Chapter 1

In Dublin, I’m known as the girl you can always count on. So reliable that my fiancé, Ezekiel, left me at the altar 98 times, and each time, I forgave him. But on our 99th attempt, things took a turn. Someone anonymously gifted us a hundred thousand pounds. Instead of our wedding photos, the screen flashed images of Ramona being auctioned off for her first night—at the same price. Tears streamed down her face, as if she were saying goodbye to life itself.

'If I can’t be your wife, Ezekiel, then holding onto my purity is pointless,' she whispered. 'Just promise you’ll never forget me.'

Without hesitation, Ezekiel tossed our wedding ring aside and bolted. The crowd murmured, knowing how much I loved him, but his eyes were only on Ramona, his supposed savior.

People speculated if there’d be a 100th wedding attempt, but I knew better. Deep down, I knew Ezekiel would regret this. Because the truth was, *I* was his real savior.

After gracefully ushering the guests out, I dialed a number. 'Does our promise from ten years ago still stand?'

A soft chuckle came through the line. 'It does.'

As I hung up, Twitter exploded with news of Ezekiel’s outrage. He stormed into the auction room, broke all the rules, paid two million pounds to whisk Ramona away, and roughed up every bidder. The trending comments were a mix of gossip and awe, with only a few mentioning his fiancée—me. But those were quickly drowned out by comments like, 'The one who isn’t loved is always in the way.'

Ramona updated her Facebook status: 'Three years of waiting, finally achieved it today~' Alongside it was a photo of torn clothes and a hint of blood on the sheets, with Ezekiel’s sleeping profile.

Instead of crumbling like I had the previous 98 times, I casually liked the post and commented: '99.'

Within half an hour, Ezekiel called. 'It took me forever to calm Ramona down. What’s with the sarcastic comment?'

'I promise you, this is the last time. She won’t act up again.'

I’d lost count of how many times Ezekiel had promised it would be 'the last time.'

The first wedding, Ramona threatened suicide. The second, she faked a pregnancy. The third, she threw ten thousand pounds at me to leave Ezekiel. Every time, Ezekiel indulged her, always saying, 'This is the last time.'

But there was always a next time. Finally, I saw the truth: a man’s words are nothing but lies. So I replied, 'Ezekiel, there won’t be a next time. Let’s break up.'

He was silent for a long moment before hanging up without a word. When I got home, I found the lock had been changed.

As I was about to call a locksmith, the door swung open. Ramona stood there, wearing my camisole, smirking as she leaned against the frame. 'Ezekiel was worried about me being alone outside, so he let me stay here,' she said mockingly. 'Guess he didn’t tell you, huh~'

Just then, Ezekiel appeared, shirtless, with passion marks on his chest. 'Ramona’s still fragile emotionally, so I thought she could stay here for a bit,' he explained. 'I changed the passcode to her birthday so she wouldn’t forget it.'

I nodded and walked past him. When I started packing my suitcase, panic flickered across Ezekiel’s face. 'Where are you going?' he asked, as if he’d forgotten we’d just broken up half an hour ago. He wrapped his arms around me from behind, whispering, 'Next month, during Christmas, I’ll take you to Iceland to see the Northern Lights, okay?'

Before he could finish, Ramona whimpered from the doorway. 'Ramona, what’s wrong?' Ezekiel’s attention snapped to her, his eyes filled with concern. 'Zeke, I’m feeling a bit tight in the chest. Probably a reaction to the incense from the auction,' she murmured.

Without hesitation, Ezekiel scooped her up, never once looking back at me. As the bedroom door closed, my eyes met Ramona’s triumphant stare. I let out a small laugh.

I wanted to tell her she needn’t bother.

Minutes later, the sounds from the master bedroom left me flushed with embarrassment. I sighed. My heart didn’t ache as I expected; instead, it felt relieved. They’d both gotten what they wanted. Now, it was time for me to fulfill my ten-year promise.

I gathered my documents and booked a nearby hotel for the night, planning to head straight to the airport in the morning. But at dawn, my hotel room door was kicked open by Ezekiel. Furious, he yanked me from the bed by my hair and dragged me across the floor. 'Mina, how could you be so cruel! Ramona just loves me too much. What has she done wrong?'

Pain shot through my scalp, stealing my breath. Tears welled up as I looked at him and asked, 'What have I done?'

Ezekiel slammed his phone against me. 'You secretly recorded Ramona’s video and spread it online, slandering her as the other woman to ruin her!' 'Did you know she nearly jumped off a building because of it!'

Glancing at the news on his phone, I realized it was another one of Ramona’s schemes. I scoffed, 'I didn’t post the video, but the internet isn’t wrong. She *is* the third wheel, isn’t she?'

Enraged, Ezekiel laughed in disbelief, dragging me outside. He didn’t stop until we reached the hotel rooftop. There, he released my hair, squatted down, and gripped my jaw tightly. 'Mina, start a livestream now. Say you’re the one who came between me and Ramona, then kneel and apologize to her. Only then will this matter be settled.'

Agonizing pain coursed through me, but I refused to beg. Three times he said, 'Okay,' then Lucas tied my hands and suspended me with a rope over the edge of the rooftop, dozens of meters above the ground.

I glanced down, and dizziness overtook me. Memories of being nearly thrown off a cliff by traffickers as a child returned, draining the color from my face. My voice trembled uncontrollably, 'Ezekiel… I didn’t post the video. Please pull me up…'

Ezekiel’s ominous voice echoed above, 'If not you, then who? I gave you a chance, but you wasted it.' He instructed the bodyguard, 'Capture her pathetic state and send it to Ramona. When Ramona is satisfied, then pull her up.'

I didn’t know how long I hung there. My heart pounded relentlessly, and my stomach churned. Eventually, my breathing became labored. Just before I lost consciousness, I saw Ezekiel press a reverent kiss to his phone screen.

When I regained awareness, I was lying on a cold concrete floor. The sensation brought slight relief to my tense heart. But Ezekiel wasn’t done. He appeared, more enraged than ever, and kicked me in the chest. Blood gushed from my mouth as I gasped.

'Mina, you were the one who called my parents during the earthquake claiming I was dead!' he roared. 'You’re responsible for their accident and subsequent death! My parents treated you so well. How could you! You’re a demon!'

Without giving me a chance to respond, he hauled me into the car. Speeding recklessly, I vomited uncontrollably along the way. Our destination was his parents’ grave.

I knelt before their tombstones, forced to bow 999 times by Lucas pressing my head. By the end, my forehead was torn and bloody, my face a horrifying sight. Yet Ezekiel didn’t blink, merely watched coldly.

'Mina, I spared your life for my parents’ sake. You’ll have to kneel here for three days and nights…'

Before he could finish, I laughed quietly. 'Ezekiel, you believe everything Ramona says. You’re the biggest fool in the world. I’m just grateful I didn’t marry you.'

Stunned, Ezekiel struck me again, outraged, 'Even now, you dare speak of Ramona!'

Dizziness overwhelmed me, and the world spun out of control. Mina, this is the man you’ve loved for so many years. It’s simply not worth it.

Using the last of my strength, I looked up at Ezekiel, surprisingly calm. 'Ezekiel, I deny every accusation. You can kill me, but it wasn’t me.'