Chapter 1
To help his childhood sweetheart win a limited-time promotional campaign, my fiancé pretended to be her boyfriend.
They had agreed to break up after one week, but she kept pushing the boundaries.
" Lachlan, don't tell me you're backing down. Do you dare make the stakes even higher?" she challenged.
"We agreed to play this game for life. Whoever quits first is a coward!"
Just when everyone thought Lachlan would give up the game for my sake, he stubbornly refused to lose.
He even raised the stakes beyond their original agreement.
What began as pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend became pretending to be husband and wife.
For the next five Christmas holidays, Lachlan accompanied Linnea back to her hometown to celebrate with her family.
And this year was no exception.
I stared at the text message my mother had sent once again.
Mother: Will Lachlan be coming home with you for the holidays again this year? I'm afraid I might not be here to see next year.
I tightened my grip around my phone and looked up just in time to see Lachlan carrying bags full of holiday gifts.
He then pulled out several custom-made suits and held them against himself, comparing them one by one.
"What kind of clothes do you think Mrs. Everhart would like?" he asked.
When I didn't respond, he let out a mocking laugh.
"Forget it. Asking you is pointless. I might as well ask Linnea directly."
Watching his retreating figure, completely immersed in the excitement of it all, I opened the chat window of someone I had not contacted in a very long time.
I typed a sentence, deleted it, then typed it again.
Elode: Does what you said back then still stand? This Christmas... come home with me.
*****
The moment the message was sent, several question marks immediately appeared on the screen.
Unknown: You've finally made up your mind? Wait for me to come back!
As the screen gradually dimmed, I forced a smile and called my mother.
"Mom, I'll be bringing my boyfriend home for Christmas this year."
My voice wasn't loud, but Lachlan heard it.
He immediately snatched my phone away and ended the call, sounding annoyed.
"Didn't we already agree that I'd be spending Christmas with Linnea again this year? What nonsense have you been telling your mother now?"
Faced with his questioning, I calmly took my phone back.
"Nothing."
Perhaps sensing my mood, Lachlan finally turned his attention to me.
"I know what you're thinking, but spending Christmas with Linnea's family every year was part of the original agreement. If I win, Linnea has to hand over her company to me."
As he said this, he raised his eyebrows proudly. His eyes sparkled with an excitement I had never seen before.
I looked at him steadily before suddenly speaking.
"Do you really need such extra stuff?"
His body stiffened, and he frowned deeply.
"What's gotten into you today? You usually don't talk this much."
Before I could respond, the phone on the table rang.
I glanced at the screen and saw the caller ID displayed clearly.
"My Darling Wife."
Lachlan immediately hung up, looking uncomfortable.
"Linnea was just fooling around with my phone."
My fingers curled slightly as bitterness filled my throat.
Lachlan irritably loosened his tie.
Pointing at the bags on the floor, he said, "These are all for your mother, so you can stop saying I don't treat her well. We're going to get married sooner or later," he continued. "Spending Christmas together is just a formality. Don't make such a big deal out of it."
I looked at the gifts.
The sunflower seeds were stale from moisture.
The peanuts were still raw and covered in dirt.
Everything was cheap merchandise that could be bought for a few dollars at any grocery store.
Meanwhile, my mother's health had worsened over the years, and she could no longer eat any of it.
My eyes burned as I remembered bringing Lachlan home several years ago.
The first time my mother met him, she was overjoyed.
That frail woman seemed to come alive again that day.
She even gave him the jade pendant that had belonged to my late father.
Her wish was simple.
She only wanted Lachlan and me to come back to visit her in the mountains every year.
She wanted to see us get married while she was still alive.
Yet even that wish had become a luxury.
Taking a deep breath, I called out toward the bedroom.
"Lachlan, let's break up..."
The rest of my words were interrupted by the sound of a key turning in the lock.
Linnea had somehow obtained a key to my apartment and walked in without hesitation.
When she saw me, she raised an eyebrow.
"Elode? I'm here to wait for Lachlan so we can go buy holiday gifts together."
My expression darkened as I stared at the key in her hand.
"Why do you have a key to my apartment?"
Hearing the commotion, Lachlan immediately came out of the bedroom and answered casually.
"I had one copied for her. Sometimes, when you're too busy with work to come home, Linnea stays overnight in the guest room."
The anger in my chest flared instantly.
"This is my home! Lachlan, did you ever ask me for permission?"
Lachlan didn't bother explaining.
He simply picked up his watch from the sofa.
Then he casually took out a package of the best supplements from the cabinet and handed it to Linnea right in front of me.
I reached out to stop him, gritting my teeth.
"My company gave me that. I was taking it home for my mother to help her recover."
Lachlan impatiently shook off my hand.
"Your mother's health is already poor," Lachlan said impatiently. "Nothing can help her. It might as well go to Mrs. Everhart. I'll buy you something better next time," he added dismissively.
Smiling, Linnea accepted the package and said to me, "Don't be so serious, Elode. Once Lachlan finally admits defeat, I'll reimburse you for all the expenses you've incurred over the years."
Hearing that, Lachlan laughed and draped an arm around Linnea's shoulders.
"Who's going to admit defeat? If you've got the guts, let's play this game for life."
They slammed the front door behind them.
The gust of wind it created chilled my heart completely.
