Chapter 1

I didn’t love Julian when we got engaged eight years ago.

He didn’t care. He just smiled.

“Let’s see where this goes.”

For seven years of marriage, he was all in. Everyone knew it. He would’ve done anything for me.

I finally believed it too.

Then she showed up—a shy girl holding onto Julian’s arm.

“I’m carrying his baby. Since you don’t love him, let me.”

When I looked at her, I was stunned. She looked just like me… eight years ago.

Outside, the rain drizzled softly. My husband of seven years stood right there in front of me.

"Seraphina, Isabelle was just being foolish today."

"She's young, cut her some slack. This kind of thing won't happen again."

I looked up at Isabelle Shaw.

Long hair cascaded over her shoulders, her skin looked flawless, and her cheeks carried the unique blush of youth.

She was indeed young. Even without a trace of makeup, she looked far more vibrant than thirty-year-old me.

Now, she stood beside Julian, her face etched with hurt, as if she hadn't been the one to confront me.

Julian looked at me, sighing softly.

"Seraphina, Isabelle is pregnant and her emotions are unstable. What happened today was just her losing her cool."

"Don't worry, she won't affect your position as Mrs. Davies. Besides, there's no real affection between us, so you don't need to look at me like that."

I heard my own voice, hoarse.

"No affection?"

I didn't get an answer from Julian, but I saw a flicker of triumph in Isabelle's eyes.

"I'm not like you. I love Julian."

I shot Isabelle a cold glance.

Startled by my look, Isabelle cowered and leaned closer to Julian.

Julian instinctively raised a hand to shield her, turning an irritated gaze on me.

"Isabelle is still young, she just says whatever comes to mind."

"Don't scare her. She's not as tough as you."

I hadn't said anything, hadn't done anything.

Just one look from me, and he was already taking her side.

It felt like a giant fist had clamped around my heart, squeezing all the air from my lungs.

Through my blurring vision, the man's face before me slowly merged with the face from eight years ago.

Eight years ago, the Davies and Thorne families were arranging a marriage alliance. Julian came to my house with his Grandpa Davies.

When we were finally alone, I looked at Julian.

"If you don't agree to this marriage, I'm prepared to call off the engagement."

Since childhood, I'd been raised to believe my existence was to pave the way for the Thorne family and my younger brother.

My future husband would only ever come from one of the city's influential families.

If not the Davies family, then it would be the Smiths, the Browns, the Millers.

So, I didn't care who my husband was. If he loved someone else, I was willing to step aside.

Julian looked at me intently, then, after a moment, he let out a soft laugh.

"Today's visit was my suggestion to my father."

"Seraphina Thorne, I've liked you for a long time. Let's give it a try."

In that moment, I think I heard my heart beat clearly for the first time.

In the year after our engagement, no matter how cold or distant I was.

Julian seemed to ignore it all, his eyes full only of me.

Gradually, I began to accept and grow accustomed to the idea that Julian was the man I would spend my life with.

But now, that man stood beside another woman, overtly protective, as if I were the enemy tearing them apart.

Seeing that I remained silent, Julian leaned down and whispered something into Isabelle's ear.

Isabelle looked reluctant, but after giving Julian a deep look, she turned and left the room.

Only when Isabelle's figure disappeared did Julian withdraw his gaze.

My throat tightened, and I fought back the stinging in my nose before speaking.

"Julian, I'm letting you go."

"Let's get a divorce."