"I am going to get married! This spring!"
While shaking the finest wine in his collection, the first thing Knox blurted out was the news of his wedding. It came out of nowhere, like a thunderclap in a clear sky. At first, I thought I might have been drinking too much. But then I realized I hadn’t even finished my first glass of wine. "Getting married? To whom?" My gaze locked onto his as I swirled my glass. "You never mentioned dating someone. What is this? A marriage of convenience?" I tried not to sound bitter, but the news of my first love and best friend of twenty years getting married felt like a slap with thorns. "No! We met a year ago at a business conference. From there—" "A year?" I interrupted him. "You never said anything to me. Any reason for that?" Although my heart was shattered into pieces, what disappointed me most was his silence. Being by his side for twenty years hadn’t made a difference—he still chose not to be honest with me. "Are you disappointed, Violet?" A shadow of sadness crossed his handsome face. His jaw muscles tightened, and those beautiful blue eyes didn’t lie—he felt guilty. But does that even matter? "I’m not," I said calmly, sipping the rest of my wine before grabbing my suit. "I'm heading home, Knox. Say hello to your fiancée!" "Violet! Where are you going? I thought you were going to enjoy dinner with me." He stood up, his expression shifting into something uncertain—something I had never witnessed before. Panic? Sadness or guilt? I couldn't read them. "I apologize," I muttered under my breath. "I have to go back to work tomorrow. You know, being a CEO isn't easy. Anyway, congratulations on your upcoming wedding." Turning on my heels, I walked away from the restaurant. Knox started to say something but held himself back. I thought we never hid anything from each other—especially something as big as marriage. Knox was the heir of the Silverfang Corporation, while I was the heir of Riverwood. Growing up, we had been partners in crime. We studied together, shared an apartment abroad during our PhDs, and started our journeys as CEOs in the same year. We had a silent pact. We always had each other’s back. At least, that’s what I thought until today. Settling myself in the car, I glanced at the restaurant—our favorite place. I had lost count of how many times we had come here together. Every milestone, every celebration, we had always shared them. But somehow, that stopped. Why? The question lingered in my mind like an unwanted guest. Maybe it was time to move on. A cold breeze brushed against my cheeks. Thankfully, I hadn’t drunk too much, or I would have had to call my chauffeur. In my entire life, I had never dated. Not because I wasn’t beautiful or desirable, but because my friends claimed my aura and attitude intimidated most men. But I never paid attention. Because all I could see was Knox. Tall, handsome, blonde, and blue-eyed, with a perfect figure. I wondered who the woman was. How did she steal his heart? My mind raced with thousands of thoughts. Pulling my car into the driveway, I walked into my house—a small, two-story home in the suburbs. I remembered planning to buy two houses next to each other, one for me and one for Knox. A childish dream. "Violet!" My mother's voice cut through my thoughts. She was sitting in the living room, her satin dress draping over her skin with effortless perfection. It wasn’t unusual for her to visit. "What brings you here, Mom?" I asked, taking off my suit. The temperature outside had been scorching. "Your dad said you’re going to handle the company's new project?" She put her magazine down on the low glass table, her graceful eyes shifting to me. "Is that true?" I tossed my suit onto the armrest and sank into the couch with a groan. "I thought that was confidential information." "Are you going or not?" she demanded, her voice stern. It was rare for her to get upset over anything, but I wasn’t in the mood to entertain her today. "Well, I think it’s a good idea," I mumbled, slumping deeper into the couch and closing my eyes. "That’s stupid! Knox is getting married next month. Are you saying you'll be away for a whole month?" She snarled, throwing a cushion at me. "What did you just say?" My heart skipped a beat. I straightened my back, looking at her with disbelief, "He's marrying next month?" The air whooshed out of my chest. "Yeah. They've already booked the venue. The wedding dress is perfect!" So not only had he lied about getting married in the spring, but they had already planned everything? Why? Why did he lie? "Good for him," I muttered, shoving down the sharp pain in my chest, like always. "It's not my wedding, so no headache." "Are you serious? I thought you'd be thrilled to know about this! He’s your best friend!" Yeah. In different circumstances, I would have been thrilled to do anything for him. But being lied to—by the very person I trusted most—made it hard to feel welcome in his happiness. "I’m going to take a shower. If you’re staying over, sleep in the guest room, Mom. Don’t come into my room." Loosening my tie, I grabbed my suit. My ankles ached after wearing heels all day. "Listen to this ungrateful child!" My mother pouted, sprawling onto the couch. She was a child at heart, always seeking attention. With Dad away on a business trip, she had found me to mess with. "Oh! Violet! You got a message! Aren’t you going to check it?" Mom shouted. I ignored her. Because at that very moment, I had made up my mind. I wouldn't attend the wedding.Mom had already left by the time I stepped out of the shower. I had been working non-stop for the past two weeks, and finally, I had a two-day break before my next project began. Wanting to unwind, I popped some popcorn and settled in for a rom-com anime. Usually, I preferred action, but tonight, I felt different. I considered a tragedy but dismissed the thought—too cringe. Hugging my knees, I stared at the screen, the popcorn and ice cream remaining untouched. Watching characters find their happy endings while sympathizing with the second lead, who cried over a love never meant to be, felt... stupid. What was the point of crying? Of agonizing? Of regretting? It was already decided that you wouldn’t be the main character in someone else’s story. If you love, you love selflessly—without expectations, without hope, without dreams. The buzzing of my phone went ignored. Talking to people at the end of the day felt exhausting. All I wanted was a moment to sort out my feelings in
The first time I met Knox was during a family vacation. I was quiet, and he was the boy who got smacked a thousand times a day for his mischief. At a BBQ party, I burned my palm trying to grab a piece of meat without realizing it was hot. My parents and his were enjoying themselves, so I decided not to cry. I was only five then. Hiding my burning palm, staring longingly at the meat I couldn’t eat, I felt miserable. That was when Knox spoke to me for the first time. He sat in front of me, silent. Then, without a word, he took my hand and started blowing on it, his touch gentle. “Hold something cold,” he said. “It’ll help.” I was five, but in that moment, I met my knight. Since that day, we were inseparable. His family even moved closer because we couldn’t bear to be apart. --- The morning sun peeked through the curtains—unwelcome yet warm. My flight was at ten, and I needed to leave. I had confirmed my departure in the family chat, just in case anyone thought I’d still be a
Knox, "I am sorry, Knox! I know that I am a bit stressed about everything. But if you explain properly, maybe Violet will be less disappointed?" Sarah Smith, two years older than me, smiled bitterly, her lips pressing into a tight line as she lowered her gaze. Her fingers trembled slightly as she gripped her coffee cup, her knuckles turning white. The warmth of the drink seemed to offer little comfort as she exhaled slowly, trying to calm herself. I had met her last year at a family gathering—an event I had little interest in. Though I never sought marriage, our conversations had flowed easily, and somehow, we had ended up here. She was the complete opposite of Violet. Where Violet’s presence burned like wildfire, Sarah was gentle, soft-spoken—an ideal match for Silverfang’s expectations. “She’ll be fine,” I murmured, my voice flat as I stared out the window. My jaw clenched slightly, and a flicker of uncertainty passed through my eyes. "She’s just upset that I didn’t meet her
Violet, I used to love love-triangle stories. The silent girl who harbored feelings for the male lead but never confessed. The one who acted cocky, annoying even, because deep inside, she feared losing the friendship she held dear. The one who longed for his attention yet never had the courage to demand it. That girl? That was me. I was bold in everything else, but when it came to love, my consciousness became an obstacle. What if I ruined everything? What if I lost the friendship we had built for years? What if we could never go back? But in the end, none of that mattered. I found myself in the role of the side character, watching as he prioritized someone else. I wasn’t surprised when he fell in love with another woman. But what hurt—what truly tore me apart—was how easily he discarded me. He never spoke to me, never explained, never even met me again. And all because she hated me. I should have been angry at him, but I wasn’t. I was angry at myself. I had placed him a
Sam walked toward us, his shoulders slumped, eyes filled with pain. A couple, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, approached him first, followed by my parents and Knox’s. Mrs. Smith, barely holding back her tears, asked in a trembling voice, “How are they? How is my daughter?” Sam glanced around before his gaze landed on me. He took a deep breath and said, “Knox is safe. His left arm and two ribs are fractured. He will wake up soon. But—” A tense silence filled the air as Sam turned to Mrs. Smith. “Sarah is badly injured. She may take longer to walk, but there’s a high chance she will recover, so don’t lose hope. However—” Mrs. Smith’s sobs cut him off. She broke down, clutching her husband. Though I felt relieved that Knox was safe, an ache settled in my chest for the girl he was supposed to marry. “However?” Mr. Smith, who had been trying to stay strong, asked, his voice firm yet shaken. Sam exhaled heavily. “Due to the extent of her injuries, she won’t be able to have children.” A col
Knox, Earlier in the morning A sharp voice broke through the darkness, pulling me from the depths of unconsciousness. "He woke up! Sir! Can you see me?" My eyelids felt heavy, as if weighed down by lead, but I forced them open. A bright light stung my retinas, making me squint. A sharp pain radiated through my head, chest, and arms, making me wince. My body felt like it had been shattered and pieced together haphazardly. Every breath burned. Yet, the moment my mind cleared, a different kind of pain took over. In the endless nightmare I had been trapped in, I had seen Violet instead of Sarah in the accident. The horror of it had been too real, too gut-wrenching. But now that I was awake, reality hit me like a freight train. I gasped, my voice raw and frantic. "How is Sarah?" The nurse, who had been checking my vitals, hesitated before calling for the doctor. That hesitation made my pulse spike. Something was wrong. Before I could demand an answer, the door burst open.
Violet, A chill crawled from my toes to the roots of my hair, spreading an unfamiliar unease through my body. It felt as if my world was slowly crumbling beneath me. "What made you think I would agree to this absurd request, Knox?" My voice came out cold, but my fingers trembled slightly. "Did you even consider my responsibilities as CEO? And on top of that—considering the fact that we both decided to stay child-free!" His face crumpled with shame, his lips parting as if to defend himself. But before he could, he exhaled heavily and avoided my gaze. "I know," he admitted. "Then why?" I pressed, my heart pounding painfully in my chest. Knox hesitated before finally speaking, his voice filled with an emotion I couldn't quite place. "When I met Sarah… I realized I was fine with having a child with her. She was the first woman who gave me the strength to want a family." His words were like a knife twisting deep inside my chest. So, I had been the fool all along. The day he told
Knox, Three days later "Knox! My Sarah has always been a bit insecure about her relationship. I know you don’t have any romantic involvement with Violet, but I still hope you will keep your promise!" Mrs. Smith's words left me speechless and flabbergasted. The reason I hadn’t met Violet wasn’t because of anything else but time. Handling five different projects, going on blind dates, and adjusting to this new life—completely different from the one I had built with Violet—had kept me occupied. Still, unlike before, after deciding to take slow steps toward this new chapter, I had unconsciously distanced myself from Violet. And yet, people kept seeing our friendship as something more. It had always bothered me. "Violet is my best friend. I can’t imagine seeing her as my wife. Everything I’m doing is for Sarah. I know our marriage is arranged, but I don’t like breaking promises." But the moment Violet walked in, followed by Sam, my words felt bitter. 'I don’t like breaking promis
Violet,Although at first I didn’t actually feel anything, recently I started feeling drained and exhausted out of nowhere. Earlier today, I had an important meeting with one of the biggest clients, and I almost collapsed on the floor while talking to him.Certainly, it’s normal to feel a bit under the weather, and clients understand that we’re human too. But I hated the fact that I had to pause the meeting for five minutes to deal with it.My blood pressure was fine. I took my vitamins, and the meal was from my regular diet—yet I was weak?Does it even make any sense?Running my fingers through my hair, I sat in the car. Mirah had been a bit more attentive to me than her work. Is she trying to slack off?However, before I could tell the driver to move, a knock on the car window made me look up.At first, I didn’t recognize him. But Mirah gasped when she did. She hurriedly moved to me and opened *my* door without even asking for permission.“What are you doing, Mirah?” My voice was co
Sarah Smith,"Ms. Sarah, we have appointed a psychologist to help you cope with the overwhelming emotions you're feeling right now. Trust me, she's an expert—absolutely perfect for the situation."Sam Riverwood, Violet’s brother, stood near the foot of my hospital bed, his voice calm, his smile professional. He scribbled something in his notebook as he spoke, as if I was just another patient, just another case in his daily life.I barely nodded, eyes fixed on the pale wall in front of me. The silence in the room was thick, but I wasn’t interested in breaking it."Any discomfort? Headache or nausea?" he asked, glancing at the IV drip connected to my arm."No. Thanks." I shifted my gaze to his face. "By the way, Doc," I said, my voice low but clear, "does your sister like my fiancé?"Sam paused, visibly taken aback. His pen stopped midair, and a faint frown formed between his brows. "If you mean romantically... I don’t think so," he replied after a beat, clearly confused by my directnes
Violet, When I woke up with a sharp pain in my head, I noticed Mom, Knox, and Sam were having a conversation—or maybe a heated argument, I couldn’t quite fathom. A bit of confusion worked within me about my surroundings, and then I recalled the situation I was in earlier. A bitter laugh escaped me as I realized how foolishly I had overreacted to Knox’s words. How foolish! He was right when he said that. He never saw me as anything more than a buddy who grew up with him. The woman who had lost everything was his love of life. I should have shown a bit of compassion. But then again, I didn’t know how to show compassion to anyone. It was worthless to even talk about. Whatever it was, I should have said something else instead of calling his woman infertile. “Violet! You’re up!” Sam approached quickly. My mother rushed to me and held my hands. “How are you feeling, sweetheart?” I pulled my hand away. Her sweetness felt as fake as ever. But I didn’t want to make any conversation. “Yea
Knox, Certainly, I knew what I was doing. But why I was doing it—I had no idea. My heart clenched at the sight of Violet standing there, stunned, with blood dripping down her chin. She looked emotionless, hollow, and somehow... too distant. It was as if I were standing on the shore while she was on the edge of a cliff—any moment now, she would fall, but not toward me. She would plummet somewhere too far, somewhere beyond my reach. Too late to save. I knew she was tolerating this because of me. The Violet I knew never endured nonsense that disrupted her normal life. She was always composed, sharp, and unwilling to be dragged into anyone’s mess. But now, she was enduring it. For me. "Violet!" I called out as soon as Mrs. Smith rushed forward to calm Sarah down. I hadn’t expected Sarah to react this way. The marriage was just an arrangement between two families, nothing more. Our sole objective was to have children together, to produce an heir—that was the agreement. But… "Vi
The deal had been canceled the moment I said I didn’t want it. The payment for the damage at the club had already been sent, along with the CCTV footage of that man... I didn’t know his name—like I cared—to the Dales Entertainment Company. It was one of the biggest entertainment companies. However, judging by how they treated their employees, it wasn’t long before they got involved in some sort of controversy. Not to mention, fans think they own their idols, becoming enemies of their idols if they get involved in any scandal. I avoided situations that might cause me a loss. I would rather keep them away from my company instead of bringing them in. “I’m disappointed!” Mirah placed a bunch of files on her desk before breathing heavily. “I really loved the Dales Entertainment Company. I even wanted to work there!” I folded my arms and leaned into my chair. I didn’t know much about Mirah’s personal life. So she liked some actors? It was news to me. “Aren’t you happy that you co
The first red flag I should have noticed about the meeting with the actor and his company was the location they requested—a VIP club. I didn't know what they had planned for this meeting, but as usual, I had a gut feeling that something interesting was about to unfold. The moment my car entered the VIP parking lot, the club grew silent. The coworkers and the manager's footsteps echoed in the hallway as they all stood in two lines. My two bodyguards opened the door. Mirah got out first and held my hand as I stepped out. Not to mention, I was wearing heels, and my foot had been bandaged. My attention shifted to the people—neat and clean—but their expressions changed to pure confusion when I walked toward the door. "What's going on? I heard the CEO of Riverwood is here. Where is he?" one of the waitresses asked. "This is Riverwood's logo. They are the ones. But... is the CEO of Riverwood a woman?" I wasn't surprised by their supposedly whispered words. I had never app
Moon-Tears, A fabric I had personally customized over the years with the help of some of my clients. From collecting the cotton to reviewing the final product, I oversaw every step of the process, savoring the experience. That was why it had taken me five years to perfect. "Boss, how about we hire some freelancers? There are plenty of fashion designers eager to work with us!" Mirah suggested, her freshly manicured nails tapping rhythmically against the keyboard. Leaning back in my chair, I sipped my afternoon coffee and hummed thoughtfully. Freelancers? It was a better idea than halting the project altogether. Our company wasn't in the fashion or entertainment industry, but I had always enjoyed gaining experience in different fields. This particular endeavor had intrigued me since I was twenty when I first started working for our company. But now that I thought about it, my father hadn't sent any updates after his meeting in Qatar. "Mirah, has my father sent any emails? It
With the pure intention of avoiding Knox, I returned home around 11 after having a late-night snack and enjoying the night view from the rooftop of the largest commercial building we owned. Not gonna lie, the rooftop was the only place where I could gather my emotions and thoughts without any interruptions. Since Knox usually went to bed around 9, I assumed he would already be asleep by the time I got home. As soon as I walked in, the first thing I did was take off my heels. My ankles were aching, and my soles were burning. While heading toward the stairs, I planned to soak my legs in water for a while. However, I paused midway when I heard something fall to the floor and shatter into pieces. I turned toward Knox's bedroom. The doctor had warned him not to move without a wheelchair since his ribs were still healing. Narrowing my eyes, I stood still, wondering if I had misheard. It was past 11—Knox should have been asleep by now. But to my absolute horror, I heard his groa
Violet, The stronger you get, the lonelier you become. Earlier, I received a call from the bank informing me that my account, holding ten million dollars, had reached its target. This account was created when I was seventeen, right after I first bought the cottage with Knox by the beautiful lakeside. Our sanctuary—the only place where no one was allowed to enter. Hearing the news that my target had been fulfilled by the time I turned twenty-five, I felt a mixture of emotions. Happiness, because I could finally buy the villa we had dreamed of for the past eight years. And hesitation—what if Knox refused to buy it with me since he wasn’t single anymore? Yet, I wanted to take a leap of faith, just to prove myself wrong for thinking this way. Little did I know, I was about to face another betrayal. Sitting in my car by the park, I closed my eyes. The supposedly perfect life I had built started feeling suffocating, heavy. I didn’t want to go home—the place that once brought me pe