Chapter 1

On the eve of our wedding, my fiancée took a sudden phone call, her eyes welling with tears.

"Mia was in a terrible car accident. She's badly hurt, and I need to go take care of her."

She was gone for two whole weeks.

During that time, she refused to see me. She wouldn't even answer my FaceTime calls, claiming she was just too exhausted from playing nurse.

Worried sick, I finally checked the GPS tracker on her car.

The location on the screen made my stomach drop.

A hospital.

Thinking something had happened to her, I raced over in a panic.

Yet the second I pushed open the recovery room door, I froze dead in my tracks.

My fiancée was lounging comfortably in the hospital bed.

And sitting beside her, feeding her cherries one by one, was the very "scholarship student" she had been financially supporting for years.

I let out a cold laugh, turned on my heel, and dialed her parents' number.

"Something's happened to Chloe."

"Get down to the hospital right now."

On the other end of the line, Chloe's mother, Mary, had a trembling voice.

"What happened to Chloe? Wasn't she out of town looking after Mia?"

"Why on earth is she at a women's clinic?"

Chloe's father, Richard, snatched the phone away. His voice was harsh and full of accusation.

"What the hell happened to my daughter? Is it serious?"

"What kind of useless fiancé are you?!"

Clutching my phone, I deliberately lowered my voice, faking sheer panic.

"Please don't panic yet."

"I'm at the hospital now. The doctor says it's complicated, and Chloe won't let me in the room."

"Just get over here first. Once you're here, I'll explain everything."

I hung up and immediately dialed Chloe's number.

It rang for a long time before she finally picked up.

Chloe's voice came through the speaker. She didn't sound weak at all. In fact, she sounded lighthearted, almost giddy.

"Brandon? Why are you calling all of a sudden?"

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes...

My bride-to-be was lying in a bed at the local women's health clinic.

Fresh out of an abortion.

And by her side was that little "charity case" of hers.

Seeing that I stayed silent, Chloe pressed on.

"Brandon?"

I swallowed down the sheer disgust clawing at my throat.

"Nothing. You've been gone so long, I was just worried."

Chloe let out a soft giggle, her voice sickeningly sweet.

"I'm totally fine."

"Mia's injuries are pretty bad, so I've been stuck at the hospital keeping her company..."

I was sick of her lies and cut her off.

"Are you at the hospital right now?"

Her breath hitched for a split second.

"Yeah."

"Which room? I'll come see you."

"No!"

The rejection was almost an involuntary reflex.

Realizing she had reacted too aggressively, she quickly softened her tone.

"I mean... Mia still needs rest. You shouldn't make the trip."

"I just don't want you exhausting yourself, babe."

I smirked.

"Fair enough."

"When are you coming home, then?"

"Once Mia's condition stabilizes."

She cooed softly, trying to pacify me.

"Just a few more days, okay? Be a good boy and wait for me at home."

Listening to her casual, nonchalant tone, I almost laughed out loud.

I took a deep breath.

"A FaceTime call wouldn't hurt, right?"

"I just want to see your face."

Without waiting for her reply, I hit the video call button.

The request was instantly declined.

A flat-out rejection within a second.

Right after, Chloe's shrill voice came through the speaker.

"Brandon! Are you out of your mind?!"

"I told you I'm looking after Mia! It's not convenient!"

Without giving me a chance to speak, she laid down the law.

"As punishment, you are forbidden from calling me until I come home!"

She hung up right in my face.

Expressionless, I dialed her again.

Only the cold, automated operator answered.

"The number you have dialed is currently turned off."

I wasn't surprised in the slightest. This wasn't the first time.

Back when we first started dating, we FaceTimed every day.

Ever since she claimed she was "caring for her injured best friend" two weeks ago, she hadn't picked up a single video call.

Every time I dared to call a second time, she would shut off her phone immediately.

Then came hours of silent treatment and temper tantrums, forcing me to crawl back and apologize.

Before, I thought she was just worn out from caregiving, and to keep the peace, I gave in again and again.

Looking back, she wasn't exhausted.

She was just terrified her dirty little secret would see the light of day.

I stood outside the hospital entrance, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it.

Since she wanted a "picture-perfect" wedding...

I was going to hand her the biggest surprise of her life today.