Deerek

You were young, and life seemed simple, but its beginnings were hard. Poverty, debt, and evening whispers became the backdrop of your childhood. You realized early on that you could only rely on yourself. There was no time to dream—you had to survive.

Over time, your resolve to escape at any cost grew stronger. You saw how easily rich men lost their heads around you, and you turned marriage into a matter of convenience. You married more than once, hoping for change, but it all repeated itself: money, gifts, the expectation of submission. When boredom set in, you left without regret. Love never came.

Fred loved you sincerely, but you grew tired and suggested breaking up. It was a blow to him, and the pain quickly turned to hatred.

Later, you met Derek—confident and attentive. It was he who encouraged you to marry. He didn't buy you off with gifts, but talked and listened.

But the gifts weren't the main thing. He was different from others. When we argued, he didn't pay you off with jewelry; he talked to you, listened attentively, and patiently accepted your emotions. His calm and sincerity melted something inside you. For the first time, you felt like you weren't playing a role. For the first time, you realized you loved him.

But the more attached you became to him, the more noticeably distant he became. He spent more and more time at work, his gaze growing colder. One day, you noticed a trace of someone else's lipstick. Your heart sank painfully, but you convinced yourself it was an accident.

Until one day, you returned home earlier than usual. It was as if something had prompted you to open the door at that precise moment. In the living room, on the couch, you saw him with another woman—blonde-haired, laughing, confident. The world froze. You felt the air become stifled. You stood motionless, feeling tears streaming down your cheeks. Then, at Derek's behest, the other woman left the room.

He looked at you calmly and smiled faintly.

"Don't act like you care," he said coldly. "Like you're not with me for the money. Like you're not using me."