Chapter 1

The night before my wedding, Asher’s first love was betrothed to Veridia City’s most notorious, ruthless heir.

He felt so sorry for her, supposedly crying her eyes out every single day. So, he ditched me to save her.

At the wedding venue, he and Ivy were locked in a passionate kiss, their embrace lingering in a hotel room throughout the night.

I was about to become the laughingstock of the city’s elite.

But then, unexpectedly, Adrian Vance suddenly appeared at the wedding the next day. He cornered me against a wall, gripping my chin as he asked,

“Asher took my fiancée. What he owes me, shouldn't it be you who repays my loss, Mrs. Vance?”

“I agree.”

My answer seemed to catch him off guard, given how unfair his proposition was to me.

Adrian stared at me, stunned for a good while, before he finally spoke again.

“Good. As expected of the eldest daughter of the Sullivan family.”

“I’ll marry you in a week. Don’t you dare back out.”

With that, he released me, turning to leave. Before he walked away, he slipped a business card into my hand.

I stood there for a long time, unable to process what had just happened. This Adrian was very different from what I’d imagined. Rumors painted him as ugly and ill-tempered.

Soon after Adrian left, Asher finally arrived.

My face darkened, and I couldn’t even stand to look at him.

“Mr. Thompson, what are you doing here? Fresh from a romantic night with your new wife, and now you’re here to gloat?”

A flicker of guilt, quickly masked, crossed Asher’s eyes. He tried to take my hand. “Chloe, can’t you understand me?”

“Ivy’s health has always been delicate. How could she marry that kind of playboy? Her whole life would be ruined!”

So, to protect Ivy, he was willing to break off our engagement and let me become the joke of all Veridia City?

The moment I found out he went to Ivy’s place the night before, I decided to sever all ties with him.

“Mr. Thompson, please leave. The wedding is canceled. I’ll return all the wedding expenses.”

Asher wouldn’t let go, stepping forward, trying to hug me. “Chloe, I was wrong. Even though I signed the marriage license with her, my heart still belongs only to you.”

“Ivy even said she’d be okay with sharing me, with us living together as a... trio.”

I almost doubted my own ears. What era was this? Asher was actually dreaming about some archaic, polyamorous fantasy.

As the eldest daughter of the Sullivan family, what kind of men hadn't I seen? This was a complete insult.

I scoffed, pushing him away.

“Asher, you’re delusional. Get help.”

Seeing my hostile attitude, Asher got annoyed. “Why are you talking like that? You can’t seriously expect me to go divorce Ivy right now? Can’t you consider my feelings for once?”

Consider his feelings? Who did he think he was?

I’d been too lenient with him, letting him say such outrageous things.

Who ran off to cheat the night before their wedding? I, Chloe Sullivan, a prominent heiress, was stood up at the altar and became the laughingstock of Veridia City. How dare he ask me to consider *his* feelings?

I was utterly disillusioned with him. My gaze firm, I repeated,

“Didn’t you understand me? If you’re sick, go get therapy.”

Seeing I wasn’t giving him an easy out, Asher finally lost his temper.

His face darkened, a dangerous warning in his eyes.

“Chloe Sullivan, you’re truly disappointing! So what if you’re the Sullivan family’s eldest daughter? You’re just some used-up trash I’ve played with for years. Who else would ever want you besides me!”

He scoffed, turning on his heel and walking away, as if he hadn’t just insulted me to my core.

I stared at his retreating back, tears blurring my vision from anger.

The man who, just this morning, held me and whispered words of love, spent the night entangled with another woman.

Now, he was Ivy’s husband.

I should have seen it coming. Whenever it came down to a choice between me and Ivy, he always, without hesitation, chose Ivy.

Six years of shared moments couldn’t compare to his two-month-old ‘first love’ infatuation.

I should have let go ages ago.