Chapter 1

There's a rule in my hometown village: if you're not married by 33, you have to accept blind dates arranged by the village chief.

Otherwise, misfortune will strike.

When I told my boyfriend Ethan about this, he let out a cold laugh.

"What century is this? Your village is still so backward and superstitious? Clara, I will marry you, but you can't use such a cheap excuse to pressure me."

"I was actually planning to propose to you, but since you're lying to pressure me, let's just cool off for a while!"

As he spoke, he pulled out a ring and handed it to his assistant, Lily.

The wedding ring I'd waited so many years for—he casually gave it to someone else.

I was stunned for a moment.

Ethan walked out of my office with a swagger, a victorious smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

Lily awkwardly handed the ring to me.

I looked at the ring's size, then slipped it onto Lily's finger:

"He bought it for you in the first place, didn't he? Look, it's a perfect fit."

"Tell Ethan that he and I are over."