Part 3The Illusion of Love: Waking Up from a Five-Year Dream

I don't know if it was intentional or a coincidence, but right after Sarah returned, the class president organized a college reunion.

After three years, Sarah was even more beautiful than before.

Wearing a Morandi-colored long dress, her long hair cascading down like seaweed, she looked effortless and elegant.

But from the moment he walked through the door, Liam didn't spare her a single glance. Instead, he attentively sat next to me and served me food.

At home, he had never peeled a shrimp for me, but now he thoughtfully placed a peeled shrimp in my bowl, smiling gently: "Eat some more."

Across the table, Sarah paused, the smile slowly fading from her face.

I suddenly found it all a bit ridiculous.

In this play that seemed to feature three people, they were the lead actors pouring their hearts into the performance, while I was just the ugly clown, unqualified to even be on stage, watching coldly from the sidelines.

After a few rounds of drinks, a balding male classmate who had had a bit too much laughed drunkenly at Sarah:

"Sarah, how come you're even prettier than before? Do you have a boyfriend now? If not, would you consider me?"

In my peripheral vision, I saw Liam stiffen.

Sarah smiled: "I don't, but I don't think we're a good match."

"Why aren't we a good match?" The balding guy, feeling humiliated by the rejection, started spouting nonsense. "Are you still thinking about Liam, planning to save yourself for him?"

"He's already married! Let me tell you, it's not easy for a woman to find a guy after twenty-five. Do you still think you're some fairy princess?"

Sarah's smile faltered: "You've had too much to drink."

Another female classmate, who clearly loved drama, pulled out her phone: "Who knows, maybe the feeling is mutual. When I was scrolling through Reddit the other day, I saw Liam answered a question about what it's like to marry someone you don't love."

"Sarah, the photo he used is of you and Liam, right? You still have that photo on your Instagram!"

Hearing there was drama, all the classmates pulled out their phones.

"Where is it?"

Even Sarah, when she saw the answer, looked at Liam with a complex expression, her eyes welling up slightly.

Liam stared back at her.

My whole body went cold, and I started trembling almost uncontrollably.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, they all knew that the woman my husband loved was actually someone else.

In that instant, I felt as if I had been stripped naked and paraded through the streets. I desperately wanted to stand up and run away!

After a long time, Liam finally spoke.

His voice sounded normal, but if you listened closely, you could detect a slight tremor:

"I was just writing nonsense. My wife and I are doing great. Let's eat."

The classmates nodded and put their phones away, but for the rest of the meal, I could feel countless eyes resting on me.

The only things directed at me were pity and mockery.

That was probably the most difficult meal I've ever eaten in my life.

As the gathering was winding down, Liam threw out a quick "I'm going to the restroom" and stood up to leave.

Not long after, Sarah also went out.

Quite a few people looked at me, intentionally or not.

I didn't know what I was feeling anymore. I could only pretend nothing had happened and mechanically continue to eat with my head down.

After the dinner, all the classmates left.

I waited for a long time, but Liam didn't return, so I got up to leave.

But as I walked through the hallway, I suddenly heard Sarah's tearful voice.

I looked over from the shadows.

I saw Sarah hugging Liam from behind, crying:

"But you clearly still have me in your heart!"

Liam frowned: "You're overthinking it. I'm already married."

Sarah, in tears, said:

"Then why don't you dare look back at me?"

"What did your answer say? Liam, you clearly don't love her!"

She sobbed softly: "I know it's not right, but we were together first."

"If it weren't for her, maybe we would have made up a long time ago... Liam, I came back just for you. I was immature before, let's start over, okay?"

Liam's body was rigid, his expression obscured by the shadows.

After a long time, he turned around inch by inch and pulled Sarah into a tight embrace.

The two of them kissed almost frantically in the deserted hallway, as if trying to release all the suppressed emotions of the past few years!

And I just watched silently from the side, letting the blade tear my heart to shreds.

I don't know why, but even though they were the ones being intimate, I was the one who fled in a panic.

When I finally ran under a dim streetlamp and touched my face, I realized that at some point, my face had become covered in a damp, icy wetness.