Chapter 1 She Proposes to Another

After eight years together, one night of refusing to try something new resulted in a three-day cold war with Raven Blackwood.

In a fit of pique, I flew abroad.

But then I stumbled upon her social media post announcing that she would be preparing for a proposal the next day.

Overjoyed, I hurried back and waited for the surprise she had planned for me.

On the night of the proposal, however, Raven knelt before another man, her gaze filled with love.

"Kai Sawyer, will you marry me?"

I lowered my gaze, hoping for an explanation.

The next moment, her expression turned cold. "Elias Sinclair, you've always been clinging to me like this. It's pretty annoying."

Before she could finish, she pulled Kai into the bedroom.

Moans echoed from within as I leaned against the wall.

Memories from the past eight years flashed before my eyes.

How many things had I set aside for her? How many things had she forced me to do?

At first, she'd sweet-talk me into it. Later, if I refused, the only outcome was a cold war.

To spare her feelings, I surrendered time and again.

Only to be rewarded with this.

...

Fresh off the plane, I spotted the airship in the sky bearing a massive banner.

It read: "Raven loves Kai forever."

My face drained of color and my heart clenched in pain. In disbelief, I opened my phone.

Raven, who always enabled special notifications, had just posted a proposal photo on her social feed, followed by a picture of two clasped hands.

Their fingers were intertwined, and both ring fingers were adorned with platinum rings.

The engraving on the rings, "RB & KS," was exceptionally obvious.

Without hesitation, I rushed to Raven's place. Before I even reached the door, I heard something inside.

"Raven, how's Kai? You got him just three days ago. He should be better than the one you had for eight years, right?"

I forced myself to resist the urge to burst in.

Raven's laugh echoed from inside. "You sluts! Kai isn't like Elias—he's my true love. Watch your mouths."

"But Elias? If you're interested, you can play with him. I'd say I've trained him pretty well."

I snorted and lifted my wrist to reveal the tattooed letters "RB."

She had carved countless marks on me—on my earlobes, lower back, ankles, and even my private parts.

Every hidden spot bore her signature.

Three days ago, she made an even more outrageous demand: to put a collar on me. I refused.

"Fine," she said.

Then she got dressed and walked out.

I traveled abroad to clear my mind. In the three days since, she hasn't contacted me once.

I thought it would just be a hiccup. Now I finally realized that she meant ending our relationship.

Inside the room, laughter echoed—sharp and piercing. I took a deep breath and pushed open the door. "Raven."

She didn't even glance at me.

"Elias, you're back."

"Perfect timing. I'll getting married in a week. You'll be my best man."

Raven always carried that commanding tone. Every tattoo on my body felt like it was burning.

From the day we first met when we were eighteen, she said it was love at first sight.

From the day we got together, we never separated.

When I moved to a northern university to study, she transferred there too.

When I went to study in England, she followed me.

Our love over the years could easily fill a book.

But today, our relationship came to an end.

I couldn't accept it. I had set aside my pride and fulfilled every demand of her, only to end up with this.

"Raven, what do you mean?"

Raven yawned and turned her face away. The corner of her eye, half-exposed, held nothing but indifference.

"I want to marry Kai."

I barely able to breathe. Had those eight years of intimacy been nothing but a game to her?

I turned away, my eyes stinging and my voice low. "Then I wish you a happy marriage."

On my way home, I saw my brother sitting on the sofa with a stern expression, a cigarette clamped between his fingers.

Seeing me enter, he flicked the cigarette into the ashtray beside him.

"Got dumped, huh?"

My brother had never approved of my relationship with Raven. Every time we met, he tried to talk me into breaking up with her. He'd even arranged a match for me with Susie from the Whitman family in City A.

To avoid arguments, we had barely seen each other over the years.

But now, I had no grounds to refute.

"So, what's next? Should we consider the Whitman family?"

Observing my heartbreak, he spoke with gentleness.

"If the Whitman family still agrees, I'm willing to marry Susie."

His hand paused mid-reach for another cigarette. After a short moment, he snapped and lit the match against the wheel.

I continued, "I'll contact the Whitman family myself. Let's set it next week."

After eight years, Raven would marry Kai soon.

I must make my choice, too.

My brother held a cigarette between his lips and crossed his arms. He looked serious as he said, "A man must take responsibility for his wife. If you're only marrying Susie to spite Raven, I won't allow it."

His words made sense. After all, I wasn't just any man—I was the heir to the Sinclair family. I had to be responsible for myself, the Sinclair family and Susie.

I took a deep breath; my eyes betrayed no trace of feelings.

"I'm over Raven. I will take my responsibilities and make Susie happy."