Chapter 1

I was the long-lost daughter of the country's wealthiest billionaire.

To make up for all the years we lost, my parents promised me the world.

I had planned to surprise my fiancé with the truth on our wedding day.

Instead, he never showed up.

Hours later, his ex sent me a video of him proposing to her.

Ethan was on one knee, holding my bridal bouquet and slipping my wedding ring onto her finger.

He looked up at her with pure devotion.

"The wedding was just to make you jealous. Alyssa means nothing to me. You’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted to marry."

I quietly locked my phone and walked out to announce that the wedding was off.

Two hours had passed since the ceremony was supposed to start, and the groom was still nowhere to be found.

Whispers buzzed through the crowd while the officiant wiped cold sweat from his forehead.

"Miss Vance... I mean, Miss Hayes, I'm so sorry. Maybe he's just got cold feet? Should we push the ceremony back another thirty minutes?"

I didn't answer. I just redialed Ethan’s number.

Once again, an automated female voice told me his phone was turned off.

The warmth that had once filled my chest was rapidly turning to ice.

Was it really just nerves?

Right then, my screen lit up with a video message from Vanessa.

It was only two minutes long.

In the clip, Ethan was down on one knee, offering Vanessa the exact bouquet I had spent weeks picking out.

Surrounded by their cheering friends, he pulled out our custom diamond band and slipped it onto her finger.

His voice was clear and steady.

"Vanessa, there was never anyone else. Dating Alyssa was just to get your attention. The wedding was just to make you jealous. I swear to God, you’re the only one for me."

In a single second, every dream I had built crumbled into a sick joke.

No wonder he had always been "too busy with work" during the wedding planning.

He barely showed up to anything.

When we went dress shopping, he didn't look up with awe like other grooms did. The sales associate had even whispered, asking if we were siblings instead of a couple.

Whenever I brought it up, Ethan would just wave it off, saying he trusted my taste completely.

Back then, I was so blinded by my excitement for our future that I never questioned him.

Now, the truth was staring me in the face.

I was just a prop in his game to win his ex back.

Why would he care about the details of a wedding he never meant to go through with?

As soon as the video ended, a text from Vanessa popped up.

Sorry, Alyssa. My flight just landed today, and I had no idea Ethan would make such a scene at the airport. Don’t be mad. I’ll tell him to hurry back to you right now.

I didn't bother reading the rest. I blocked and deleted her immediately.

The officiant, completely in the dark, tried to smooth things over.

"Don't worry, Miss Hayes. The wedding will definitely happen today..."

I looked at him and said calmly, "Open the doors. We're starting."

"What?" He blinked in confusion. "But... Ethan isn't here yet."

"Who said a wedding can’t happen without the groom?"

I stared at him, my voice flat and icy.

Intimidated by my gaze, the officiant swallowed hard and didn't dare argue.

He signaled the staff.

The grand double doors slowly swung open.

Holding the hem of my white gown, I walked alone down the aisle I had designed myself. A wave of bitterness washed over me.

A wedding with no groom.

A love story with no happy ending.

Once I reached the altar, Ethan and I would be completely done.

I ignored the murmurs and stares from the guests, took the microphone, and looked straight ahead.

"Thank you, everyone, for coming today. Due to an unforeseen issue, the ceremony was delayed, and I apologize for wasting your time. However, I have an announcement: the wedding is officially canceled. Please enjoy the food and drinks on me."