He Bet Me For Her, I Ended Us

Chapter 2

I have been with Lachlan Blackwell for almost ten years. But in everyone else's eyes, Linnea Everhart was the one who truly belonged with him.

Five years ago, on Lachlan's birthday, I carried a custom-made engagement ring with me, ready to propose to him.

That day, Linnea was there too.

The moment they saw each other, they started bickering.

It began as a game of Truth or Dare. Eventually, it turned into drinking contests and competitive challenges.

In Lachlan's eyes, it was as if there was no room for anyone except Linnea.

Then Linnea slapped the table, picked up her phone, and opened an official event page for an online game.

Couples who participated could earn an exclusive in-game skin.

"Lachlan Blackwell, do you dare play? Don't tell me you're scared!"

The crowd was immediately swept up in the atmosphere and teasing remarks erupted all around.

A friend beside me nudged me with an elbow.

"Elode, aren't you going to do something? You're surprisingly calm."

Someone overheard and burst out laughing.

"Come on, stop it. Lachlan would never agree. He's been with Elode for so many years already. They're practically about to get married..."

Everyone thought so.

Even I thought so.

Yet the very next second, I watched Lachlan slide his phone across the table toward Linnea.

"Fine. Let's do it."

The smile on my face instantly froze. I grabbed Lachlan's hand tightly.

"Lachlan, what do you mean by this?"

Only then did he seem to notice my presence. He opened his mouth, and a flash of regret crossed his eyes.

But Linnea merely spread her hands and smiled.

"Don't be so tense, Elode. It's just a game. The relationship automatically expires after a week. Aren't you two getting married? Don't you trust him that much?"

With Linnea's words backing him up, Lachlan grew impatient.

He shoved my hand away.

"It's my birthday today. Stop ruining the mood."

That single sentence sent a chill straight through me.

Everyone present exchanged uneasy glances as the atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing.

I struggled to keep my voice from shaking.

"What game? We're already a couple. I can..."

Lachlan waved dismissively.

"No, you can't. You don't even know how to play. All you ever do is bury yourself in those design drafts."

My hand tightened inside my pocket.

The diamond ring cut painfully into my palm.

"Do you really have to do this? You already have a girlfriend, yet you're pretending to be someone else's partner."

Lachlan's expression darkened immediately.

"Elode, what exactly are you trying to say?"

He picked up the birthday cake I had carefully prepared and smashed it onto the floor.

"So you just don't want me to enjoy my birthday, is that it? Then forget it. We won't celebrate at all!"

That day, Lachlan and I parted on terrible terms.

I drank through the entire night.

Even then, I couldn't bring myself to end the relationship.

After so many years together, I couldn't simply let go.

Even my mother tried to comfort me, saying that every couple argued from time to time.

But things only spiraled from there.

They went from pretending to be a couple to pretending to be husband and wife.

Every year, Lachlan used that excuse to accompany Linnea back home for the holidays.

And this year marked the fifth year of their game.

Over those five years, everything gradually wore away the love I once had for Lachlan.

The diamond ring was never given to him.

My phone screen suddenly lit up.

A message from my mother appeared.

Mother: Sweetheart, you've been with Lachlan for ten years now, haven't you? I don't have much time left. Will I still be able to see the day you get married?

Tear drops blurred my vision, falling one by one onto the two lines of text on the screen.

Elode: Mom, I will get married. But it won't be to him.