Chapter 2

But then it hit me like a ton of bricks: aside from the time his mom stayed at my place, I didn't even know where he lived. With no other options, I hightailed it to his workplace.

His coworker dropped a bombshell: Caesar had taken time off to plan a wedding.

When we were planning our wedding, I was the one running around like a chicken with its head cut off—buying the house, picking out furniture, choosing my dress, setting up the venue. All of it.

Caesar? He claimed he was too swamped at work to take a single day off.

Now I see it for what it was. It wasn't about work. I just wasn't important enough for him to bother.

The more I couldn't get answers, the more I needed to know the truth.

I took leave from my job and went on a wild goose chase, searching every place I thought Caesar might be.

But no matter where I looked, he was nowhere to be found.

Finally, Laurel broke the news: Caesar had set a wedding date.

And there, at his wedding to someone else, I saw him for the first time since our fake divorce.

I stood in the crowd, watching Caesar slip a diamond ring onto Oriel's finger. His smile was brighter than the sun, but to me, it was blinding in the worst way.

His mom, who he'd sworn was on her deathbed, was standing there, practically glowing with joy.

Gone was the sour look she used to give me.

"Caesar!" My voice came out hoarse, trembling with anger and hurt.

My shout must've startled him because his whole body went rigid.

He turned slowly, and the second he saw me, that dazzling smile vanished, replaced by a flash of panic and awkwardness.

His mom rushed over, shoving me with both hands and barking, "Keep it moving, folks! Don't ruin the big day!"

I dodged her, my eyes locked on Caesar, tears stinging as my voice rose. "What the hell is going on? Wasn't this supposed to be a fake divorce?

"Didn't you say your mom was dying and just wanted to see you settled?"

With every step I took toward him, the pain in my chest grew sharper.

By the time I finished, tears were streaming down my face.

Caesar, standing there in his sharp suit, still looked as handsome as the day we met.

But right then, he felt like a total stranger to me.

Time flies, didn't it? But what hurt even more was knowing he wasn't the guy who'd once loved me with his whole heart anymore.

Laurel stayed by my side, shielding me from the gawking crowd, until I was face-to-face with him.

"Serena, can we talk about this after the wedding?" Caesar's voice was tense, his eyes darting away. "It's not what you think. I can explain."

I stared at him, bitterness and rage churning inside me. "What, Caesar? Scared I'll mess up your big day, so you're spinning more lies to keep me quiet?"

We stood there, locked in a standoff, the air thick with tension. Nobody dared step in.

Then Oriel sauntered over, looping her arm through Caesar's like she owned him.

With a smug, victorious smirk, she said, "Serena, before you start grilling Caesar, maybe take a hard look at yourself.

"You were married to him for five years and couldn't even give him a kid. Meanwhile, our son is already five."

"What?" I froze, feeling like I'd been hit by a bolt of lightning.

My mind went blank, my body rooted to the spot.