Chapter 1

On our wedding night, Ryan Shepherd was called away by his assistant, Hannah Green, three times.

The first time, she fell at home and couldn't get up. He rushed over to help.

The second time, she took out the trash and lost her keys. He rushed over to find them.

The third time, just as Ryan opened the front door, his assistant called again, "Mr. Shepherd, actually, today is my birthday. Could you say happy birthday to me?"

Ryan hesitated for a moment, then decided I should sleep first. He went out, knocked on a bakery's door, and had them make a birthday cake.

As the two of them made wishes over the candles, I announced we were done.

Ryan thought I was throwing a tantrum. After all, we'd already gotten our marriage license.

But he didn't know. The license was fake. I'd already set up my exit.

*****

Ryan didn't come back until the next morning.

He staggered through the door, and the strong, pungent smell of alcohol wafted from him the moment he stepped inside.

I was sitting quietly on the edge of the bed and asked casually, "Did you drink?"

Ryan lay down and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, looking exhausted. "Yeah, it was Hannah's birthday yesterday. I ended up having a few drinks."

"Your stomach can't handle alcohol, remember?" I said.

I remembered yesterday, at our wedding, he didn't even take a sip.

Ryan kept his eyes closed, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Just a few drinks won't hurt. I was in a good mood."

So, he was happier celebrating Hannah's birthday than our own wedding.

Once it hit me, I got up and walked out.

But Ryan suddenly opened his eyes and called out to me. "Mia, what did you mean by that breakup message? Are you mad at me?"

I looked over at him.

Ryan casually tugged at his shirt collar, which was smeared with cream.

He leaned back against the headboard, meeting my gaze. "I slept on the couch last night. Hannah put two locks on the bedroom door.

"Honestly, even if we'd ended up in the same bed, it wouldn't have mattered. I wouldn't have done anything. I know how to keep my boundaries as a married guy."

Ryan raised an eyebrow, like he expected me to give him a gold star.

I let out a bitter laugh. Suddenly, all those five years I'd spent quietly loving him felt like they weren't worth it at all.

Ryan would never understand. This wedding was the last chance I ever gave him, but he let it slip away.

Ryan suddenly sat up, as something had occurred to him. "Oh, could you delete that breakup post on your social media? Hannah saw it and felt guilty, crying all night.

"Mia, she really didn't have any other intentions. She took those photos for herself, as a keepsake, not to share them. You're making too much of it."

But was I really making too much of it?

Last night, on my wedding night, Ryan got dragged away by Hannah for the third time.

I was already feeling miserable, torn between giving up and holding on.

Just then, a bunch of photos showed up in the Shepherd Group's group chat: Ryan and Hannah looking super close and happy together at her birthday celebration.

Both of them had cream smeared all over their faces, grinning from ear to ear.

Looking closer, I realized Ryan's smile was way brighter than the one he wore in our wedding photos.

At that moment, it all made sense to me.

That night, I called a real estate agent to sell our wedding home and spent the whole night packing my things.

I was exhausted, my heart aching, and when I heard Ryan say that, I couldn't hold back my anger. "Ryan, do you really think it's normal for your secretary to drag you away on our wedding night?

"Or do you think I'm so used to being pushed around by you that a little hurt doesn't even matter anymore?"

When Ryan saw the tears I was struggling to hold back, his face finally softened a bit. His voice got gentler. "She's working all alone in a city far from home. She needed someone to help her.

"At night, it's not safe for her to call some random stranger. I'm her boss, so of course I had to go myself."

Ryan looked at me like it was common sense, totally unfazed. I knew there was no point in arguing any further.

When I turned and walked away without a second thought, Ryan's voice got anxious.

As I headed downstairs, I could still hear him calling after me, "Mia, Hannah knows she messed up. She said she'll come over at noon to apologize in person.

"But you know how sensitive she is. Don't keep her waiting, alright?"

*****

The moment I stepped outside, tears started streaming down my face.

Even while we were fighting, Ryan was still more concerned about whether Hannah felt hurt or mistreated.

Five years together, and it still couldn't compare to the one month they were actually together.

I was done with this man for good.

The real estate agent saw me arrive early and tried once more to persuade me. "Ms. Johnson, your villa is in a great spot. The whole neighborhood's already sold out.

"And the place is newly renovated. Are you really sure you want to let it go for such a low price?"

Back then, I was dead set on moving to Bayviewland with Ryan. My family tried to talk me out of it, but I wouldn't budge.

So, with no other option, they set aside a villa for me in the best-selling neighborhood our family owned.

For the past four years, I did my best not to spend a dime of my family's money or use anything from them unless necessary, to prove I hadn't made the wrong choice.

Later, Ryan found out by chance that I owned a villa here. He loved it, but couldn't get one himself. So, he said, "Mia, why don't we use this place as our wedding home?

"My friends all managed to get places in this neighborhood, but I was too slow and missed out."

Seeing Ryan so genuinely happy for the first time in ages, I couldn't bring myself to say no.

But those sweet moments never last long. He really did want to marry me back then. So, why did everything change?

My ring finger felt bare as I shook my head. "Just sell it. Take whatever price they need, but make it quick."

Seeing how firm I was, the agent stopped trying to convince me. "Last night, I reached out to a few clients like you wanted. They're pretty eager to buy.

"When would be a good time for them to come check it out?"

Since Ryan mentioned Hannah would be coming over at noon, I decided to schedule the viewing for tomorrow.

Just as well, when I headed back later, I would tell Ryan it was time for him to move out.