Chapter 1

My fiance, Justin Fox, was a workaholic. We were about to get married in a matter of days, but he remained consistent with his two-hour legal consultation livestreams.

But today, he unusually ended his livestream fifteen minutes early.

Puzzled, I checked out the broadcast recording.

Everything was just fine until one of the consulters spoke. "Mr. Fox, I just had a divorce, and I have some disputes over the separation."

I recognized the voice—it was Justin's ex-girlfriend.

She was crying as she complained about how unhappy married life was for her, and that she regretted marrying her ex-husband.

Justin straightened as he listened in silence, his expression impassive… until he sighed.

"I regret it very much too. If I had known, I wouldn't have let you go."

Livestream comments started flashing through the screen rapidly, as the viewers smelled gossip and promptly asked Justin what that was all about.

Still, he didn't answer them and merely ended the livestream. "Sorry. Today's livestream is over."

It was only now that I understood that the happiness I thought I had was just him making do.

In that case, I would walk away from this engagement too.

Chapter 1

I was getting a drink when I bumped into Justin, who was stepping out of his study.

Phone in hand, he looked utterly worried.

Meeting my eyes, he paused and said, "I need to go. Meeting a client."

I looked up at the wall clock to see that it was already nine at night.

"Zoe Urban, you mean?" I asked.

"Yeah," Justin replied, picking up his car keys. "I need to stay with her—she's in pretty bad shape."

Bang!

The door was shut before I could say a word, leaving me standing there and staring at it blankly.

That was how he always was, losing his composure wherever Zoe was concerned.

He had always stayed in touch with her even after we started dating, dropping work and rushing to her side if she so much as asked.

He had always told me that men and women could be friends even after a break-up, and I should respect his freedom.

He only stopped talking about her since Zoe married someone else, and I thought he had changed… but I guess he never did.

-

It was midnight, but Justin never returned, so I called him. "It's very late."

He sighed wryly. "I can't go. Zoe's still in bad shape."

I heard Zoe sob from the other end then. "Sorry, am I keeping you? I apologize… No one has cared about me for so long…"

"It's fine. You're my client," Justin replied so quickly, like Zoe was the one who might misunderstand here.

Holding up a receipt, I said quietly, "Don't forget the bridal shoot is at ten in the morning tomorrow."

There was suddenly a loud clatter as Justin moved elsewhere, keeping his phone muffled.

When he answered again, he was clearly annoyed.

"Zoe's in a bad mood! Are you trying to provoke her?!"

Pausing, he then sighed. "I'll be there. Just go to bed—don't worry about me."

But even before he hung up, I heard him telling Zoe mildly, "Don't worry, it's nothing important."

I could only stay in our room and wait in silence.

But even as I woke up the next day, I felt the coolness on his side of the bed—he never returned.

Unconcerned, I headed to the bridal studio alone to get my makeup done, and the makeup artist handed me a veil as she said, "Having your husband put it on for you would feel more formal."

I preferred hand-sewn dresses, but Justin insisted on satin, which I agreed to.

Still, I couldn't help smiling as I looked at my reflection in the mirror, since it had taken a month to finalize all the details and arrangement leading to this day.

And Justin would definitely be pleased to see me in a satin dress.

However, Justin never showed up even as half past ten arrived—the assistant called his number repeatedly but he wasn't picking up.

I hence took out my own phone and dialed his number.

"What?" he asked impatiently. "I told you never to bother me at work."

"It's half past ten, Justin," I said softly.

Justin seemed to finally remember and said after a moment of silence, "Let's just reschedule. I'm really busy right now."

Zoe then purred on the other end, "I can go if you're busy…"

"No, it's fine," Justin promptly assured her mildly, his tone cool again when he spoke to me again. "Zoe's case is more important. The wedding photos can wait."

I frowned—every arrangement before the wedding was supposed to be set and couldn't be rearranged on the fly.

I began, "There's no time—"

Justin cut me short. "Whatever. Just pick another time slot. There's no reason for grandeur."

I hung my head quietly, my fingers clenching and wrinkling the silk bridal gown.

Seeing that I was silent, Justin sighed and lowered his voice. "Just be mature about this, alright?"

Then, he hung up before I answered.

My eyes burned even though I wasn't crying, and my reflection in the mirror blurred with just a blink.

The makeup artist then asked gingerly, "Ms. Waltz? Do we proceed?"

"No," I replied, taking off my veil and putting it on the table.

"Alright." The makeup artist nodded and added, "We have other appointments, so you might need to wait a few days for a reschedule…"

"Just cancel it—no worries," I told her and whipped out my phone to dial a number. "Hey. I'll take the New Ingram project."

Chapter 2

When I returned home, I went to the study to pick up an open notebook with details on Zoe's lawsuit.

Justin had just texted me to bring a file to his office, and I found it in his drawer.

Suddenly, I noticed a box sitting at a corner—the pink butterfly print definitely didn't suit Justin's preferences.

I opened it and almost choked upon seeing what was inside—it contained a full stack of photos, all featuring Justin and Zoe.

Justin and I had been dating for three years, but we barely took any photos together.

He always told me that he hated taking photos and would growl coolly when I begged, "Grow up."

But now, seeing that he still kept his photos with Zoe, I understood that it wasn't as if he disliked taking photos.

He just disliked taking photos with me.

One of them even featured Zoe in a white bridal gown, holding hands and beaming with Justin.

There was a line in Justin's own handwriting behind the photo: 'Let's just pretend we got married.'

I felt like I had a hole punched into my heart, leaving it in sheer agony.

It was a satin bridal gown too—Justin must have insisted I wear one too because Zoe had worn one before.

While I waited for the elevator, I heard the front desk receptionist gossiping with colleagues.

"Mr. Fox didn't come in alone this morning?! Does that mean he's finally taken?"

"I think so. I brought him the wrong file and was worried he would lecture me, but he just told me to watch out. I've never seen him this nice before!"

"Oh, it's happening! It's happening!"

So Justin spent the whole night with Zoe?

I closed my eyes to fight back the dull ache in my chest and hurried into the elevator.

Soon, I opened the door to Justin's office, and the voices inside promptly stopped.

When he saw me, Justin's smile faded, and he took the document. "Thanks. Head home if there's nothing else."

He frowned when I didn't move. "What?"

That was how it always was—there was a limit to the patience he afforded me.

Still, I asked quietly, "Did you spend the whole night with her?"

Justin frowned instantly. "Are you questioning me? Do I have to report to you while I'm working with a client?"

"Client…" I murmured the word softly.

He had really just retorted with righteous indignation when Zoe clearly wasn't an ordinary client.

That was when Zoe stood up, her voice tentative and her eyes puffy like she would burst into tears right then. "I asked him to stay with me. I am divorced, and Justin is just teaching me how to present my case—we didn't do anything wrong. I'll apologize, but just don't blame Justin…"

"Enough!" Justin strode up before her, protectively shielding her from me. "So what if we spent last night together? Zoe is depressed—why do you have to keep hounding her? You have everything you need too, so grow up!"

There it was again.

Just a question from me was harassment of Zoe in his eyes.

And he kept saying I had everything, so why didn't I feel that way?

Still, I backed off, my voice quivering. "Alright. Sorry, it's my fault."

Justin reached out and tousled my hair, his voice softening. "Good. As long as you get it, I won't have to blame you."

I simply left his office in silence, my tears gushing like a burst dam once the door closed.

People around me were casting me weird looks, which I ignored, and I kept strutting forward.

Eventually, my phone jingled with a notification.

[Everything's ready. We'll leave tomorrow.]

My fingers clenched around my phone, as if clinging on to survival.

Chapter 3

I was packing in the living room when I heard the door open, and I saw Justin leading Zoe inside.

He took a new pair of slippers from the shoe rack and passed them to Zoe. "Here, put them on."

They were new ones I had bought for myself, and I didn't even have time to unwrap them.

When I had first shown them to Justin, he scoffed at how childish they were.

And now, he handed them over to Zoe like it was only natural.

He then placed a box of apple pies in front of me. "Zoe's moving out and has no place to go, so she's staying with us for a couple of days."

I stared at the box—I loved those to death, but now, even the sweet scent only made me sick.

"If that's what you want," I replied nonetheless.

Justin was taken aback, as if he didn't expect me to be so cooperative.

Then, seeing the wedding photo album on the coffee table, he chuckled. "I guess you're maturing since you're going to be Mrs. Fox soon, huh? There's time until we get married anyway—we can find time to take photos."

Zoe then asked softly, "Where should I put my things, Justin?"

Justin's attention was focused on her right then. "I'll lead you there."

He led Zoe toward the guest room, while I smiled wryly.

So, he was making it up to me with cheap apple pie and a breakable promise.

Everything was mostly packed when I returned to my room, but my engagement ring was missing.

It was a three-carat diamond ring, so it wasn't cheap.

But it just wasn't there after I searched the room and the living room.

Hearing me rummage through the drawers, Justin stepped out of the guest room. "What's wrong?"

"My ring's gone."

"What's gone?"

"The engagement ring."

Justin frowned. "It's so important. How did you lose it? Try recalling where you put it."

I remained anxious. "I remember putting it beside the TV…"

Justin went over but found nothing and turned toward me accusingly. "Just say you lost it. You didn't have to lie."

"I wasn't lying!" I retorted a little too loudly, but explanations just didn't work, with the ring nowhere to be seen.

"Were you looking for this?"

Zoe suddenly appeared, holding up her hand to show me a ring on her ring finger.

And it was my ring.

"I picked it up from the floor and wanted to try it," she said, taking it off and holding it out to me.

"When you're in another person's house, that's called theft. Or don't you know that much?"

Zoe burst into tears right then. "I'm sorry, I just couldn't help it. I didn't have such a nice ring when I got married. I will apologize however you want!"

She bent her knees as if she was ready to prostrate herself, but Justin caught her and pulled her to her feet.

Then, turning to me and glaring at me in cool disappointment, he growled, "That's enough! You're being too harsh, and it's your fault for not keeping the ring safe! And now you're trying to slander her on top of lying?!"

I met his glare, my words slow and clear as I replied, "I have no reason to lie. I did put it beside the TV. Also, it's my ring—taking it without my permission is stealing."

"Sure," he replied, his chest heaving. "And I'm letting her wear it. And because I bought it, I have the right to do so."

And with those words, he slid the ring on Zoe's ring finger.

I watched them quietly, with Zoe sniffling as she hid herself in Justin's arms.

When Justin himself put that ring on my finger, he had promised me a beautiful marriage.

Now, that same ring was on Zoe's finger, the glow that refracted off its facets stabbing into my heart.

All at once, I felt completely drained and was unable to say a word.

Stepping into our room, I took out my suitcase.

Justin watched as I did, still watching coolly. "Fine, leave. Don't show up around Zoe if you're going to keep up that attitude."

I responded by closing the door in his face.

-

The next day, I arrived at the airport punctually.

I didn't sleep at all, but I didn't feel the least bit tired.

My phone was silent even when we landed in New Ingram, and there definitely wasn't a single text from Justin.

I chuckled as I quickly deleted all his contact details from my phone.

There was no future for us, and we shall hence stay well away from each other.