Chapter 1

The video of my boyfriend proposing to his assistant was blowing up all over social media in the city. Everyone said it was so romantic that it brought people to tears.

His assistant, Marissa Hughes, shared online: [I've finally found you. I'm so glad I didn't give up. Simon Grant, please be by my side for the rest of our lives.]

The comments were all shouting, "CEO and assistant. They were meant to be. This is destiny."

I didn't cry or make a scene. I closed the page and went to confront my boyfriend for an explanation.

The door wasn't fully closed, and I overheard him talking to his friend.

He said, "I have no choice. If I don't marry her, her dad will force her to marry some old guy."

"What about Lily Winters? She's been with you for seven years. Aren't you worried she'll make a scene?" his friend asked.

"What can she do? Lily has no family backing and no connections. She can't leave me," Simon replied.

Later, we each got married to someone else on the same day.

At the hotel entrance, our two wedding convoys brushed past each other.

As the two brides passed by, holding their bouquets, Simon caught a glimpse of me sitting in the car, dressed in a wedding gown, and the red roses in his hand slipped and hit the ground.

That morning, I called my mom, "Mom, I'm going through with the marriage you arranged for me."

Rain tapped against the window, and the apartment was dark. My voice sounded cold and far away, almost lost in the gloom.

My mom stayed quiet on the other end for a long time.

She said, "Didn't you say you didn't want to do this a few days ago? Lily, marriage isn't something you do out of anger.

"No matter how good the guy we found is, you have to agree to it yourself. Don't waste your whole life to get back at Simon."

I kept my grip firm on the phone. "I'm not doing this out of spite. I've thought it through. You and Dad can start getting things ready."

Mom let out a quiet sigh. "You've been with Simon for seven years, and he's never introduced you to his parents or made your relationship public. Your dad always said a man like that isn't someone you can count on."

That wasn't a harsh word, but it cut deeper than any insult ever could.

It turned out that bystanders always saw things the clearest. I was the only one who thought his indifference was love.

Mom continued, "Your dad and I met the Linwood guy. He is a solid guy, and his family has great values. We don't care about his wealth. What matters is that he'll treat you right."

I said, "I trust you."

"Do you want to meet him first?"

"No, go ahead and plan the wedding."

Just as I hung up, the door unlocked.

Simon walked in, holding a box of butter cookies, his coat damp from the rain. He saw me sitting on the couch and asked, "Who's getting married?"

I wanted to say, "It's me." But the words caught in my throat, and I swallowed them back.

"Just a friend," I said instead.

He paused for a moment as he set his keys down, then went right back to his usual self. "I brought you some butter cookies from that place on the south side. Aren't these your favorites?"

I stared at that box of butter cookies, and suddenly it all felt absurd.

Half an hour ago, I scrolled through Marissa's old posts. She laid it all out, clear as day.

She loved butter cookies from the south side, always ordered a latte, and went for the savory appetizers.

Whenever Simon brought something home, it was always what she liked best.

I used to think he brought me food after working late because he cared about me. But it turned out that it was a habit he picked up while trying to please another woman, and I was the afterthought.

"I don't like sweets," I said. "Don't buy them for me anymore."

Simon shot me a look, as if he'd never heard me say that before.

"But you always used to eat them, didn't you?" he asked.

I said, "I didn't want to kill your vibe."

He set the butter cookies on the table, his tone tinged with impatience. "Lily, don't make a fuss over something so small again.

"Marissa's family has been a mess lately, and she's been really down. I'm trying to be there for her a bit more."

I looked up at him. "Did I ever ask you about her?"

Simon loosened his tie. "Why are you talking to me like that?"

There was a knock at the door. Marissa stood in the hallway, arms full of files, her wet hair clinging to her cheeks, and she looked so helpless.

"Simon, am I bothering you two?" Marissa asked softly.

Simon immediately walked over. "Why didn't you bring an umbrella?"

Marissa glanced at me, her voice barely above a whisper. "I brought over the guest list for tomorrow's engagement party. I didn't want to hold you up."

The engagement party.

She said it as if it were nothing, and as if I were invisible in my own home.

I turned to Simon. "You're getting engaged?"

Simon frowned, "It's to keep her family happy, nothing serious, and just for show. Don't read too much into it."

Marissa lowered her head. "Ms. Winters, please don't misunderstand. Simon told me that you're still the one he can't let go of."

I stood up and shoved the box of butter cookies into Marissa's arms. "Go ahead, take them. Everything Simon can't seem to let go of. It's all your taste."

Marissa's face went pale, and Simon's expression darkened.

"Lily, give an apology," Simon snapped.

"To whom?" I shot back.

"To Marissa," he said.