Chapter 1

A week before our wedding, William Scott, who hadn't come home all night, showed up at our place with his childhood friend, Madeline Blake. They took out their marriage license from the bag.

I thought it was a prank, and was about to say, "Come on, it's not April Fool's Day."

But when I opened the license with shaking hands, right there, clear as day, were William and Madeline's names. "Stop joking around. This isn't funny."

Madeline said, looking genuinely apologetic, "Sorry, Hazel. My family was pressuring me to get married again, so I ended up drinking with William and the guys last night.

"We got the marriage license this morning, to keep her family off our backs for now."

William was slumped on the couch, rubbing his forehead, still looking hungover from last night. "Don't worry. We'll file for divorce right away. Once the waiting period's up, I'll marry you."

I turned to leave, but William blocked my way.

*****

"Hazel, I was doing Madeline a favor. Is that really not okay with you?" William Scott said.

His words were so absurd that I couldn't help but laugh to myself. Seriously, what kind of favor needed a marriage license?

"Hazel, please don't be mad at William. You're the one he truly loves," Madeline Blake said, her head bowed. "I really don't want to come between you two, but my parents set me up with a blind date, and he's some old guy nearly forty."

She gently tugged at William's sleeve.

"Hazel, I swear, you're the only one I love. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done this without telling you," William said, his voice hoarse, avoiding my gaze.

I stood frozen, feeling my heart turn to ice bit by bit.

In seven days, we were supposed to get married.

Seven years together, and he never once made it official with me. But a week before our wedding, he went and got married to someone else.

I'd been by his side since college, supporting him through his startup journey.

After graduation, we squeezed into a cramped apartment, survived on fast food, and ran all over town chasing business deals.

We stayed up late together, working on business plans, and got through the hardest years of his startup.

Back then, I always imagined marrying him.

From twenty-one to twenty-eight, for seven whole years, I kept bringing up marriage.

I even suggested we could make it official, but he always said no. He'd say, "I want to marry you after I've made it big."

Through all our hard work together, we built the company and bought ourselves a big house.

Half a year ago, he proposed to me. I put my projects on hold, cut back on my time at the office, and spent every spare moment planning our wedding.

I thought I was finally going to marry the one I'd loved all these years.

But for some absurd reason, he actually went and got married to Madeline.

"William, do you even realize what you're doing?" My voice was choked with emotion.

He finally looked up at me, his eyes full of love, conflict, and guilt, but not a hint of regret. "Hazel, I can't turn my back on Madeline.

"If I don't help her, she'll be forced to marry some old guy. Could you really stand by and let that happen?"

"Fine, why don't you two have the wedding? I'm out," I laughed bitterly, and tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Hazel, I swear, we'll get the divorce right away. I promise it won't mess things up between you and William," Madeline said, her eyes red as she stepped forward and grabbed my hand.

"Let go of me," I said coldly, jerking my hand away from hers.

Madeline staggered back a few steps as I jerked my hand away, and William reached out to steady her.

William frowned right away, sounding a bit reproachful. "Hazel, don't overreact. Madeline's always treated you well."

As he spoke, he took out a lunchbox from his bag, opened it, and placed it on the table.

The lunchbox was still warm, packed with breakfast from my favorite restaurant.

That place was pretty far from our home, and with my hectic work schedule, I could never make the trip myself. On weekends, I always slept in.

Whenever I craved it, William would get dressed and drive out to buy it for me, even if it was pouring rain in the morning.

"I got this for you," William said, his voice soft and gentle, slipping into that sweet, comforting tone he always used to spoil me.

"Hey, don't cause a scene, okay? This won't mess up our wedding," he said.

William reached over and tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear, the same tender gesture he always did.

He remembered all my quirks, my preferences, and every little thing about me. But for another woman, he tossed aside our seven years together.

"Causing a scene?" I stared at him, my eyes cold as ice. "You went and got married to her before our wedding, and now you say I'm the one causing a scene?"

"I told you, it was for show," he said, his voice rising for a second before softening again. "I only want to marry you."