Chapter 1

After three years together, Rayan Torres and I were one step away from walking down the aisle.

But on our third anniversary, he once again left me behind without a second thought for Chloe, his fragile, innocent friend.

This time, I didn't freak out or cause a scene. I quietly watched his resolute figure fade away.

The wedding I'd dreamed about so many times, and the future I'd imagined for us, were utterly shattered in that instant.

I knew this was it. We were never going to get married.

This time, I was really done. I was giving up for good.

*****

On our third anniversary, I was buzzing with excitement, spending the whole day getting everything ready.

I specially booked red roses that would arrive by air freight in advance. My love with Rayan began with a bouquet of red roses.

For so many years, on every anniversary, I would buy the most beautiful red roses in the city. In my heart, this bouquet represented our unwavering love until death.

Today was our last anniversary as boyfriend and girlfriend. Soon, we'd get married.

I always felt a day like this deserved something extra special to honor everything we'd been through together for three years.

As evening rolled in, rain suddenly started pouring outside, the heavy drops smacking against the window with a noisy, relentless patter. The storm kept getting worse, and so did the uneasy feeling in my chest.

I grabbed my phone and called Rayan, my voice soft and full of anticipation. "Babe, when are you coming home? I've got a surprise waiting for you."

On the other end, Rayan's voice was flat, almost dismissive. "I'm working late. It'll be a while before I'm done."

"Okay, I'll be waiting for you. It's raining, so take it easy on the road."

"Got it."

After hanging up, I kept smiling to myself, imagining again and again how surprised and moved he'd be when he walked in and saw the candles and roses.

But as the evening deepened and the city outside lit up, apartment by apartment, Rayan still hadn't come home.

A strange panic started to choke me, wrapping around my heart like vines, making it hard to breathe.

I dialed his number again, but all I got was that icy busy signal, over and over. No one picked up.

Panic set in, and with trembling hands, I called Rayan's assistant, Ben Lawson. "Ben, is Rayan still at the office working late?"

Ben's voice was a little hesitant, but he answered honestly, "Ms. Saunders, Mr. Torres left the office about an hour ago."

After the call ended, I was rooted to the spot, as if every drop of blood in my body had frozen solid.

I didn't bother turning on the lights. I sat there numbly in the dark at the table piled high with dishes. The scent of steak and roses filled the air, but now, all that was left was endless irony.

I had no idea how long I'd been sitting there when, finally, the sound of the keypad lock at the front door broke the silence.

I slowly got to my feet. My legs were numb and tingling from sitting so long. Every step felt like I was walking on knife blades.

Rayan pushed the door open and stepped inside, his brows drawn tight as he glanced around the pitch-black living room. His impatience was obvious in his voice. "Why didn't you turn on the lights?"

He reached over and flipped on the dining room light. The harsh white glare flooded the room, leaving me nowhere to hide. The brightness made my eyes sting, and before I knew it, tears started streaming down my face.

I looked up at him, my voice so rough that it barely sounded like me. "Rayan, do you know what day it is? I called Ben. You left work a while ago, didn't you?"

Rayan's eyes flickered for a second, but then he looked at me like I was overreacting, completely indifferent. "We're about to get married. Why bother with an anniversary? Isn't that pointless? What's the use?"

"Then tell me. Where did you really go after you left work?" I locked eyes with him, determined to get the truth.

Rayan hesitated, a flicker of guilt in his voice, but he still sounded completely righteous. "It's pouring out, and people couldn't get a cab anywhere. Chloe's a young girl, all alone in the city. I couldn't leave her there, could I?"

It was always Chloe.

Her name was like a dagger stuck in my heart for three years. I could never be able to get rid of it.

I couldn't hold back anymore, my eyes burning red as I snapped, "You've got so many people at your company. Couldn't anyone else give her a ride? Did it really have to be you, the CEO, personally dropping everything to take her home?"

"Ruby, when did you get so petty?" Rayan's face darkened instantly, and he looked at me with pure disgust. "Chloe's my friend. I'm just looking out for her. What's it to you? Only someone with a dirty mind sees filth in everything."

With that, he didn't bother to look back at me, heading straight for the shower.

As he walked past the dining table, he didn't so much as glance at the candlelit dinner I'd put so much effort into.

I couldn't take it anymore. My strength gave out, and I sank onto the icy floor, completely drained.

My gaze landed on the red roses sitting on the table. After a few hours of waiting, their once gorgeous petals had already started to wilt and curl, like my love for Rayan, worn out bit by bit over these three years.

Tears slipped down my face, falling onto the floor and leaving nothing but a cold stain.

Why?

Everything used to be so perfect between us. How did it all turn into this mess?