Chapter 1

I had a weird mind-reading power. I could only read the minds of people who didn't love me.

At the final wedding rehearsal, my fiancé, Andrew Lawson, was carefully adjusting the diamond buttons on my custom-made dress. He leaned in close, his voice low and magnetic. "Charlotte, you're the most beautiful bride in the world."

But in my mind, I heard a cold, urgent calculation. 'The cathedral's back door is right by the dressing room.

'Sophie's car is waiting outside. If I slip out during the vows, this sentimental fool will be the laughingstock of Luxrian, as Sophie planned. That's perfect.'

My hand, which had been about to smooth out his tie, froze in mid-air. A chill shot up my spine, freezing the smile on my lips.

That night, the designer dress worth a fortune was sent back, the five-star venue was canceled, and my name was wiped off the honeymoon tickets.

The next day, Andrew stood at the altar in his priciest suit, rehearsing the shocked and heartbroken look he'd prepared for the runaway groom drama. But the leading lady never appeared.

Meanwhile, I was already above the clouds, swirling champagne on my way to Flowerind, leaving behind an empty church and a groom who thought he'd be the one to ditch me, only to be beaten to the punch and become Luxrian's biggest joke.

*****

"Charlotte, try on this necklace. I picked it out for you in Uritioan. It's called Dawnstar, and it suits you perfectly." Andrew opened a velvet box. The sparkle of the diamonds reflected in his loving gaze.

I sat before the vanity mirror, dressed in a hand-sewn white wedding gown, its skirt covered in tiny pearls that shimmered softly under the lights. I had a delicate face, but there was no genuine smile on it.

I extended my slender neck, letting him clasp the icy necklace around me. The facets of the diamonds pricked my skin with a barely-there sting.

"You're beautiful." Andrew stepped back with his hands in his pockets, striking the pose of someone admiring a masterpiece.

His eyes swept from my collarbone down to my flat stomach, lingering with a look that said he was determined to claim what he saw.

Did he love me? I'd asked myself that question a thousand times.

Three years ago, when the Evans family was on the brink of bankruptcy, Andrew swooped in with a massive investment, saving the crumbling Evans Corporation. He had only one condition, and that was to marry me, Charlotte Evans.

It was a classic business marriage, but he turned it into a fairytale of undying love. For three years, he spoiled me rotten.

Gifts filled the villa's walk-in closet, and anything I mentioned in passing would show up at my door the next day.

Everyone in Luxrian envied me, saying I was the luckiest one to land a guy like Andrew, who was handsome, loaded, and totally devoted.

For a while, I let myself get lost in that carefully crafted love, trying to convince myself that maybe this was another way love could look.

But then, about six months ago, I started hearing voices in my head that definitely weren't my own.

It began at a charity gala. A greasy businessman sauntered over with a glass of wine, saying, "Ms. Evans, you're truly the jewel of our business world."

But in my mind, I caught his lecherous thoughts. 'She's got some curves. Andrew really hit the jackpot. I wonder what she's like in bed.'

My stomach turned, and I threw my red wine right in his face on the spot.

After that, it kept happening. I realized I could hear the thoughts of anyone who felt malice, contempt, jealousy, or simply didn't care about me at all.

My stepmother would praise me for being so well-behaved in front of my dad, but inside, she was cursing me as a useless spendthrift.

My best friend would hold my hand and gush about how lucky I was to have a nice boyfriend, but in her heart, she was plotting how to use my wedding to meet more rich bachelors.

All at once, the world tore off its mask, exposing the raw, bloody truth underneath.

I panicked, struggled, and went to see a therapist, but all they said was that I had pre-wedding anxiety.

Eventually, I numbly accepted this gift. It was like a filter, stripping away all the insincerity and pretense, leaving me quieter and quieter.

The only comfort I ever found was Andrew.

When I was with him, everything was silent. I never heard those intrusive thoughts, but his soft voice and the calm beat of his heart.

I foolishly believed it meant he loved me. My mind-reading only worked on people who didn't care about me. If I heard nothing, it had to mean he loved me.

That was the last fairytale I ever told myself.

"What are you thinking about?" Andrew's voice pulled me back from my memories.

I glanced up at him in the mirror. Today, he was wearing a perfectly tailored charcoal suit. He had deep eyes, a high, straight nose, and a faint dimple at the corner of his mouth when he smiled. From every angle, he was flawlessly perfect.

I shook my head and reached up to touch the necklace at my throat. "Nothing, really. It feels a little unreal."

He came over and wrapped his arms around me from behind, his chin resting gently in the crook of my shoulder, his warm breath brushing against my ear. "It'll be real soon.

"After tomorrow, you'll be Mrs. Lawson, and we'll be the happiest couple in the world."

His voice was so sweet that it could drip sugar, but every word was poison wrapped in honey.

If that icy voice hadn't slipped into my ear the very next second, I might've actually believed him.

He thought, 'The cathedral's back door is right by the dressing room. Sophie's car is waiting outside.

'If I slip out during the vows, this sentimental fool will be the laughingstock of Luxrian, as Sophie planned. That's perfect.

'I've already greased the palms of all the wedding reporters. Tomorrow's headline will be 'Bride Ditched at the Grand Wedding.' Charlotte's name will be forever tied to disgrace.

'The Evans family's stock will tank, and I'll swoop in to buy it cheap, make back every penny, plus extra, and finally get my hands on the Evans Corporation. Hit two targets with one shot.

'As for Charlotte? Her face is dull after a while, like a lifeless doll. Sophie's way more interesting. She is wild and hot.'

Every word was like an ice-cold blade, stabbing straight into my heart and twisting without mercy.

My hand, which had been about to smooth out his tie, froze in mid-air.

It felt like my blood stopped flowing, a chill shot straight up my spine, freezing the smile on my lips, and freezing away the last bit of my wishful thinking.

It suddenly dawned on me that it wasn't that I couldn't hear him.

It was because he never had strong enough feelings of not loving me before. He didn't care, treating me like something he owned.

But today, at the final moment of his scheme, that cocktail of disgust, scheming, and contempt finally hit a tipping point, and his thoughts came through crystal clear.

I slowly, almost painfully, lowered my hand. In the mirror, my face was very pale, completely drained of color.

"What's wrong, Charlotte? Are you feeling unwell?" Andrew noticed how stiff I was.

His voice was still gentle, but to me, it sounded so twisted and mocking that it made my stomach turn. I nearly gagged.

I took a deep breath, swallowing down the nausea, and looked at that insincere face in the mirror, forcing out a smile uglier than tears. "No. I'm a little tired."

"If you're tired, get some rest," Andrew said, his voice full of concern.

But in his mind, he was impatiently thinking, 'Let's wrap this up already. Sophie is waiting for my call.'

I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, all the hurt and disbelief were gone. My gaze was nothing but cold, empty silence.

I stood up and looked him straight in the eye. "Andrew, this wedding dress is so long. It's a bit hard to move around in."

"No worries. I'll stick by your side the whole time tomorrow," he promised with a smile.

'The longer, the better. If she takes a spill, it'll be more humiliating, making for a juicier scene,' Andrew thought.

"This necklace is so heavy. It's making my neck ache," I said, my fingers brushing the huge main diamond.

"This is the Dawnstar, proof of our love." Andrew held my hand, his eyes brimming with affection.

'Proof? What a joke. It's nothing but a collar to keep you chained. Once I'm done with you, I'll put this necklace on Sophie instead,' Andrew thought.

"Is that so?" I slowly peeled his fingers off hers one by one. Then, right before his eyes, I deliberately unclasped the necklace.

The million-dollar Dawnstar necklace was tossed onto the vanity, landing with a crisp yet dull thud.

Andrew's smile stiffened for a moment. "Charlotte?"

I didn't look at him. I turned around and began unbuttoning the complicated row of buttons on the back of my wedding dress. My movements were slow but steady, and my fingertips were turning pale from the pressure.

"What are you doing?" Andrew's brows finally drew together, his voice carrying a subtle trace of annoyance.

'What the hell is she doing? Tomorrow's the main event. If she causes a scene now, it'll throw off my whole plan,' Andrew thought.

"As I said, it's not practical." At last, I undid the final button. That gorgeous wedding dress, heavy with a thousand lies, slipped off my smooth back and collapsed at my feet, a heap of broken dreams and scattered foam.

Barefoot, I walked across the icy floor, took down the simple beige trench coat I'd arrived in, and pulled it on.

Andrew's voice finally went icy. He marched over and seized my wrist. "Charlotte, why are you acting out?"

His grip was painfully tight, digging into my skin.

I lifted my head, meeting his gaze, and said slowly and deliberately, "Andrew, we're done."

His pupils shrank in shock, clearly not expecting me to say that.

Inside, Andrew was stunned and offended. 'Over? Who does she think she is, ending things with me? Is she out of her mind, or did I mishear? Seriously, who else would ever take her if not me?'

"What did you say?" Andrew stared at me like I'd dropped the punchline to the craziest joke. "The wedding's tomorrow, and you're telling me it's over now?"

"Yes," I answered, steady as ever. "No need to wait for tomorrow. I'm calling off the wedding right now."

With that, I wrenched my hand free from his grip, refusing to look at the mix of shock and fury on his face, and walked straight for the door.

Behind me, Andrew's furious shouts echoed, and in his mind, he was cursing up a storm.

'Is she out of her mind? Damn bitch, how dare she screw up all my plans? No way am I letting her walk out now. She's at least going to finish the show at the wedding tomorrow,' Andrew fumed inwardly.

But I was done listening.

I threw open the heavy door, and the wedding planner and assistants waiting outside were completely stunned by the way I looked.

I didn't bother with their shocked faces, marched up to the planner, and said, in a tone that brooked no argument, "The wedding's canceled.

"Handle all payments as per the breach clause in the contract, and send the bill to the Evans Corporation."

Then I took out my phone, called the airline, and moved my honeymoon flight, which was supposed to be three days later, to the earliest flight to Flowerind.

It was taking off in two hours. It was perfect timing.

Once everything was settled, I finally looked up at Andrew, who had stormed out after me, his face absolutely livid.

He looked like he was about to rush over and demand an explanation, maybe drag me back by force. But I stared him down, icy and unflinching, and held up my phone, my flight confirmation shining on the screen for him to see.

I mouthed the words to him. "Goodbye. Or better yet, never see you again."

Then, with everyone gaping at me in disbelief, I headed for the elevator, not once glancing back.

As the elevator doors closed, I caught Andrew's rage-filled scream in my mind. 'Charlotte, you better not think you can get away with this. I won't let you off that easy.'

I pulled the corners of my lips into a wry smile, the first genuine one I'd managed in hours.

We would see who was really the one refusing to let go. The leading lady in Andrew's carefully staged show left early. I hoped he could still put on a wonderful performance all by himself.

The truest awakening in life is growing one's own wings at the cliff's edge, abandoned by all.