Chapter 1

Julian Blackwood demanded three vials of my blood, five thousand strands of my hair, and a jar of my happiest tears.

Using these as his raw materials, he created a world-renowned masterpiece, "Beloved."

On our wedding day, I chose that very painting as our backdrop, my heart brimming with joy, waiting for Julian to come and claim me.

Until a woman who looked eerily like me slashed the canvas with a small knife.

"Julian Blackwood, how much longer until you finally let me go?! I stopped loving you ages ago!"

"Don't you dare find a stand-in to sicken me! You know I despise fakes! Why did you use *her* blood to paint *my* face?!"

It turned out the woman in the blood-red wedding dress, shedding tears of happiness in the painting, was her.

"I'd marry a dog before I'd marry you!"

The woman tore into Julian, verbally eviscerating him.

He, usually so proud and quick-tempered, stood with his head bowed, looking as helpless as a child caught misbehaving.

Silently, I removed my veil.

No tears, no shouts, no mention of the six wasted years of my youth. I simply dug my fingernail into the mole beneath my eye – the one Julian had placed there himself.

"Julian Blackwood, we're done for good."