’re the one I truly love, silly.” I smashed everything in the mansion that day. All Isaac did was watch me go crazy before saying, “I’ll come back once you’ve calmed down.” I buried my head between my knees and cried, wondering, did Isaac love me? Maybe he did. After all, we both grew up poor and had known each other since we were kids. We understood each other’s fears and ambitions better than anyone. The year I got into university, Isaac risked his life fighting in underground boxing matches to help pay my tuition. When I saw the bruises covering his body, my eyes burned with tears. Back then, he simply ruffled my hair and smiled. “It’s nothing. It’s just a few scratches. You’re too smart not to go to university. Even if it kills me, I’ll make sure you get there.” However, Isaac was different now. He was so different that I was starting to forget who he used to be. As such, I learned to behave myself, to stop caring, and to become the perfect kept woman. Maybe then it wouldn’t hurt so much. My thoughts drifted back to the present as I looked at the bouquet of jasmine flowers on the dining table. I must say I was a little moved. Isaac hadn’t brought me flowers in a long time, yet he still remembered jasmine was my favorite. Just then, the doorbell rang sharply. I snapped out of my thoughts and went to open the door. A woman stood outside, wearing flawless makeup. Her skin was fair and luminous. “You’re Sadie, right?” she asked with a slight smile. “I’d like to talk.” I paused for a moment and then nodded. She walked in with an air of arrogance, looking around openly in the mansion. Standing behind her, I said directly, “What do you want to talk about?” For a moment, she didn’t answer. Her gaze had settled on something in the room, and I followed it to the jasmine bouquet on the table. She gave a soft laugh. “Did Isaac send you those flowers?” “If you have something to say, say it.” A trace of mockery flickered in her eyes. “That explains it. I was wondering why a man in his position would bother keeping such an insignificant free bouquet.” My heart sank. “What do you mean?” She glanced at the flowers again and replied, “Those jasmine flowers were a free gift from when Isaac took me to get some flowers at the florist yesterday. He bought me nine hundred and ninety-nine red roses, and the shop included a small jasmine bouquet for free. I assumed he’d throw it away, considering people like us don’t usually keep complimentary gifts, but he kept it. I was curious about who it was for.” Her eyes met mine, sharp and amused. “As it turns out, the flowers Isaac gave you were the ones I didn’t want. Sadie, what do you think that says about who you are to him?” Chapter 3 My breath hitched, and my fingers clenched until my knuckles turned white. Even though I knew better than to hope, my defenses crumbled in that moment. Seeing my reaction, Grace raised an eyebrow smugly. “Sadie, I came to see you because you’ve been with Isaac longer than anyone else. But so what? Do you really think you’re that special to him? “Sure, he's good to you.” She said dismissively, “But he’s good to me too. And from what I’ve heard, he was generous and gentle with all his ex-lovers as well. Some people are just born without a heart. Because they don’t truly care, they can afford to treat everyone the same. You’re only fooling yourself because you’ve been by his side the longest.” Suddenly, I found the whole situation ironic. “If I’m really that insignificant to him, why did you come all the way here to see me? You’re acting awfully eager to stake your claim, Grace. It sounds like you’re the insecure one.” Her expression immediately stiffened. “I just… I just don’t want you clinging to him, not knowing your place!” “Don’t worry.” I cut her off coldly. “If Isaac truly intends to marry you… I’ll cut ties with him completely. There’ll be no lingering attachments.” I paused before lifting my eyes to meet hers. “Now that you’ve heard what you wanted, you should be satisfied. You’re not welcome here. Please leave.” Not long after Grace left, Isaac returned. This had been the month he’d come back most often. However, I no longer had the energy to love him, and nothing he did could stir my heart anymore. He walked over without saying a word and bent down, pulling both me and the blanket wrapped around me into his arms. “Were you good today? Did you miss me?” My body stiffened. Unlike before, I didn’t wrap my arms around him. My gaze drifted to his right hand. The matching engagement ring he shared with Grace wasn’t on his ring finger. Instead, there was a faint but unmistakable indentation where the ring had been. I let out a silent, bitter laugh. Whether he wore it or took it off didn’t matter because the fact that he had another woman was reality. To me, this pathetic attempt to hide it meant nothing. Isaac leaned closer, intending to kiss me, but I turned my face away and avoided his lips. “Isaac, I'm tired.” He seemed startled for a moment before tightening his embrace. “Then get some rest,” he said indulgently. “I’m staying tonight. I’ll keep you company.” “Don’t come back,” I interrupted him. The air between us tensed, and his body stiffened. Slowly, he released me and placed both hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. “What do you mean?” His eyes locked onto mine, his voice growing colder. “Sadie, are you saying you don’t want me coming back to see you?” I met his gaze without flinching. “What would be the point? Isaac, there are so many people you need to keep company with. Can you really manage them all?” “So you're jealous?” He sounded relieved yet angrier. His fingers closed around my chin and added, “Sadie, how many times have I told you? Those women are part of business networking. I can't avoid it. Sometimes I have to keep up appearances. Can you be a little more reasonable?” So that was how he saw it. To him, my resentment and resistance were all just me being unreasonable. My gaze moved past him and landed on the coffee table. A white porcelain vase sat there, empty. The bouquet of jasmine flowers was gone. I'd thrown it in the trash. Isaac followed my line of sight. The moment he noticed the empty vase, his expression changed. “Where are the flowers?” His voice rose sharply. “I threw them away,” I replied indifferently. “Sadie!” He suddenly grabbed my wrist, anger burning in his eyes. “What exactly are you trying to do? Can’t you stop causing trouble for once?” “I don't want your flowers.” I yanked my hand free, a red mark showing immediately around my wrist. However, I felt no pain; only a cold numbness. “Isaac, don’t send them anymore. I think they're filthy.” “What did you say?” As if that comment had struck him hard, the anger on his face froze. “I said, your gifts are filthy,” I repeated. “Fine. Fine!” He laughed bitterly, his anger having reached its limit, and a vein pulsed at his temple. “Sadie, you’ve got some nerve. Since you don’t appreciate anything I do, and since you think I'm filthy…” His voice turned icy as he continued, “Then don’t ever beg me to come back again.” With that, he turned and walked away. A deafening sound echoed through the house as he slammed the front door behind him. Silence filled the living room once more. I remained sitting on the couch in the same position. As I stared at the closed door, my face remained expressionless. This time, there were no tears or heartbreak. All I felt was empty. Chapter 4 In the next few days, Isaac didn’t come back, nor did he send me a single message. Meanwhile, “The Exes Club” group chat was still buzzing nonstop. [I heard Isaac’s on a business trip this week?] [Have you noticed? He didn’t take anyone with him this time.] [Yeah, exactly!] Someone quickly chimed in. [Normally, when Isaac travels, he’d at least pick one of us to go along. This time, not a single person went.] [Don’t tell me he’s really settling down for Grace, is he?] The moment Grace’s name appeared in the chat, the group fell silent for a few seconds. Then, the silence turned into jealousy. [No way. Is that woman really so charming?] [Hard to say… She’s the Webb family heiress. She’s not on the same level as us.] I put my phone down, and almost instantly, my stomach turned violently. Feeling a sour taste shoot up my throat, I covered my mouth as I stumbled into the bathroom, bent over the toilet, and vomited violently. After rinsing my mouth with water, I braced myself against the sink, trying to steady my breathing. In the mirror, my face was pale, and my eyes looked hollow. Just then, a thought I had ignored for weeks flashed through my mind: my period hadn’t come this month. My hands trembled as I opened a delivery app. I typed in the words pregnancy test. Every step after that, from placing the order to paying, felt like I was walking toward an execution. When the package finally arrived, I couldn’t even bring myself to open it right away. It wasn’t until late that night, after I had forced myself to calm down, that I finally tore it open. The moment two clear red lines appeared on the test stick, my hands and feet went numb. It was real. I was pregnant with Isaac’s child. After the shock came an inexplicable panic and sense of helplessness. Almost instinctively, I dialed his number from memory. As soon as the call connected, I said, my voice trembling, “Isaac–” “What is it?” I tightened my grip on the phone, about to tell him about the pregnancy, when a soft female voice suddenly came through the line. “Isaac, what are you doing?” My heart dropped instantly, like it had been crushed. His voice immediately became a little more hurried. “I’ve got a meeting. I’ll talk to you later.” Just like that, the call ended with a cold and piercing beep. I stood there, frozen, still holding the phone. Not long after, my screen lit up again. This time, it was a message from an unknown number. [You think Isaac has been on a business trip this whole time? Actually, he’s been with me in Forland watching the northern lights.] Attached was a photo of Isaac, holding Grace in his arms and kissing her beneath a sky of glowing auroras. The next few days, I lived like a walking corpse. I couldn’t eat or sleep, and my body grew thinner by the day. Until one night, I was in the bathroom taking a shower when it happened. My foot slipped, and my body slammed backward uncontrollably. A sharp, tearing pain exploded in my lower abdomen. Warm blood began to flow down my legs, staining the white tiles beneath me. I curled up on the floor, my consciousness slipping away. Instinct alone made me reach for my phone and call emergency services. While waiting for the ambulance, I tried calling Isaac again, against all reason. “Isaac… can you come back now? I–” “Sadie.” He cut me off sharply. “I’m busy. Stop making a scene. Just stay home and wait. Bye.” Then, a woman’s breathless, intimate moan came through the phone. It didn’t need any explanation. So this was what he meant by “busy.” The pain in my chest intensified. It was far worse than the physical agony in my body. This time, I made up my mind to leave for a place where Isaac could never find me again.