For Personal Gain, He Chooses to Waste Our Days Together novel

Matteo was getting married, yet I, his official girlfriend had no idea.
Three days ago, I was waiting for him downstairs at his training base when his assistant ran out and handed me an envelope. Matteo said he couldn't come to see you, so he asked me to give this to you, Ariana.
Inside the envelope was a bank card and a note with messy handwriting. [The pin is your birthday. Let's end it up and not bring up the past anymore.]
Matteo Baldwin and I had known each other for thirteen years, from being classmates in middle school to being apart in college.
Then, when he became a professional e-sports athlete, I followed him to three different cities.
He promised he would take me back to Syrena once he won the world championship, to see the sunrise on Neverland and to eat at the barbeque skewer he used to visit when he was a child.
Last year, on the night of the world championship finals, he raised the trophy on stage and said to the camera, "Thank you to the most important person in my life, wait for me to come home."
I thought he was talking about me.
Until last month, I accidentally saw his Instagram post.
Under the post he had set to be visible only to me, a girl commented: [Once you come back, we'll go get married.]
Her profile picture was Matteo's team logo and her nickname was "Matteo's Little Baby."
I didn't confront him, I just quietly came to him, trying to give him one last chance.
Now it seemed I was just being unreasonable.
***
The phone finished charging, powered on and a flood of messages came in.
Matteo's best friend sent dozens of voice messages, the last one with a tearful tone. [Ariana! Stop being silly! Matteo is a jerk!]
[He's been with the daughter of the Fiery Devils team's investor for a long time!]
I replied: [I know.]
I blocked all of his contact information. Then, I opened a ride-hailing app and typed his address.
I was not here to settle scores with him, just to get what was rightfully mine back.
That diary I had kept in for thirteen years, filled with all our promises.
The taxi navigated streets washed clean by the typhoon. Banyan tree roots hung, dotted with rain droplets still clinging to them.
His family, the Baldwins, lived in a detached house in the old town, the place where I spent countless winter and summer vacations, accompanying him.
I entered the familiar password and the security door clicked open.
The furnishings inside were almost exactly the same as when I left three years ago.
On the light gray sofa lay my half-finished scarf.
On the coffee table lay a photo of us from college, where I smiled with my eyes crinkled and nestled beside him.
I went straight to the bedroom on the second-floor and opened the bottom drawer of the wardrobe.
Inside were several of my professional books, a metal box full of ticket stubs and the first birthday present he gave me years ago. A hand-sewn cloth rabbit with frayed ears from wear.
The moment my fingertips touched the metal box, familiar footsteps sounded behind me.
"What are you doing here?" Matteo's voice carried a faint, almost imperceptible trace of unease.
He was wearing a black hoodie. His hair was a little messy.
His eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn't had a good rest in a long time.
I didn't turn around, continuing to pack my things into the canvas bag I had brought. "Come get my things."
"Just come and leave?" His voice turned cold. "Anna, do you really not want to see me?"
I finally turned around and stared at his face, a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar.
Thirteen years had etched marks on his face.
He had shed his boyish naivet and gained a more mature, shrewd edge. Only the cunning in his eyes remained exactly the same as when he tricked me into doing his homework back in middle school.
"What do you want to see me for?" I asked calmly, a slight smirk playing on my lips.
"Ah, should I congratulate you on your marriage? Or should I be grateful to you for using my birthday as your bank card PIN to give me this 'breakup fee'?"
His face paled in an instant. He stepped forward to take my hand, but I dodged him.
"It's not what you think," he said urgently.
"Anna, don't listen to others' nonsense, it's all a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding?" I laughed.
I took my phone out of my bag and opened the screenshot of the Instagram post that was only visible to me.
"Once you come back, we'll get married, this, is this a misunderstanding? Matteo, do you think I'm foolish?"
He stared at the phone screen, his Adam's apple bobbing, his eyes flickering.
"That's ... that's the investor's daughter, Yvette O'Brien. She's been pestering me. That's her comment. I didn't respond."
"Didn't respond?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Then why didn't you delete it? Why did you set it to be visible only to me?"
"I was just afraid you'd overthink it!" His voice rose a few decibels, tinged with impatience.
"At that time, I was preparing for the world championship, training until dawn every day. I thought I'd explain everything to you after the tournament and you'd understand."
I felt like my heart was being gripped, throbbing with intense pain.
"Matteo, I understand how hard you train. I understand you carry the hopes of the entire team. That's why I accompanied you all the way from Broughton to Solsticea and then to Glothaven. I gave up my job back home, gave up a stable life, just to be closer to you."
"I know you don't have time for me. So, I celebrate anniversaries alone. I blow out my birthday candles alone. I go to the hospital alone when I'm sick. But what about you? Have you ever understood me?"

I pointed at the metal box full of ticket stubs, my voice trembling. "Inside are ticket stubs from the concerts we went to together, your competition tickets and the flight ticket stub from your promise to take me to Syrena."
"Thirteen years, Matteo, Ive waited thirteen years for you. And what do I get? Youre getting married and the bride isnt me? And you come to tell me its a misunderstanding, afraid Ill overthink it?"
His face grew even paler. He reached out to touch my face, but I shoved his hand away fiercely.
"Don't touch me," I said in a cold tone.
"Matteo, no need to explain. Im here today just to take back whats rightfully mine and from now on, we owe each other nothing."
"No!" He suddenly grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight it hurt.
"Anna, I can't live without you. That bank card was just my way of giving you some compensation. I know I've wronged you these years. I'm not involved with Yvette she and I have never been as you imagined."
I looked at him, my eyes brimming with tears, yet stubbornly refusing to let them fall.
"Do you think my thirteen years can be compensated with a bank card? You say you can't live without me, but you promised to marry someone else. You said you loved me, but you wouldn't even give me a proper farewell."
"I didn't!" He cried, his eyes reddening with anxiety.
"I never said anything like that to her! Anna, you're too suspicious. We've known each other for thirteen years, don't you know me? You're the only one in my heart."
I chuckled at his words.
"It's precisely because I know you so well that I find it laughable. Matteo, your greatest skill is portraying your own selfishness and betrayal as someone else's suspicion."
I forcefully shook off his hand, leaving several red marks on my wrist and said, "I've got what I needed, goodbye."
With that, I turned and left, afraid to look him in the eye, afraid that if I stayed even a second longer, I would soften and give in.
He shouted behind me. "Ariana! Ariana, don't go! Let me finish what I have to say!"
I didn't turn around, my steps unwavering.
As I stepped out of the building, the evening breeze carried the fragrance of banyan trees and the faint scent of rain.
I raised my head and let the tears fall, scattering in the wind.
Thirteen years of our relationship lay scattered like debris on a street swept by a typhoonseemingly calm, yet utterly ravaged beneath the surface.

Stepping out of the alleyway of the old town, the canvas bag pressed against my shoulder.
The corner of the diary inside pressed against my back, painful, like the unspoken grievances of the past thirteen years.
Behind me, hurried footsteps grew louder and his breath grew ever closer.
I quickened my pace, but he seized my arm. His grip was tighter than before in the bedroom, as if trying to crush my bones.
"Anna, you can't just leave like this." His voice was choked with barely perceptible sobs and his eyes were bloodshot. "I know I was wrong. Please give me a chance to explain, okay?"
I glared at him and questioned, "Explain what? Explain the ambiguous comments on your social media."
"Or explain the 'breakup fee' you gave me?"
I struggled hard and several new marks appeared on the red welts on my wrists. Matteo, it's over between us.
"It's not over!" he growled, drawing the attention of passersby. "It's not over until I agree!"
Just as I reached the alley corner, a white Maserati made a sharp turn and stopped abruptly in front of me. Its tires splashed through the puddles, soaking my trousers.
The car window rolled down, revealing a girl with delicate makeup. The girl wore a bold, striking red lipstick, her eyes filled with undisguised hostility.
"You're Ariana Schultz?" she spoke, her voice both arrogant and provocative.
I recognized her, she was "Matteo's Little Baby", the one who left a comment Matteo's Instagram post. Yvette O'Brien, the investor's daughter Matteo had mentioned.
She got out of the car in ten-centimeter heels and walked straight up to me.
Gazing at me up and down, as if examining a worthless old object. "You're not even that good-looking, no wonder Matteo chose me."
She shook the huge diamond ring on her wrist and said, "He picked this out with me last week. He said once he wraps up his current things, we'll get engaged."
She then naturally took Matteo's arm.
Her eyes, filled with the triumphant provocation, swept over the spot we were holding hands.
Matteo instinctively tried to shake her hand off, but she held it firmly.
She smiled charmingly, but her tone was sharp. "Miss Schultz, Matteo and I are getting married next week. We originally wanted to send you the invitation in person, but I didn't expect to run into you here."
Seeing the man's expression freeze instantly, the last glimmer of hope in my heart vanished completely.
It wasn't a misunderstanding after all.He had already made his choice and I was just deceiving myself.
I pulled my hand away from his, straightened the rumpled hem of my clothes and spoke calmly, as if I were talking about someone else's business.
"Congratulations to both of you. But I'm not here to offer congratulations, I'm just here to get my things back."
I pointed to the canvas bag on my shoulder and continued. "Now that I've got everything, I won't disturb your good time."
With that, I turned and left, not wanting to see them again.
"Ariana!" He tried to chase after me, but Yvette stopped him.
She raised her voice, deliberately making sure I could hear. "Matteo, don't chase after her. She is so understanding. She certainly won't make a fuss. After all, you're my fianc now. We can't let others gossip and affect the reputation of our wedding, can we?"
She paused for a moment, then added. "Besides, what does thirteen years matter? When it comes to relationships, timing is everything. All those years she spent with you were just because you hadn't met the right person yet. Now that you've met me, you should naturally cherish the person in front of you, shouldn't you?"
I didn't stop walking, but my eyes instantly welled up with tears.
What "met the right person"? It's just that she had a father who could pave the way for Matteo.
He said he only had eyes for me, but faced with reality, he chose the easier way.

Matteos stiff voice sounded from behind. "Stop talking nonsense, Yvette!"
"What nonsense did I say?" Yvette's voice was filled with grievance.
"Didn't you promise me? My dad invested in the Fiery Devils esports team and you promised to marry me after you come back. Wasn't that what you promised?"
I didn't hear the rest of her words, so I quickened my pace and got into a taxi that happened to pass by.
The moment I closed the door, I finally couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears, burying my face in the seat.
The driver was startled and handed me a pack of tissues, saying, "Young lady, are you alright? Did you encounter something difficult?"
I shook my head, choking back tears and gave him a hotel address.
Outside the car window, the evening breeze swirled fallen leaves, sending them drifting away. The dim streetlights of the old town cast a long, long shadow of me, like a piece of time abruptly cut off.
After what seemed like ages, my phone buzzed.
It was a text message from Matteo, Yvette probably hadn't kept an eye on him.
[Anna, believe me, I only have you in my heart. Once I've sorted everything out, I'll definitely come find you and explain everything.]
I read the message and smirked.
I pressed the delete button, then dragged his number into my blacklist.
Fake or realwhat difference did it make?
Thirteen years together meant nothing for a deal of benefit. Some wounds, once inflicted, could never be undone.
Soon, the taxi stopped at the hotel entrance and I wiped away my tears before getting off with my canvas bag.
The evening breeze brushed against my face, carrying a hint of coolness and also dispelling the last bit of wetness in my eyes.
From today on, Matteo no longer existed in Ariana Schultz's world.
The hotel room faced the street and at night, the sound of waves crashing against the rocks could be heard.
I set the canvas bag down on the bedside table.
The diary lay buried at the very bottom, like a memory I wished would stay forgotten.
I had just finished washing up and lay down when there was a knock on the door.
I thought it was hotel service, but when I opened the door, I saw Matteo standing outside.
His hair was soaking wet from the rain. He wasn't wearing his daytime hoodie. His white shirt was mostly drenched, clinging to his body and outlining his tall, slender figure.
"How did you find this place?" I frowned, instinctively reaching to close the door.
He immediately held the door handle so tightly to prevent me from closing the door.
"I asked the taxi driver and he told me you came to this hotel." His eyes pleaded. "Anna, just give me ten minutes to finish what I have to say."
"I have nothing to listen to," I responded coldly.
"You should go back and accompany your fiance instead of pestering me here."
"It's not what you think between us!" His voice trembled with anxiety.
"She said those things on purpose, just to force you to leave."
"What about the bank card?" I retorted.
"You used my birthday as the pin, threw me a card and told me not to bring up the past anymore. Did she force you to do that too?"
His face turned pale and his Adam's apple rolled slightly.
Back then, I was feared staying with me would only make your life harder. Our team ran out of funds and Yvettes father agreed to invest only if I got engaged to his daughter. I had no other choice but to go along with it for the time being. The money I sent you was meant to help you live betternot to end things between us.
His voice softened, with a hint of imperceptible fragility.
"Anna, you've suffered too much with me over the years and I don't want you to live in a suffer anymore with me."
"So this is how you chose to push me away?"
I smiled, but my eyes held no warmth. "Matteo, do you think just because you say 'I had no choice,' I should unconditionally forgive you?"
"No, give me some more time." His voice trembled with anxiety.
"I just want to stabilize the situation first. Once the team overcomes this difficulty, I'll break off the engagement with her. Anna, please give me a little more time, okay?"
"More time?" I smirked.
"Haven't I given you enough time?"
"From middle school to now, thirteen years."
"I waited for you to win the championship, for you to keep your promise, for you to take me back to Syrena. But what did I get in return?"
Just then, the click-clack of high heels echoed from the end of the corridor.
Yvette, carrying a delicate handbag, strode over.
She strode straight to us and affectionately took Matteo's arm, her eyes flashing with a hint of defiance.
"Matteo, so you were here! I've been looking for you for a long time."
She looked at me, a smug smile playing on her lips. "Miss Schultz hasn't left yet? What, still here? Are you reluctant to part with my fiancee and want to try again?"

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