Chapter 1

We were finally about to sign the closing papers on the dream house we’d spent two years preparing for, but my fiancé, Harrison, backed out at the last second.

His best friend couldn't believe it over the phone:

"Just because Chloe cried a little, you're giving away the house you spent two years prepping for? How are you going to explain this to Nora?"

Harrison’s voice dripped with helpless affection:

"Chloe just went through a breakup and has nowhere to go. She's fragile. I can't stand seeing her suffer. I can only have peace of mind once she's settled."

When mentioning me, his tone turned completely dismissive:

"We can always buy another house later. Nora is mature and sensible. We've been together for eight years—she'll understand."

I stood outside the closing office, gripping my burning-hot phone. In silence, I turned away, the color draining from my face.

On the day the contract was supposed to be signed, invitations to a housewarming party at a billionaire’s ultra-luxury estate blew up the city’s entire elite social circle.

Harrison blew up my phone, his voice hoarse with rage:

"Nora, you owe me an explanation!"

Before I could speak, my new husband pulled me into his arms and took the phone. His voice was deep and lazy:

"She’s busy. I wore her out last night. Don't worry, I'll take good care of her for you."

My hand, which was about to push open the closing room door, slowly curled into a fist.

Harrison had a childhood sweetheart named Chloe, whom he treated like his own life.

There was an unlocked album on his phone filled with photos of Chloe from childhood to now.

And then there were the countless rescheduled flight tickets from our dates, just so he could rush over and comfort Chloe every time she went through a breakup.

I used to think that was just a deep, sibling-like bond that went beyond romance.

Until a year ago, when I accidentally stumbled upon his journal.

"Chloe got bullied again today. If only I had been braver back then, the one standing by her side and protecting her would be me."

When he walked into the room, he was met with my pale face and his open journal.

I had never seen him so frantic. He pulled me into a tight embrace, remorse and anguish overflowing in his eyes.

"Nora, that was just foolish nonsense from when I was young. There’s nothing between us anymore."

Right in front of me, he burned that journal.

Then, he dropped to one knee, offering me a massive diamond ring.

"Nora, marry me. We'll buy our marital home in Riverview Estates, just like you always wanted."

After eight years together, I chose to believe him. I believed that journal was just a lingering regret from his teenage years.

So, I accepted the ring and poured my heart into designing our future home.

Yesterday, just one day before the final closing, I had hugged him excitedly and said:

"The interior designer will have the final renderings ready tomorrow. Our home is finally coming together..."

"Let's put the house on hold for now."

My head buzzed. I thought I was hallucinating. But Harrison repeated it.

"Let's wait. Chloe just broke up with her boyfriend and got kicked out by her landlord. I can’t bear the thought of her wandering the streets alone."

He pulled me tighter, his tone coaxing:

"You wouldn't want anything bad to happen to Chloe either, right? Our relationship is rock solid. We don't need to rush for a house."

Even though my heart felt hollowed out, I didn't want him to think I was heartless. In the end, I nodded.

I thought that house was the foundation of our future. But to him, it was just a stack of toy blocks he could kick aside for a few tears from his precious childhood friend.

I stiffened my posture, keeping myself from collapsing to the floor.

On the other end of the line, his friend was still trying to talk sense into him:

"Everyone knows Chloe treats you like a backup plan. If you wait until she's settled down to start your own life, you'll be waiting forever."

Someone in the background chimed in:

"Why don't you two just get together already? Problem solved."

Hearing that, Harrison's voice dropped ten degrees colder:

"Shut up! If Nora hears that kind of talk, I'll never forgive you guys."

The atmosphere instantly froze until someone scrolled through Chloe's Ins and said cautiously:

"Harrison, Chloe posted that she fell in love with a painting at the Westside Gallery. She said it might cheer her up."

Without a second thought, Harrison grabbed his car keys.

Someone tried to stop him:

"Harrison, that gallery only sells one-of-a-kind originals. They're notoriously hard to get. Just send your assistant, why bother going yourself..."

Looking at the crying cat emoji Chloe had sent him, Harrison smirked:

"As long as it makes Chloe happy, what's a quick drive?"

Standing outside the door, my lips curled into a bitter smile. I remembered when I asked him to come look at renovation materials with me, and he had looked at me with pure annoyance.

"Nora, I run a company of hundreds of people. I'm drowning in work every day. Can't you be a little more considerate?"

Right. His time was pure gold. But his gold was never meant to be spent on me.