Chapter 1

In the midst of the noisy crowd, I watched as my fiance passionately kissed his assistant.

I stood there like a fool and watched them make out on stage.

The man up there was my fiance, Jake Stevens.

The woman was his personal assistant, Chloe Xanders.

The emcee, who had been standing awkwardly to the side, quickly directed the spotlight toward me when he noticed my arrival. He was trying to alert the groom.

“Mr. Stevens, the bride is here.”

Jake, however, did not even flinch. Instead, he pulled Chloe behind him to shield her from the prying eyes of the crowd.

And there I was, standing on the stage, enduring the judgmental stares, the whispers, and the ridicule from everyone around.

“I’ve said it all along. Mr. Stevens never liked Lily James. Why else would he humiliate her so openly like this?”

“Lily has no shame. How could she just stand there and take it with so many people watching?”

“She’s such a doormat.”

…

Listening to the whispers around me, my face grew pale. I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms.

Jake, however, did not even try to restrain himself. Instead, he took Chloe’s hand and casually played with it in his palm.

I stood frozen in place while the murmurs surrounded me. I let my nails leave one hidden mark after another on my skin.

When I did not react, Jake grew impatient.

With one arm wrapped around Chloe, he grabbed the microphone from the emcee with his other hand. He stared at me and said with clear irritation.

“Lily, are you coming over here or not? If you don’t, well then, the wedding will be canceled.”

After saying that, Jake confidently turned back to chat with Chloe without sparing me another glance.

He was sure I would forgive him, just like I had many times before.

He thought I would walk up to him willingly, smile, and go through with the wedding without a fuss.

However, not anymore.

Step by step, I walked toward him with determination. I ignored the whispers and stares from the crowd.

It was just like how he had walked toward me countless times in the past.

Just as I was about to reach him, I refused the hand Jake extended toward me.

Instead, I took the microphone and looked him straight in the eye. My voice was calm.

“Jake, let’s cancel the wedding. I don’t want to marry you anymore.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, the lively crowd around us fell completely silent.

Jake just scoffed and looked at me with disdain.

“Lily, we’ve been together for five years, and you’ve been chasing after me all this time just to finally get to this wedding.

“And now you’re walking away? Do you even believe yourself?”

Despite the pain tearing at me inside, when he asked that, I still nodded firmly.

After all, he had long forgotten that I was not the one begging for this marriage. It was him who had asked for it.

Five years ago, in the middle of a heavy snowfall, it was him who took my hand, knelt on one knee, and held up a ring.

He had asked if I would spend my life with him.

Back then, his eyes were filled with nothing but love for me.

That was why I forgave him again and again while giving him countless chances to hurt me.

However, at that moment, I suddenly realized something.

No one was truly indispensable in anyone’s life. No matter who left your life, you would still survive.

Under his smug gaze, I slipped the ring off my finger and held it up for everyone to see.

“Jake, I’m telling you now, we’re done.”

Then, I tossed the ring at him and walked away without looking back.

Just as I stepped off the stage, Jake’s best man, who was standing behind him, hurriedly tried to stop me.

“Wait, Ms. James! Jake was just joking.

“He really does love you. You’re not really going to break up over a joke, are you?”

Behind him, Jake’s face had turned livid with anger. His hand clenched tightly around the ring I had thrown at him.

It was the same ring he had spent a fortune to have custom-made.

Yet now, his voice was filled with coldness.

“Let her go! It’s not like I can’t have this wedding without her!”

Hearing that, the best man awkwardly withdrew his hand.

I let out a bitter laugh and walked out of the venue without looking back.