Chapter 1

Five years after we broke up, I heard Julian Albright was getting married.

So, I finally felt safe enough to come home.

But the moment I landed, he had me pinned against the airport wall. "Fake news. Just bait to lure you back."

"But I'm already married!" I declared, flashing my diamond ring, trying to sound tougher than I felt.

He stared at the ring, then let out a low chuckle. "Then we'll just live as three."

My jaw dropped. *What?!*

Julian was getting married.

When I heard the news, I was so happy I couldn't sleep a wink. I booked a flight and was back the very next day.

"Ugh, I'm finally back home!" The moment I landed, I called my best friend, practically wailing, "This foreign food was killing me! I've been dreaming of spicy crawfish, BBQ, hotpot, snail noodles, malatang, and bubble tea..."

Just as I was excitedly telling Chloe, "This time, I'm reclaiming all my favorite foods!" a hand suddenly wrapped around mine. The next thing I knew, I was slammed against the wall.

My phone clattered to the floor.

I stared at the man in front of me, a head taller, radiating a cold, aristocratic aura. His bone structure was impeccable, his face so stunning it was almost ethereal. My mind went blank.

Then, Chloe's anxious voice came through the fallen phone. "Aria, stop rattling off food names! The news about Julian getting married... it's fake! Run!"

Me: ...

*Why didn't you tell me before I walked into this?!*