Chapter 1

To avenge my adopted sister, my brother Tristan deliberately pushed a DoorDash delivery guy onto the stage of the live dating show I was starring in.

Under the bright spotlights, that red DoorDash jacket was painfully eye-catching.

The audience burst into a chorus of snickers.

"Why is a delivery guy up there?"

"Oh my god! Is the heiress of Vance Enterprises actually going to marry a DoorDash guy?"

I stood frozen on the stage.

Tristan walked up quickly, put his arm around my shoulders, and whispered, "Sera, you made Chloe get her stomach pumped from food poisoning last time. She's still hurt. I had to do this to give her some payback and let her blow off some steam."

"You're the older sister. Just let her have this."

"Don't worry, it's just for show."

"Our family would never actually let you marry a delivery guy."

The live broadcast was in complete chaos.

The host quickly tried to save the situation. Smiling, she asked the delivery guy, "Hi there! Welcome to Heartbeats Live. This is a dating show. Did you perhaps walk into the wrong studio?"

Just then, a cold sneer echoed from below the stage.

"He knows how to read. Since he's on stage, it means he's willing to take Sera's hand."

I whipped my head around and met Xavier Sinclair's cold, indifferent gaze.

He was sitting in the VIP section, wearing a bespoke Armani suit, his hands casually folded over his knees.

His posture was that of a completely detached spectator.

My heart shattered, making it hard to breathe.

We had been in a secret relationship for seven years. We had agreed to go public on this very show today.

But from the start of the show until now, I hadn't seen him step up.

Instead, I only got his cold shoulder.

The host, smelling drama, asked, "Mr. Sinclair, rumor has it that you and Sera are childhood sweethearts. Are you sure you don't want to come up?"

Xavier let out a cold laugh. "Childhood sweethearts? That's just a misunderstanding."

Hearing this, Tristan stood up abruptly. He pointed at Xavier and roared, "Xavier! You grew up with my sister! You swore you'd marry no one but her! Now you're calling it a misunderstanding? What kind of asshole are you?!"

A few rich kids in the front row of the audience whispered and laughed.

"Isn't it obvious? Xavier moved on a long time ago."

"I saw him with my own eyes yesterday, picking out a Cartier diamond ring with the Vances' adopted daughter, Chloe."

"I heard he was forced to come today by his family. He never wanted to get on that stage."

So that was it.

I closed my eyes gently, forcing back the tears that were about to spill.

When I opened them again, I took a step forward and said loudly, "What's wrong with delivering food? Are you all too noble to order takeout?"

"Since he dared to stand up here, I dare to take his hand!"

Tristan grabbed my wrist tightly. "Sera! Have you lost your mind?!"

I looked up at him, tears finally slipping down my cheeks.

Once upon a time, this brother would carry me home on his back just because I scraped my knee.

Now, for Chloe's sake, he had personally pushed me into this public humiliation on live TV.

I let out a bitter laugh. "Tristan, isn't this exactly what you wanted?"

"The whole city is watching this stream. The eldest daughter of the Vance family is marrying a delivery guy. Your precious Chloe must be thrilled now, right?"

Tristan froze, his brows furrowing. "Are you still blaming Chloe? She only..."

I couldn't hear the rest of his words. I turned around and walked toward the figure in the DoorDash jacket on the other side of the stage.

The crowd parted automatically, their mocking stares piercing me like needles.

As I passed Xavier, he stood up and blocked my path.

He warned me impatiently, "Sera, stop acting out. I know you're mad at me, but you don't need to ruin your life to get back at me."

Seeing that I remained silent, his tone softened. "We grew up together. I've always seen you as a sister. Be good, come back with me. I'll help you find a good man who actually deserves you later."

I stopped, turning to give him a mocking smile. "As a sister?"

Xavier choked on his words, his eyes darting away, not daring to look at me.

I stared straight at his guilty face and said coldly, "Xavier, is it really that hard to admit you fell for Chloe?"

"Being honest would at least give you some dignity, rather than hiding behind this 'sister' lie."

"I..."

His face turned incredibly pale, but he couldn't find the words.

I didn't hesitate any longer. I bypassed him and walked straight up to the delivery guy.

An impulse of sheer desperation took over me.

I tilted my head up and asked loudly, "Are you brave enough to marry me?"