Chapter 2

Barely two minutes later, a notification popped up in the comments:

"I will."

Staring at the avatar of the person who replied, my heart skipped a beat.

It was Julian Hayes.

The most ruthless, powerful head of the elite Hayes family in the city. The very billionaire Derek had spent three desperate years trying to get a meeting with—only ever knowing his last name, unable to secure even a five-minute introduction.

Julian spent most of his time abroad. The public only read about him in top-tier business magazines, but his face was rarely photographed.

The only reason I had his direct contact was because a private client had once commissioned me to hand-deliver a custom painting to his penthouse.

Before I could even process the shock, my phone vibrated in my hand.

I took a deep breath and slid to answer.

"Where are you?"

Julian’s voice came through, deep and commanding.

I gripped the phone tightly. "In a cab. Heading toward the Hilton."

"Wait for me in the lobby. Ten minutes."

The line clicked dead. He didn't even give me a chance to say no.

Staring at the dark screen, a bitter laugh escaped my lips.

*Derek, you thought nobody would want me the night before our wedding. And now, Julian Hayes just called me.*

Was this fate playing a cruel joke?

Three years ago, Derek held my hand on the busiest corner of the city and made a vow.

"Chloe, the moment we buy our own place, I’m going to give you the most unforgettable wedding."

Back then, his entire world revolved around me. He would panic if I lost a single strand of hair.

Yet somewhere along the way, Savannah took over his life.

Whenever Savannah felt unwell, he left me behind while I burned with a high fever.

Whenever Savannah was in a bad mood, he canceled vacations we had spent six months planning.

And tonight, he gave away our brand-new home to her without a second thought.

He even looked me dead in the eye and said, "Chloe, Savannah has severe depression. Can’t you just be the bigger person?!"

I had to laugh.

He never realized that it was precisely because I had been "the bigger person" for so long that my love for him had been completely drained away by his endless excuses.

*Ding.*

A message popped up on my screen from Savannah.

It was a photo.

The setting was the master bedroom I had spent weeks decorating.

Savannah was wearing my pure silk nightgown, wrapping her arms around Derek’s waist from behind.

She looked at the camera with wide, innocent eyes, dripping with smugness.

"Chloe, Derek is helping me make the bed right now. Don't be scared staying at the hotel by yourself, okay?"

"Derek is only staying with me because of my depression. Please don't be mad at him."

The fake innocence practically oozed through the screen.

Looking at the photo, my lips curled into a cold, mocking smirk.

This was the man I had loved for three years.

Holding another woman in our bridal bed, acting like it was his moral duty.

I blocked Savannah's number without hesitation.

*Derek, if you love playing the hero so much, you don’t need to play the groom anymore.*

...

The cab pulled up in front of the Hilton.

I took a deep breath and stepped out into the crisp air.

Walking into the grand lobby, I immediately spotted the man sitting on the velvet couch.

Julian wore a bespoke midnight-black suit, long legs crossed.

Even sitting in total silence, the aura of power radiating from him was impossible to ignore.

He had actually beaten me here.

Looking at this untouchable figure, my feet felt suddenly rooted to the floor.

This was Julian Hayes—the most elusive, untouchable titan in high society.

What if he was just messing with me? How was I supposed to clean up that mess?

A sudden wave of panic washed over me.

Then, I thought about my parents. They had invited every single relative and friend to tomorrow’s wedding.

If the groom didn't show up, how would they survive the whispers and the humiliation?

Derek had already thrown away his dignity. I refused to let my parents lose theirs.

Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to walk over.