Chapter 1

On my wedding day, my fiancée slipped sleeping pills into my drink.

By the time I rushed to the venue, I saw her passionately kissing the guy she always put on a pedestal.

It turned out this whole wedding was just her birthday gift to him.

When I confronted her, she looked at me with complete righteousness.

"The wedding is just for show. We'll sign the marriage license at City Hall tomorrow anyway. Stop being so petty."

I chuckled.

That marriage license? Forget it!

When I woke up, it was already eleven-thirty.

I rushed to the banquet hall, only to find my fiancée, Chloe Miller, locked in a passionate kiss with Julian Vance—her childhood crush!

I stood there in utter shock. Amid the cheers of the crowd, I stormed onto the stage and grabbed Chloe's hand.

She looked at me in surprise, a flash of awkwardness in her eyes. "Why are you here?"

I pointed at Julian and demanded, "What is he doing here?"

With the guests murmuring, Chloe pulled me to the side and whispered sharply:

"Today is Julian's birthday. This wedding was a promise I made as his gift."

"The ceremony is just for show anyway. We're going to City Hall tomorrow to make it official. Don't be so petty."

My breath hitched. A heavy weight crushed down on my chest.

"Chloe, I'm being petty?"

"What kind of man stands by at his own wedding and watches his bride make out with another guy?!"

My shout drew loud whispers from the friends and family below.

Chloe lost her temper. She jabbed a finger at my nose and yelled:

"Ethan Walker, what are you talking about?!"

"Julian and I grew up together! He's like a brother to me! How can you make our relationship sound so disgusting?!"

Julian hurried over and wrapped an arm around Chloe's waist. He gave me a mocking look.

"Ethan, don't be mad. I just made a casual wish, and I didn't expect Chloe to actually make it happen. If you're angry, take it out on me. Don't blame her."

Watching them play the doting couple made my blood run cold.

Ridiculous. After all this, she dares to say he's just like a brother?

I stared at Chloe, searching for any trace of the woman I used to love.

Looking at her defiant face, I could no longer force myself to play the fool or blindly trust her lies.

I first met Chloe during my freshman year. My parents had just died in a car crash, and she was like a ray of sunshine, always warming and encouraging me.

Falling in love felt completely natural back then.

We were together for seven years. The first few years were filled with true dedication. But ever since Julian came back into her life, everything changed.

We started fighting and giving each other the silent treatment over Julian. Every single time, I was the one who backed down first just to get our sweet life back.

But I didn't want this life anymore. Thinking about living like this after marriage extinguished the last bit of attachment in my heart. Instead, I felt pure relief.

"In that case, there's no need to sign any license. I wish you two the best."

The entire hall fell dead silent. Everyone stared at me in disbelief.

Everyone knew how submissive I had been to Chloe over the past seven years.

Nobody believed I would walk away over something like this. Even Chloe didn't buy it.

She frowned deeply, her face full of fury.

"Can you stop throwing a tantrum?! I already explained everything. What more do you want?!"

"If you keep causing a scene, you'll regret it!"

Her words sounded almost funny to me. I let out a light laugh.

"Fine."

The guests whispered and tried to step in, but Chloe stopped them.

"Leave him alone. It won't be long before he crawls back like a stray dog begging for forgiveness. I know exactly how his mind works!"

I gave a self-deprecating smirk, turned around, and walked away.

That was always Chloe's trick. She preyed on my love and forced me to compromise again and again.

As long as she showed the slightest softness, I would run right back to her.

Everyone knew I loved her to the bone.

Yet nobody ever realized that I was human, too. My heart could get tired.