Chapter 1

Five years after breaking up with Matthew, we ran into each other at a friend's wedding.

Our eyes met for a second before we both looked away at the same time, pretending we were strangers.

After the ceremony ended, my half-drunk friend pointed at Matthew and whispered to me,

"After you two broke up, every girlfriend he's found has looked a bit like you. We all know they were substitutes for you."

"But this Natasha by his side now—not only has she stayed with him longer than anyone else, she doesn't look like you at all. He must really be serious about her this time."

I knew my friend was trying to ask if I had any regrets, but I just smiled awkwardly.

The truth was, whether Matthew was serious or not had nothing to do with me anymore.

This time, I came back to get married.

As we walked out of the banquet hall, my friends started making a fuss about going somewhere else to drink the night away.

Before I could refuse, someone pushed Matthew over to my side.

"Matthew, Prince came all this way back here. With your history together, you have to show her a good time tonight, right?"

As they spoke, my friend's eyebrows bounced up and down suggestively.

Matthew didn't say anything. He just naturally took my suitcase from my hand.

I glanced at my watch. Since I still had time before my scheduled meeting, I nodded and agreed to get in the car.

I sat in the passenger seat while Matthew and Natasha sat in the back.

The car had barely started moving when a sweet, cloying voice drifted up from the back seat. "Matthew, you haven't even introduced me to her yet."

"At first I thought you two didn't know each other. I almost made a fool of myself."

Though she was talking to Matthew, I could see from the rearview mirror that her eyes were fixed on me, full of naked provocation and disgust.

Matthew's gaze lingered on me for a moment. Before he could speak, I took the initiative to explain:

"Hello, my name is Prince. Matthew and I are classmates."

"Prince?" Natasha suddenly covered her mouth and laughed. "What do you mean classmates? Everyone knows you're Matthew's ex-girlfriend."

"Don't worry though, I'm not that petty. I won't get jealous over something like this."

After saying this, she wrapped her arm around Matthew's and kissed his cheek forcefully, as if marking her territory.

Throughout the drive, Natasha kept chattering nonstop. Matthew, who had always been cold and quiet, patiently responded to every single thing she said.

"We're not going to have to drink more later, are we? I have the worst tolerance. If I get drunk, will you take me home, Matthew?"

"I won't let you get drunk. I'll take you home."

"The wedding today almost made me cry. I'm so jealous the bride got to marry for love. When we have our wedding, I want roses filling the sky and colorful balloons everywhere."

"Okay. You can decide everything about the wedding."

I rolled the car window all the way down, letting the wind scatter the intimate atmosphere inside the car.

When we finally arrived at our destination, I got out of the car and saw Matthew smoothly lift Natasha out in his arms.

When our eyes met, his hands stiffened for a moment.

Natasha nestled in his embrace and smiled shyly. "I'm not used to wearing heels. Matthew worries I'll twist my ankle, so he always carries me when I get out of the car."

I nodded and smiled politely. "Matthew treats you really well."

When we got to the private room, a friend immediately handed me a drink. "You're late. As punishment, you have to drink three glasses."

I had just taken the glass when Matthew already downed the other two in one gulp.

"Natasha can't hold her liquor. I'll drink hers for her."

Several people started making a fuss, but most of the attention stayed fixed on me.

I calmly drank what was in my glass. As I was about to grab another one, Natasha rushed over and blocked me.

"Don't bully Prince like this. She's single right now. If she gets drunk, which one of you is going to take her home? Is she supposed to stay at your place?"

I glanced at her and took back the glass she'd blocked.

"Thanks for your concern, but I'm not single."

My response made Natasha's expression turn ugly instantly.

The room suddenly fell silent. All the eyes that had been on me shifted to Matthew.

Through the dim lighting, I could clearly see his hand tighten around the empty glass, as if just a bit more pressure would shatter it.

After a few seconds, he finally raised an eyebrow and spoke. "Then why didn't your boyfriend come today?"

"He'll be here at midnight."