Chapter 1

At the exact moment we were supposed to exchange rings, Alex Carter's childhood sweetheart suddenly clutched her stomach and collapsed in the audience below the stage. He dropped the ring, scooped her up, and bolted out of the ballroom.

The guests started whispering, and the emcee stood there with a mic in hand, totally at a loss.

I stood on the stage in my wedding gown with its long train for two full hours, until my legs went numb.

Then my elder brother William Lane shoved open the ballroom doors, strode onto the stage, yanked off my veil, and said, “Come on. I'm taking you home.”

The wedding banquet was canceled, and the apartment and two cars in my dowry were all transferred back that same day.

Late that night, Alex came back from the hospital and panicked when he saw the code to our marital condo had been changed. Then he showed up outside my family's house and pounded on the gate in the pouring rain all night.

William gave a cold laugh through the intercom. “You think you can marry into this family? Even if you dropped dead outside, you still wouldn't deserve to cross this threshold.”

*****

“It's been two hours. The groom still isn't back?” Someone asked.

“He ditched his own wedding for some childhood sweetheart. The Lane family's been humiliated.” Another said.

“Humiliated? That's putting it lightly. Just look at that multimillion-dollar dowry sitting in the ballroom, and now the groom's run off.” The third of their group said.

I stood there without moving. My body had gone numb a long time ago, but my ears still stubbornly caught every cutting word.

Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life with Alex. Supposed to be.

Two hours earlier, the emcee's booming voice had filled the entire ballroom as he was about to ask us to exchange rings. That was when Emily Lane suddenly clutched her stomach and fell to the floor.

I felt Alex's whole body go rigid in an instant, yet he didn't even turn around to look at me. He didn't hesitate for even a second.

All I saw was the sharp sweep of his black suit jacket as he rushed out, like a gust of wind. It swept away all the joy in the room, along with my dignity.

"Emily was his childhood sweetheart, a woman who always wore white dresses, spoke in a soft little voice, and looked like a strong breeze might knock her over.

"

She always said she'd had stomach problems since she was a kid and couldn't handle spicy food, hunger, or stress.

But right before Alex ran out, I saw her clearly. She was standing in the corner of the crowd, staring straight at me through the noise and the guests. There wasn't a trace of weakness in that look, only cold, smug provocation.

Then she clutched her stomach and dropped. And then Alex ran out like a madman with her in his arms.

"The guests in the ballroom had gone from shocked silence, to whispers, to openly watching the drama unfold.

"

"Alex's mother, my would-be mother-in-law, Wendy Carter, finally couldn't sit still anymore.

"

"She walked over to me, her voice dripping with impatience and spite, “Victoria, you're a well-bred young lady. You should know how to be understanding.

"

"""Emily's delicate, and she got sick rushing over to celebrate your wedding. Of course Alex had to go save her.

Why are you still standing here? You're only making a spectacle of yourself.”"

I said nothing. It felt like my throat was stuffed with burning coals. I couldn't force out a single word.