Chapter 1

While cleaning out the attic of the old family estate, I accidentally found three candles.

Right after, a mechanical voice echoed in my head.

"Light one candle to make one wish come true."

Thinking of my boyfriend who had lost his legs in a horrific car accident, I made a wish, half-skeptical. I wished for his legs to heal.

Later, that first candle actually brought his legs back.

I used the second candle to help him launch his startup, turning him into a billionaire.

But on the day he promised to marry me, he looked at me with complete indifference and said,

"I thought about it, and let's just forget it. The one I actually want to marry is Chloe."

I lowered my head, letting out a cold laugh. "And what if I don't agree?"

He raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with disdain. "I’m notifying you, Sera. I’m not asking for your permission."

Without another word, I turned and walked away.

Back in the familiar attic, I didn't hesitate. I lit the third candle.

The clock struck midnight.

I looked at the food on the dining table, which had been reheated over and over again. I couldn't help but ask,

"Martha, did you actually tell Carter that I was waiting for him to come home for dinner?"

Martha, who had been dozing off, snapped awake immediately. She quickly said,

"I did tell Mr. Sterling, but..."

She stopped abruptly, her face twisting into a grimace of hesitation and embarrassment.

I looked up at her and offered a gentle smile. "It's fine. Go ahead. But what?"

Hearing this, Martha burst out angrily,

"But Chloe was the one who answered his phone!"

"She said we should wait until she and Mr. Sterling finished their date, and then they'd come over for dinner together."

"She is crossing the line! Ever since she came back, she’s been clinging to him 24/7. It’s been weeks since Mr. Sterling last came back to the estate to see you!"

"A shameless home-wrecker acting like she owns the place."

As Martha kept venting, my face grew stiffer.

Actually, I knew the truth. It wasn't just Chloe clinging to him. They were clinging to each other.

Because Carter had never truly let her go.

Just as I was about to stand up and head back to my bedroom, the doorbell rang.

I stopped Martha and went to open the door myself.

The moment the door opened, Chloe practically shoved her way inside.

She was holding a takeout box, and there were unmistakable, fresh hickeys on her neck.

My hands clenched into tight fists as I stared at her.

Chloe deliberately touched her neck, giving me a provocative smirk.

"Blame Carter. He just wouldn't let me leave. Otherwise, we would’ve been back for dinner ages ago!"

"Sera, sweetie, have you eaten yet? I brought you some leftovers."

With that, she smoothly slipped into a pair of slippers and walked straight into the living room as if she owned the house.

Ever since she returned to the country, she had visited the estate even more often than Carter.

Every time, she either claimed Carter forgot some important files, or she was packing his overnight bag for a "business trip."

I didn't understand why he would rather have someone who lived ten miles away pack his things instead of his own girlfriend.

In fact, most of the time, I had to find out about Carter's whereabouts from Chloe's mouth.

Shaking off my thoughts, I followed her into the living room.

She glanced at the untouched dishes on the table and gasped in mock surprise.

"Sera, you haven't eaten yet? Don't tell me you’ve been waiting for Carter this whole time!"

"Oh, it's all my fault. I’ll definitely give him a piece of my mind when we get back!"

Before I could speak, Martha couldn't hold back anymore. She sneered,

"Who do you think you are? I’ve never seen a home-wrecker act so bold in front of the actual fiancée!"

"If it weren't for you, Mr. Sterling would have been home eating dinner with Miss Vance hours ago!"

Chloe's face fell instantly. She pointed at Martha and snapped,

"Who are you calling a home-wrecker?!"

"They've been together for seven years and aren't even married. Don't you ever wonder why?"

"In a relationship, the one who isn't loved is the real intruder. Got it?"

My head throbbed. I interrupted them, unable to take it anymore.

"Enough. Stop fighting."

I got it.

I knew better than anyone else why Carter and I hadn't married after seven years.

But I was waiting.

I was waiting for the day Carter had promised to make me his wife.