Chapter 1

At our engagement party, my fiancé, Blake, completely changed the menu, swapping out the Wagyu Beef and Caviar for burgers and hot dogs.

I was furious, beyond words. Right then and there, I broke up with him and called off the engagement.

He looked utterly bewildered. “Zara, you’re breaking up with me over a *table of food*?”

I shot him a cold smirk. “You’ll find out the real reason soon enough.”

I pulled out my phone and played a video from the security camera. In it, a total stranger, a girl I’d never seen before, was twirling around in *my* custom-made wedding dress.

Blake’s face instantly went white.

Blake grabbed my hand, about to explain, but I shoved my palm over his mouth.

“Don’t say a word. I swear, I’ll punch you right here if you do!”

His face was a mask of dismay. He just followed me silently to his apartment.

And there it was. *My* wedding dress, hanging in his bedroom.

I barely glanced at it before grabbing a pair of scissors and savagely cutting it to shreds.

Blake didn’t dare stop me. He just stood there, watching.

A few moments later, I dropped the scissors. The floor was covered in a pile of white fabric confetti.

I turned to him. “We’re over.”

“No, wait, listen to me, Zara, please! I just met her once! I have no idea why she’d wear *that* dress!”

“Really? Then tell me, why was she in *our* marital home?”

“Isn’t she just an intern from your company?”

“You let her wear *my* custom-made wedding dress, twirl around for you, even kiss you. Do you seriously think I’m an idiot, Blake? You’re disgusting.”

My words made his face drain of all color. “No, it’s not like that! She was harassing me! She said she was just passing by and wanted to come up for a minute. I only went out to take out the trash, and she just helped herself to the dress!”

“Seriously, Zara, check the security footage! I swear I yelled at her!”

Blake was the one who installed the security cameras in our marital home and shared access with me right away. Honestly, I never planned to actually watch them.

But I was on a business trip that day and just wanted to check in on him. I never expected to see something that would rip my heart out and ignite such a furious rage.

“You did yell at her, I saw that. But she was confessing her love to you in my dress, and then she kissed you. You didn’t exactly pull away, did you?”

Blake’s face went utterly pale. I didn’t hesitate; I just walked away.

He yelled after me, his voice filled with fury. “Zara! She was just an accident!”

“You’ve always looked down on me, haven’t you? You’re just using this as an excuse to break up with me, aren’t you?!”

“Both today’s engagement party and Chloe’s appearance were just accidents! I was just afraid you’d be angry, that’s why I didn’t tell you!”

“Why can’t you ever think about *me*? Do you know how much I sacrificed just to marry you?”

At his words, I turned to face his furious expression, unable to help but let out a cynical laugh. “Sacrificed what, exactly?”

Perhaps my gaze was too direct, or maybe my sarcasm was too much for his ego, but he couldn't utter another word.

I just gave a bitter smile, then turned and left.

Back home, I told my parents everything. I packed up every single gift he’d ever given me, arranged for a courier service, and sent them all back.

The engagement was off. Blake’s parents were incredibly displeased with me, but I didn’t say a word. I just forwarded them the video, then exited their family SnapChat group.

I wanted to put an end to all of it, but Blake wouldn’t let it go.

The next day, he showed up at my door, even bringing that intern, Chloe. The girl looked at me, her eyes reddening as she started to cry.

I didn’t speak, just stood there, staring them down.

The office was silent. Chloe probably felt incredibly awkward.

She choked back her sobs, glancing around, then at me, finally managing to stop her tears.

“Zara, I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have… I shouldn’t have tried on your wedding dress!”

“Please, I’m begging you, don’t break up with him.”

“Oh, really? So, you’re willing to compensate me for my losses?”

She froze. I continued, “That wedding dress was custom-made. I waited a whole year for it, and it cost $200,000. Trying it on, even once, depreciated its value. So, you can just pay me $30,000.”

Before she could speak, Blake blurted out, “No way! That’s too expensive!”

“Chloe is just an intern. And seriously, $200,000 for a wedding dress? You obviously got ripped off. I can take you to a bridal street where you can rent one for $400!”