Chapter 1

In my family, everything ran on a strict booking system. Whatever you wanted to do, you had to reserve a time slot in advance on our shared family app.

Ever since the "real" biological daughter returned, I hadn't managed to book a single slot.

Whether it was a dress I loved or anything else, all I could do was watch Sienna take it.

On my birthday, all I wanted was for Mom to blow out the candles with me and make a wish.

I waited by the app's reservation screen early, but the moment the page refreshed, my request failed.

Mom gave me an apologetic glance, turned around, and boarded a flight with Sienna to see the cherry blossoms in Japan.

Only Julian, my childhood sweetheart, stayed by my side, murmuring softly:

"It's okay. I'll always be here for you. You never need an appointment with me."

I thought he was different. Until the day of our wedding.

My wedding dress was gone. As I was frantically searching for it, glowing text suddenly hovered before my eyes like live-stream floating comments:

[Stop looking! Your fiancé gave your wedding dress to Sienna hours ago!]

My heart dropped. I still refused to believe the guy who treated me so well would take Sienna's side.

Then I saw her. Sienna was wearing my custom gown, and Julian was standing right beside her.

My blood ran cold. The final string holding my heart together snapped.

Fine. If I could never book a slot, I didn't want this family, and I didn't want this love anymore.

Mom probably still had no idea that her precious biological daughter wasn't related to her at all.

……

Seeing me, Mom walked over with Sienna, who was glowing in my white gown.

"How could you forget to book the wedding slot for such a huge day?! Sienna is going to take your place today!"

I turned to Julian.

"Do you think I'm in the wrong too?"

His tone was as gentle as ever, but the words cutting from his lips were ice-cold:

"Forgetting to reserve the slot really is your fault, Chloe. I'll go through the ceremony with Sienna today."

"Just don't be this careless when we go get our marriage license."

With that, he took Sienna's hand and led her toward the banquet hall.

A dull, suffocating pain spread through my chest. I could barely breathe, as if wet cotton were stuffed down my throat.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us to celebrate the union of Julian and Sienna!"

The officiant's voice echoed through the microphone.

I looked up. Mom had tears of emotion in her eyes as she took off the heirloom jade bracelet from her wrist and slipped it into Sienna's hand.

"Sweetheart, you're getting married today. This belongs to you now."

My eyes stung.

That bracelet was supposed to be left to me by Grandma.

When Sienna came back, Mom made us fight for it on the app—whoever tapped fastest got it.

That was the only time I beat her.

Yet Mom never took it off for me. She just patted my hand dismissively:

"I'll give it to you when you get married."

Now my wedding was Sienna's, and the bracelet went to her too.

Maybe she never planned on giving it to me in the first place.

Noticing my gaze, Julian reached out, trying to boop my nose playfully like he always did.

"When we register our marriage, as long as you remember to book the day, I'll buy you something even better."

The floating comments exploded before my eyes:

[A booking for the wedding, a booking for the license... does she need a damn appointment to sleep with him at night too?!]

[Chloe, don't fall for his crap! He literally told you that being with him required zero appointments!]

Bitterness welled up inside me. I stepped back, dodging his touch.

"Julian."

I called his name softly, my voice raspy. "I'm not signing any marriage license with you. We're done."

The room fell dead silent.

Panic flickered across Julian's eyes.

Sienna tugged nervously at my sleeve.

"Chloe, please don't be mad."

"If you care that much about the ceremony, I can give it back to you..."

Before she could finish, Mom glared at me in disgust.

"You forgot to make the reservation yourself, and now you're throwing a tantrum?"

She grabbed Sienna's hand and placed it firmly into Julian's palm.

"Go get married. Nothing else matters today!"

Then she shoved a wrinkled bridesmaid dress into my arms.

"Put this on and be her bridesmaid. Consider it your way of participating. Hurry up and get dressed!"

Without giving me a chance to refuse, Mom pushed me toward the dressing room.

Julian opened his mouth, seeming to want to say something.

But his eyes fell onto Sienna's hand, which was gently resting over her lower stomach.

Without another word, he interlaced his fingers with hers and walked out.

I let out a bitter laugh.

Under Mom's impatient nagging, I reluctantly slipped into that ill-fitting bridesmaid dress.

When I walked out, Julian and Sienna had just finished toasting with their arms linked.

The guests cheered, "Kiss her! Kiss her!"

For a split second, Julian's eyes met mine. His feet instinctively took a step toward me.

But at Sienna's shy, soft murmur, he closed his eyes and leaned down, pressing his lips against hers.

I stared at them for a long time.

Not until my eyes burned did I stiffly turn away.

Mom nudged my elbow and shoved the ring box into my hand.

"Hurry up and bring them the rings!"

I looked down at the bands. The inside engravings, which were supposed to bear my and Julian's names, had already been replaced with his and Sienna's.

Once upon a time, everything Julian owned had my name on it.

He had laughed and told me, "Your mom forces bookings on everything to act 'fair,' but I will always belong only to you."

I had believed him.

In the end, he had stopped belonging to me a long time ago.

My heart felt like it was being poked with countless needles.

"Deliver them yourself."

I gritted my teeth, tore off the bridesmaid sash, and walked toward the exit.

Nobody stopped me. Only the floating comments kept scrolling:

[Trash family and trash man! Neither is worth your tears!]

[Don't forget, you still have the offer for that overseas fellowship!]

That woke me up.

Two days ago, I received an acceptance email for an elite design fellowship abroad.

To marry Julian, I had chosen to ignore it.

I stopped in my tracks and pulled out my phone, opening the email.

The comments were right. A family and a man like this weren't worth looking back for.

Without hesitation, I typed my reply: [I'll be there to report in three days.]