Chapter 2

Zachary waved off the small crowd that had gathered around us, then told the photographer to keep shooting.

The photographer raised his camera. "Alright, Mr. Groom, down on one knee! Give me that proposal look!"

Without a second of hesitation, Zachary dropped to one knee. Like some kind of magic trick, he pulled a ring box from his pocket.

He opened it. Inside sat a diamond ring, catching the light. "Hann, you always say marriage isn't worth it. But I want you to know. marrying someone else might not mean much. Marrying me? That's different."

"This ring is custom-made from Desmond Jewels. One ring per person, once in a lifetime. And I'm giving mine to you."

Hannah's eyes went wide with surprise.

The photographer captured every second of it.

"Oh my god, that's so romantic!" A few couples nearby gasped out loud.

Someone else pointed in my direction. "Look how in love those two are. Why is she even here, chasing after him like that?"

Another voice chimed in. "Right? Showing up on their wedding day just to ruin it. Does she really think they'd care about her standing there?"

The silver ring on my finger suddenly felt like it was cutting into my skin.

Zachary had given it to me the day he confessed his feelings for me. Back then, he hadn't been welcomed back into the Reynolds family yet. he was just a broke student. He'd eaten instant noodles for an entire month just to save up enough to buy it.

"Kate, once we get married someday, I'll get you something better."

But when our own wedding got closer, I sent him a picture of a ring style I liked. What I got back wasn't excitement.

"Kate, when did you get so materialistic?" he'd said coldly. "That silver ring on your hand is beautiful. It already means something. And you're telling me you still think some diamond ring beats it?"

All I'd wanted was a little more meaning for our wedding. But somehow, the way he said it made me feel like I was the one in the wrong. So I never brought it up again.

The night before we were supposed to register our marriage, I sat there polishing that silver ring until it shined. Turns out he could buy a diamond ring after all. Just not for me.

I looked down at Zachary's hand. He wasn't wearing the silver ring that matched mine. Instead, after slipping the diamond ring onto Hannah's finger, he'd put the matching one on his own hand.

I looked away and slid the ring off my finger. I was about to drop it into the trash can when a shadow fell over me. I looked up. It was Zachary.

For a second, I actually thought maybe he still cared about that ring. Then he spoke, "Can you just... not be here right now? Hannah said seeing you is upsetting her."

So that was it. I was just an eyesore to him now.

I didn't hesitate. I dropped the ring straight into the trash.

Zachary's breath caught for a moment, but in the end, he didn't say anything.

"Sorry, but I'm not leaving," I said simply. "I'm waiting for my partner. We're getting our marriage certificate today too."

Zachary let out a tired, humorless laugh. "Stop being so difficult, Kate. I can't marry you today."

I shook my head. "I never said it was with you—"

Before I could finish, a hand struck my cheek.