Chapter 1

Zara Cox was so shocked by the unexpected surprise that she froze. When Oliver Harding asked her again, she burst into tears of joy. "I do!"

The two of them embraced tightly, completely unaware that the atmosphere in the room had turned ice cold.

All the guests' eyes were on me. I took off my veil, tossed it into the corner, and coldly watched the deeply affectionate couple.

Oliver took Zara's hand and walked up to the stage. He picked up the microphone and announced, "Today was supposed to be my engagement ceremony. But the moment I stepped on stage, I realized the one I truly love is Zara.

"I've missed so many chances with her before. This time, I don't want to miss her again. I want to spend the rest of my life with her!"

No one in the room was willing to applaud their so-called love.

Oliver looked at me, his voice detached. "I wasn't sure before. If you want compensation, I can give you 500,000 dollars. I just hope you never appear in my life again."

His gaze toward me was filled with indifference and numbness—the result of our 20-year marriage.

But when he looked at Zara, his eyes burned with the same passion he had in his 20s.

We dated for three years before deciding to get engaged. The moment I accepted his proposal, he immediately announced it to all our family and friends. Everyone gave us their blessings—everyone except Zara.

She was Oliver's junior in college and had fallen for him at first sight. On campus, she went out of her way to "accidentally" run into him. After graduation, she found every excuse to stay in his life.

Whenever she saw me, she would flash a bright yet defiant smile. "You two aren't married yet, so I'm going to keep chasing him. I want him to know he has more than one option in his life!"

I had no idea how to deal with her, but Oliver always pulled me into his arms with a cold face, firmly rejecting Zara.

In my past life, Oliver wasted no time holding our engagement ceremony right after proposing to prove that he was committed to me.

Zara had shown up at our engagement party in a lavish wedding dress. She looked radiant but fragile as she stubbornly met Oliver's gaze. "Oliver, this is the last time I'll confess my love to you. If you reject me again, I'll disappear from your life forever!"

In my past life, Oliver had held my hand as he got down on one knee and slipped the ring onto my finger, using his actions to reject Zara once again.

But this time, Oliver took Zara's hand and confessed his love to her in front of the whole world.

As the air in the room grew heavier, I simply stepped back and let them steal the spotlight.

Once they were done with their passionate declarations of love, I finally spoke in an even tone, "I'll step aside. Oliver, let's never see each other again."

Oliver froze as if he hadn't expected me to agree so easily.

Zara, on the other hand, let out an excited squeal before showering him with kisses. Then, she turned to me. "Savannah, I told you Oliver would choose me!"

I nodded absentmindedly and turned to leave. As I stepped down from the stage, I stumbled, yet a slightly cool but steady hand held me.

"Ms. Palmer, maybe it's time you looked at someone else."

I looked up. It was Kayden Ross.

I had seen this face in business news so often in my past life that it was deeply imprinted in my memory. I just hadn't expected him to be at my engagement ceremony.

I gave him a grateful smile and asked, "Who should I look at?"

Kayden's smile deepened, his dark eyes reflecting my image completely. Then, he slipped a piece of paper in my palm. "My number. Call me when you have time."

I glanced at him before lifting my dress and heading to the dressing room.

My parents and Oliver's parents, Ambrose and Juliana, all rushed after me, their expressions dark with embarrassment.

Juliana forced a smile. "Savvy, Oliver was immature, but what's done is done. All we can do now is make it up to you. Whatever you want, just say the word. We'll do our best to compensate you."

My mom rolled her eyes. "Who even wants—"

I quickly grabbed her hand, cutting her off. Then, I smiled. "Mrs. Harding, then I'll take the land in Bakeney."

Right now, that land wasn't worth much, but in a few years, its value would skyrocket. The Harding family, which was on the brink of bankruptcy, would only survive because of that land.

Mr. and Mrs. Harding immediately drafted an agreement on the spot. I grinned from ear to ear as I took it.

After they left, my mom pinched my cheek. "You silly. You just got humiliated, and you're still smiling?"

I pointed at the contract. "With this in my hands, why wouldn't I be happy?"