Chapter 3

Back then, Zoe had glanced over her shoulder and given me this cryptic, knowing smile.

Exchanging that jacket was all it took for them to get cozy. I definitely had my complaints about it, but Austin would always just laugh it off.

He'd said, "If I just ignore her, what if that jerk comes back to harass her? If you are going to save someone, you might as well go all the way, right?"

So, I naively believed Austin was just being a nice guy. Worried Zoe might actually get picked on again, I went out of my way to check on her and even invited her over to my place.

That was until the day Zoe was supposed to get married. Austin dropped everything to crash her wedding and run off with the bride.

That was when the truth finally hit me. She was Austin's first love.

All these years, he had never truly gotten over her.

To protect her reputation, he blasted their runaway stunt all over social media. He completely disregarded how humiliating this would be for me, his actual fiancée.

Now, watching them hurry out of the boutique together, I felt utterly sick to my stomach and quickly walked out into the street.

The moment I stepped outside, the sound of cheesy Christmas pop music filled the air.

It suddenly hit me that the holidays had sneaked up on us.

Austin had spent every single Christmas with me. Now he was off with someone else, leaving me stranded with nothing but memories.

I wandered downtown in frustration, only to realize that every digital billboard on the block was plastered with the two names I wanted to see the least.

The entire avenue was lit up with Austin's massive declarations of love for Zoe.

The pedestrians were eating up this massive display of billionaire wealth, pulling out their phones to take pictures for TikTok and Instagram.

Just my luck, I heard the absolute last voice I wanted to hear right then. "Ava? Oh my god, were you looking for us?"

I turned around to see Zoe clinging to Austin's arm, looking sickeningly happy.

Catching my irritated expression, she let out a theatrical gasp as if a sudden realization had hit her. "Oh! Austin set this whole surprise up for me.

"I am so sorry, I totally did not consider how you might feel."

She turned to him, pouting. "Austin, let's have them put up a message for Ava too. She must be so heartbroken."

Austin still looked pissed off from our argument in the boutique earlier.

But after Zoe's pleading, he put on a condescending, charitable smirk. "Ava, if you just apologize to Zoe for your attitude earlier, I can forgive you.

"I will even rent out a few screens for you so you can post them on IG to show off."

I scoffed and took a few steps back to put some distance between us. "Don't bother."

They were just a few digital screens. If I wanted them, I could afford to rent them myself.

There was absolutely no need for me to beg.

Austin instantly got defensive, his tone dripping with fake indifference. "Suit yourself. Go home and cry about it. But whatever you do, do not text me later begging for my attention."

With that, he strutted off with Zoe.

I was seething with anger when my phone buzzed with a notification.

[Look up.]

I instinctively did as the text said and froze completely.

There, on the tallest commercial skyscraper downtown, a giant LED display spelled out my name.

The crowd around me gasped again, whispering and guessing which wealthy heir was grandly wooing his girl this time.

Without me even realizing it, the boiling rage in my chest just melted away.

I opened my camera and captured the blessing of the night.

*****

A few days later, the morning of my wedding with Maxwell finally arrived.

I dragged myself out of bed early to start hair and makeup. My exhaustion actually helped numb my anxiety.

As I sat in front of the vanity mirror, watching myself slowly transform into a bride, the reality finally sank in.

I was actually getting married. To a man I had known for less than a week.

Feeling a sudden wave of panic about the unknown, I took a deep breath.

It was fine. A leap of faith is still a leap forward.

Clasping my gorgeous bridal bouquet, I waited quietly in my room. I was waiting for the man who would spend the rest of his life with me.

A sudden commotion erupted downstairs. Thinking Maxwell had arrived, I quickly smoothed out my dress and practiced my smile.

But the person who barged into the room a second later was Austin.

He looked at my glamorous wedding gown and frowned in deep disapproval. "Why are you dressed so overboard?

"How is Zoe going to feel if people see you like this?

"Hurry up and change. Just grab your ID. We are going to City Hall to sign the marriage license, and I will buy you lunch afterward."

I stared at him in utter disbelief, searching his face for any sign that this was a joke.

He was completely serious and still rushing me.

I looked at his casual designer tracksuit and glanced out the window at the inconspicuous black SUV waiting in my driveway.

Honestly, it was hard to tell if he was here for a civil ceremony or a kidnapping.