Chapter 2

The wedding the next day was grand and luxurious.

Half of New York's elite society had gathered at the venue.

I watched Victoria, dressed in a pure white wedding gown, walking toward me step by step.

For a split second, I even had the illusion that last night was just a bad dream. We were still the power couple who had fought our way up from the mud.

The priest smiled and spoke into the microphone: "Victoria, do you take..."

*BANG!*

The heavy doors of the chapel were slammed open.

Natalie, Victoria's chief assistant, rushed in, drenched in sweat. She ran up to the altar, her voice cracking with sheer panic:

"Victoria! Something terrible happened! Julian somehow found out you're getting married today... he climbed onto the hospital rooftop! He says if you don't pick up his FaceTime, he's going to jump!"

The entire chapel fell into dead silence.

My hand, which was hovering in the air ready to slide the ring onto her finger, froze.

Victoria's face turned deathly pale. She snatched off her wedding veil and turned to run without a second thought.

"Victoria!"

I screamed, my eyes burning with tears, using every ounce of strength in my lungs.

"If you walk out that door today, we are done forever!"

My voice echoed through the massive chapel, carrying a desperate finality.

Victoria's footsteps paused.

She turned and looked at me.

In her eyes, there was conflict and guilt, but mostly, there was a cold, unyielding hardness.

"Logan, a human life is on the line. Don't be so selfish."

With that, she ran out of the chapel without looking back.

The custom diamond ring slipped from my hand, rolling across the expensive marble floor. It made a sharp, mocking sound as it stopped.

The guests below started whispering. Their staring eyes felt like poisoned needles stabbing into my back.

I didn't even know how I managed to walk down the stage.

Our parents rushed up. My mother was crying hysterically, and my father was shaking with rage.

"What is this?! What does she think our son is?!"

I bent down and slowly picked up the ring.

The sharp edge of the diamond was so fine it cut my palm. Blood seeped out, but I couldn't feel any pain.

For ten long hours.

I called her 199 times. Victoria didn't answer once.

When I tried for the last time, the call finally connected. But the voice on the other end belonged to a young man.

"Logan, I'm so sorry... Victoria was so tired, she just fell asleep next to my hospital bed. I'm really sorry for ruining your wedding today. Please don't blame Victoria. If you want to blame someone, blame me."

The voice sounded timid, carrying a cruel, innocent tone.

I didn't say a word. I just hung up.

Suddenly, the world spun around me. Everything went black, and I collapsed straight onto the floor of our empty bridal suite.

The last thing I heard was my mother's terrified screams.