Chapter 1

On my wedding day, my fiancé abandoned me at the altar to marry my half-sister.

That very same day, with my father’s silent approval, my stepmother kicked me out of the house.

At my absolute lowest, drenched in the pouring rain, I ran into Christian.

It turned out he hadn’t stayed single all these years by choice. He was waiting for me...

Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life—my wedding day with Ethan.

I sat in front of the vanity mirror in my carefully chosen lace wedding gown. Looking at my reflection, I was filled with absolute excitement for the ceremony.

Ethan and I had been together for five years, ever since we were eighteen.

Now that we had both graduated from college, we were finally making it official. Everyone always said we were a match made in heaven.

My makeup was done, and the ceremony was about to start.

Holding up my train, I walked to the entrance of the chapel. I looked at the man standing at the end of the aisle. That was Ethan—the man who was about to become my husband.

The minister finished his opening remarks, and his voice echoed through the speakers: "And now, please welcome the bride!"

I took a deep breath and was about to step forward when my father, Richard, suddenly blocked my path.

I stared at him in confusion. He had explicitly told me he wouldn't attend my wedding.

But Richard ignored me completely. He reached his hand out to someone behind me. I turned around, and my heart stopped.

There stood Scarlett, also wearing a white wedding gown!

Scarlett took Richard's arm, followed by two flower girls, and began her walk down the aisle.

As she brushed past me, Scarlett threw me a contemptuous look and whispered, "You're nothing but a pathetic loser."

With that, she stepped onto the red carpet, walking straight toward Ethan.

This is ridiculous, I thought. My eyes flew to Ethan, waiting for him to put an end to this circus.

But to my horror, Ethan smiled warmly, his eyes locking onto Scarlett as she approached him.

It felt like ice water had been poured down my spine.

Suddenly, all the red flags I had ignored rushed back into my mind. Ethan constantly making excuses to cancel our dates, the nights he didn't come home, the smug looks Scarlett always gave me...

They had been sleeping together behind my back. I was the only fool kept in the dark.

Shortly after my mother passed away, Richard married Victoria, and Scarlett was their child.

Ever since Scarlett was born, I had become an invisible ghost in my own home.

I thought moving out after the wedding would finally free me. I never expected them to steal my wedding, too.

And what hurt the most was that the man I loved for five years had betrayed me without a single shred of hesitation.

Richard handed Scarlett's hand over to Ethan. Ethan looked at Scarlett with deep affection, reciting the exact vows he was supposed to say to me.

My head spun. Shock and rage warred inside me, making my knees buckle.

I couldn’t watch another second. I turned around and fled the chapel.