Chapter 1

After seven years of estrangement, I finally came back home with my seven-year-old son to visit my parents.

The moment I stepped off the plane, I ran into my ex's best friend at the airport.

He asked, "Seven years have passed. When are you going to apologize to Victor for running away from your wedding?"

I looked at him, then glanced back at the boy behind me, holding a Superman toy, the spitting image of me.

I couldn't help but laugh.

Apologize? Why should I say sorry to a guy who dragged his old flame up to the altar on our wedding day?

*****

It had been seven years.

I was Claire Linford, and after all this time, I had finally returned to the city I'd once fled in disgrace, this time with my seven-year-old son, Andy Linford.

The moment the plane touched down, my heart skipped a beat.

I couldn't tell whether it was nerves about coming home or the dread of facing all those painful memories.

"Mom, are we there yet?" Andy tugged at my sleeve, his little face upturned, his eyes, so much like mine, full of curiosity.

I gently patted his head and forced a smile. "We're here, Andy. We're home now."

After grabbing our luggage, I took Andy's hand and headed out.

The airport was packed, everyone rushing around like they had somewhere important to be.

As we were about to step out of the arrivals hall, someone called out behind me, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "Well, if it isn't Claire. You actually dared to come back?"

I froze. Even if I were nothing but ashes, I'd still know that voice.

It was Eric Dawson, Victor Grant's best friend, and one of the guys who'd mocked me the most at that wedding.

I took a deep breath, turned around, and put on a polite but distant smile. "Mr. Dawson, long time no see."

Eric sized me up, his eyes sweeping over me like I was some bargain-bin item he wouldn't bother with.

His gaze finally landed on Andy, who was standing next to me, and he let out a dismissive snort. "Your kid's already this big? Looks like you've had it pretty good overseas these past seven years."

He paused, his tone getting more cutting. "Seven years have passed. When are you going to apologize to Victor for running out on your wedding?"

I froze for a second.

Apologize?

I looked at him, nearly bursting out laughing at how ridiculous he was.

Seven years ago, Victor and I were about to get married.

I was wearing a white wedding dress, my heart bursting with happiness, ready to walk down the aisle.

The emcee was already calling out with all the enthusiasm he could muster, "Now, let's give a big round of applause for the groom, Mr. Victor Grant, as he welcomes his beautiful bride!"

But Victor stood frozen under the spotlight, making no move at all.

He picked up the microphone. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried through the entire hall. "Please, everyone, wait a moment."

Everyone fell silent, their eyes fixed on him in confusion.

Then, with all eyes on him, he stepped down from the altar and headed straight for a corner among the guests.

There, he reached out and pulled up a girl in a white dress.

That girl was Emily Summers. She was Victor's first love, the one he had always carried a torch for and openly admitted to.

He took her hand and led her back up to the altar, facing my parents and me. I stood stunned, while my parents' faces were pale with fury.

He turned to the microphone, looked at Emily, his eyes full of affection, and spoke each word slowly and clearly, "Emily is my first love. I promised her I'd walk down the aisle with her one day. Today, I'm fulfilling that promise."

Everything collapsed around me in that moment.

I became the laughingstock of the whole city.

The very next day, I bought a ticket and ran away from this miserable city.

Now, seven years had passed.

His best friend actually had the nerve to corner me at the airport, acting all self-righteous, demanding to know when I was going to apologize to Victor.

I looked at Eric's smug face. Suddenly, I almost laughed at how full of himself he was.

I tightened my grip on Andy's hand and spoke calmly, "Mr. Dawson, are you sure you've got your facts straight?

"Why should I apologize to a man who humiliated me in front of everyone at our wedding and made me the laughingstock of the whole city?"

Eric looked at me like he'd heard the funniest joke ever. "Claire, quit acting all innocent. If you hadn't been messing around with another guy back then, would Victor have been forced to do that? You think you didn't run away out of guilt?"

I shot him a look, not bothering to waste my breath on an explanation.

Trying to reason with him was pointless, like talking to a brick wall.

I took Andy's hand and turned to leave.

"Mom, that man was mean," Andy whispered.

"Don't worry about it. He's a rabid dog. We don't need to pay him any mind," I said, my voice loud enough for Eric to catch every word.

Eric's face turned beet red as he pointed at my back and shouted, "Claire, just wait. Victor's not going to let you off that easily!"

I didn't slow down, but walked straight out of the airport.

Once I got into the taxi, I watched the city blur past outside the window, my heart frozen and numb.

Victor.

Seven years had passed, and you still wouldn't leave me alone.