Chapter 1

The day before the wedding, a hotel booking confirmation from my fiancé Ethan arrived on my phone.

I thought it was a pre-wedding surprise he'd planned for me.

But shortly after, his childhood sweetheart Leah posted a photo on Ins of them kissing passionately, with the caption:

"Missing you before was my biggest regret. If I still have a chance, I want to tell you—I do."

After I caught him cheating, Ethan didn't explain. He just sent me a message:

"We need to prepare for the wedding tomorrow. Get some rest early tonight."

Seeing that message, bitterness filled my heart.

What was I to him, really?

A consolation prize?

My eyes welled up as I looked at the carefully decorated room, feeling nothing but irony.

I took a deep breath, swallowed the bitterness, and replied.

"Let's not get married. Let's break up."

Ethan didn't respond to that message.

I fought to suppress the sadness inside and threw the wedding dress I'd carefully prepared onto the floor.

Ethan was only thirty but already a professor at a prestigious university.

In everyone's eyes, he was handsome and talented.

Many people thought I was marrying up, and even before the wedding they'd advise me to be content and become a virtuous, sensible wife.

But cheating was something I could never tolerate.

After deciding firmly to break up, I sent my mom a message.

She was shocked. After a long silence, she said:

"Alright. As long as you've made your decision, I'll support you."

That night, I packed my bags and left home, checking into a hotel.

Two days later, Ethan suddenly found the hotel where I was staying.

His refined face showed deep fatigue, and his ink-black eyes stared straight at me.

"Have you calmed down yet?"

His voice came out dull and hoarse.

I snapped back to reality and looked at him coldly. "Mr. Hayes, what do you want from me?"

"Emily, stop making a scene. I'm really tired lately."

He seemed to soften his tone, his eyes clearly showing exhaustion.

I let out a cold laugh. Of course he was tired—juggling two women would exhaust anyone.

"What does that have to do with me?"

I responded coldly.

Even looking at him one more time felt like it dirtied my eyes.

I turned to leave after saying that, but he grabbed my wrist.

The moment his warm palm touched my wrist.

I jerked my hand away like a startled bird and glared at him angrily. "Don't touch me!"

Ethan's body trembled slightly as he looked at me in surprise.

He opened his mouth as if to say something.

"I don't want to hear your excuses. We've already broken up. Please show some respect!"

"Emily." His tone grew heavier, tinged with displeasure.

"I couldn't find you on the wedding day. You wouldn't answer your phone or reply to messages. I'm already exhausted dealing with this mess. Can't we just talk this through properly? Why does it have to come to this?"

"Talk about what? About how you had sex with another woman? Sorry, I'm not interested."

Ethan's eyes were pitch black, his expression so dark it could drip water, his voice cold. "Things between her and me aren't what you think."