Chapter 3

Adrian set down his fork and turned to me, his eyes soft.

"I'll follow Lily's lead. Whenever she's ready, we'll do it."

Grandma immediately looked at me.

I swallowed hard and straightened my back.

"I want to do it as soon as possible."

I glanced at Adrian, speaking seriously.

"After spending this time with you, I'm ready to take this step."

A fleeting smile flashed through Adrian's eyes.

He turned back to Grandma, his expression perfectly serious.

"Actually, I've already looked at wedding venues."

"The catering and floral arrangements can be finalized at any time."

"As long as Lily is willing, we can have the wedding next month."

Grandma's eyes crinkled with absolute delight.

"Wonderful! Adrian, you really are a reliable man!"

I sat there, slightly dazed.

When did he look at venues? Why didn't I know about this?

But seeing how thrilled Grandma was, I wisely chose to keep my mouth shut.

That night, right after I got out of the shower, my phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number.

"Why did you block me? Don't be mad, I'm flying back tomorrow."

"Wait until I show up with your surprise, you'll definitely be happy."

I didn't even have to guess. It was Ethan using a burner.

I rolled my eyes. Why was this guy acting so unhinged?

I didn't reply. I just blocked this number, too.

Less than two minutes later, my phone buzzed again.

This time, the text came from an unfamiliar Chicago area code.

"Ms. Lin, hello. This is Ethan's fiancée, Claire Whitmore."

"I know you and Ethan were together for seven years, and I don't know if you're still in contact."

"I refuse to be dragged into your personal drama. Please tell me clearly: is this relationship over, and do you want him to stop contacting you?"

Startled, I quickly typed back:

"Please don't misunderstand! Ethan and I have absolutely nothing to do with each other anymore."

"Furthermore, I'm getting married very soon. I wish you and Ethan the best."

After I hit send, the number never replied.

A few days later, Adrian suggested I move into his apartment.

"We're going to live together anyway, so we might as well get used to each other's habits early."

Grandma not only agreed but practically shoved me out the door to pack my bags.

And just like that, I smoothly moved into a luxury high-rise in downtown Chicago.

The wedding preparations moved at an impossible speed.

In just two weeks, the invitations were sent, the venue was booked, and the wedding dress was delivered to the apartment.

What shocked me the most was that the custom, handmade gown fit me flawlessly.

Even the diamond ring slid onto my finger as if it had been sized for me months in advance.

"How is this all happening so fast?"

I asked Adrian, staring at my reflection in the full-length mirror.

"Don't custom gowns require measurements way in advance?"

Adrian stood behind me, gently adjusting the veil.

"My family had it prepared a long time ago."

He said it breezily.

"A long time ago?"

I turned around, looking at him in confusion.

"But we've known each other for less than a month. How did you know my size...?"

He smoothly handed me a glass of water.

"Try this black tea. Grandma mentioned you haven't been sleeping well lately."

The moment I heard 'Grandma,' my attention completely shifted. I took the glass, took a sip, and tossed my question to the back of my mind.

The night before the wedding.

I was in Adrian's apartment double-checking tomorrow's guest list when the doorbell rang.

Assuming it was a last-minute delivery for the wedding, I opened the door.

Standing outside, looking travel-worn and furious, was Ethan.

He froze when he saw me in my loungewear, his brow furrowing deeply.

"Why did you move here? I went to your old place, and your landlord said you ended the lease."

Before I could answer, he let out a dark chuckle.

"I knew you couldn't bear to let me go."

He took a step forward, crowding the doorway.

"I've already told Claire that after we're married, we'll live separate lives. It doesn't matter if she doesn't accept it now; she'll compromise eventually."

"You don't need to go on any more blind dates. Keep being with me, and I'll bump your allowance to twenty grand a month—"

"No!"

I cut him off, taking a hard step back.

"I'm getting married tomorrow."

"The man I'm marrying won't tolerate me associating with people who cross the line, and neither will my Nana."

Chapter 3

Adrian set down his fork and turned to me, his eyes soft.

"I'll follow Lily's lead. Whenever she's ready, we'll do it."

Grandma immediately looked at me.

I swallowed hard and straightened my back.

"I want to do it as soon as possible."

I glanced at Adrian, speaking seriously.

"After spending this time with you, I'm ready to take this step."

A fleeting smile flashed through Adrian's eyes.

He turned back to Grandma, his expression perfectly serious.

"Actually, I've already looked at wedding venues."

"The catering and floral arrangements can be finalized at any time."

"As long as Lily is willing, we can have the wedding next month."

Grandma's eyes crinkled with absolute delight.

"Wonderful! Adrian, you really are a reliable man!"

I sat there, slightly dazed.

When did he look at venues? Why didn't I know about this?

But seeing how thrilled Grandma was, I wisely chose to keep my mouth shut.

That night, right after I got out of the shower, my phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number.

"Why did you block me? Don't be mad, I'm flying back tomorrow."

"Wait until I show up with your surprise, you'll definitely be happy."

I didn't even have to guess. It was Ethan using a burner.

I rolled my eyes. Why was this guy acting so unhinged?

I didn't reply. I just blocked this number, too.

Less than two minutes later, my phone buzzed again.

This time, the text came from an unfamiliar Chicago area code.

"Ms. Lin, hello. This is Ethan's fiancée, Claire Whitmore."

"I know you and Ethan were together for seven years, and I don't know if you're still in contact."

"I refuse to be dragged into your personal drama. Please tell me clearly: is this relationship over, and do you want him to stop contacting you?"

Startled, I quickly typed back:

"Please don't misunderstand! Ethan and I have absolutely nothing to do with each other anymore."

"Furthermore, I'm getting married very soon. I wish you and Ethan the best."

After I hit send, the number never replied.

A few days later, Adrian suggested I move into his apartment.

"We're going to live together anyway, so we might as well get used to each other's habits early."

Grandma not only agreed but practically shoved me out the door to pack my bags.

And just like that, I smoothly moved into a luxury high-rise in downtown Chicago.

The wedding preparations moved at an impossible speed.

In just two weeks, the invitations were sent, the venue was booked, and the wedding dress was delivered to the apartment.

What shocked me the most was that the custom, handmade gown fit me flawlessly.

Even the diamond ring slid onto my finger as if it had been sized for me months in advance.

"How is this all happening so fast?"

I asked Adrian, staring at my reflection in the full-length mirror.

"Don't custom gowns require measurements way in advance?"

Adrian stood behind me, gently adjusting the veil.

"My family had it prepared a long time ago."

He said it breezily.

"A long time ago?"

I turned around, looking at him in confusion.

"But we've known each other for less than a month. How did you know my size...?"

He smoothly handed me a glass of water.

"Try this black tea. Grandma mentioned you haven't been sleeping well lately."

The moment I heard 'Grandma,' my attention completely shifted. I took the glass, took a sip, and tossed my question to the back of my mind.

The night before the wedding.

I was in Adrian's apartment double-checking tomorrow's guest list when the doorbell rang.

Assuming it was a last-minute delivery for the wedding, I opened the door.

Standing outside, looking travel-worn and furious, was Ethan.

He froze when he saw me in my loungewear, his brow furrowing deeply.

"Why did you move here? I went to your old place, and your landlord said you ended the lease."

Before I could answer, he let out a dark chuckle.

"I knew you couldn't bear to let me go."

He took a step forward, crowding the doorway.

"I've already told Claire that after we're married, we'll live separate lives. It doesn't matter if she doesn't accept it now; she'll compromise eventually."

"You don't need to go on any more blind dates. Keep being with me, and I'll bump your allowance to twenty grand a month—"

"No!"

I cut him off, taking a hard step back.

"I'm getting married tomorrow."

"The man I'm marrying won't tolerate me associating with people who cross the line, and neither will my Nana."