Chapter 1

I was the wedding planner, hired to organize the wedding event for Ryan's boss and his bride-to-be.

During the rehearsal, Ryan's boss, joked with me, asking how Ryan and I had been together for seven years without a single proposal in sight.

"We're keeping our ceremony low-key, no banners or fuss," he laughed. "Why don't we double up on the celebration? You and Ryan could take over here in the afternoon, have yourselves a little engagement right here!"

His fiancée chimed in with a smile, "Exactly! We have to head back to the old family estate around noon anyway. So we won't be here until eight in the evening. Go talk to him! Tell him to surprise you with a proposal today!"

I managed a small, self-deprecating smile, unsure how to respond.

Once, I used to wait eagerly, hoping Ryan would pop the question. But now, years of waiting had worn me down, and Ryan seemed no closer to making me his wife than the day we met.

Noticing my dimmed expression, the bride-to-be looped her arm around mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Clarice, you're a catch! If Ryan won't propose, then why bother with him? I could introduce you to my brother!"

I just shook my head and got back to setting up the decorations, meticulously arranging each detail.

I had been in love with Ryan for a decade, shadowing his every step for seven long years. Walking away from him? That wasn't a decision I could just make on a whim.

But just as Ryan's boss and his fiancée left to grab a bite, chaos unfolded.

A woman barged into the venue, breathless and flushed, and announced herself as Ryan's fiancée.

I recognized her instantly. She was Haley Rhodes, Ryan's colleague.

I was about to greet her when, out of nowhere, she slapped me hard across the face.

The sting shocked me, leaving me dazed. Before I could process what had just happened, she shoved a camera right in my face.

"Look, everyone!" she yelled. "This shameless woman stole my fiancé and is forcing him into a wedding!"

Her furious shove sent me stumbling backward and sprawling onto the platform behind me.

My head was spinning. What was happening? Could Haley and Ryan's boss have something going on?

Trying to keep things from escalating, I attempted to speak calmly. "Haley, both the bride and groom are very much in love. If there's any misunderstanding, perhaps we could discuss it after the ceremony?"

My words seemed to fuel her anger. She slapped me again, even harder than before.

"Don't act like you don't know!" she spat. "I asked Ryan—he has no idea about any wedding! You're just trying to trap him and force him to marry you with this little ‘surprise'!"

My head was reeling with confusion. How had Ryan become part of this conversation?

At that moment, a flood of women poured into the hall, cameras and phones at the ready, surrounding me in a tight, unyielding circle.

"Exactly! We're all witnesses to Ryan and Haley's love story," one of them sneered. "Where did you even come from, homewrecker? How dare you pull a stunt like this? Don't you have any shame?"