Chapter 1

After four long years of devotedly nursing Julian, he finally stood up from his wheelchair.

His boys took turns spamming my phone, begging me to come and witness the miracle.

"Chloe, Julian promised he’d propose to you the very second he stood up. Your dream is finally coming true."

But when I dragged my soaking wet self up the mountain road in a torrential downpour, all I found was a crowd of people pointing at me and laughing their heads off.

Julian flicked the ash from his cigarette, sneering.

"So what if she's a Harrington? In front of me, she’s nothing but a loyal dog that comes whenever I whistle. You can't even kick her away."

"Don't believe me? I could make out with Serena right in front of her, and she wouldn't dare say a word."

Watching him passionately kiss his childhood friend amid the roaring cheers of the crowd, I silently turned around and walked away.

Julian made a bet with his boys that I’d be crawling back to beg for his forgiveness within seven days.

But the very next day, when he received my wedding invitation, he completely lost his mind.

By the time I finally reached the mountain chalet, Julian and his friends were in the middle of celebrating Serena's birthday.

Through the glass wall, I saw Julian standing right behind Serena.

He was leaning down, hands clasped over hers, patiently teaching her how to play pool.

"Chloe? I... I can't believe you actually came."

Serena was the first to notice me. She gasped, covering her mouth in mock shock.

Only then did the rest of the room turn to look at me.

The moment I got the call from Julian's friend in the middle of the night, I had rushed over without a second thought.

Unfortunately, my car broke down halfway up the mountain.

I had no choice but to walk for over an hour in the freezing rain to get here.

Even without a mirror, I knew I looked like a drowned rat.

Sure enough, the very next second, a look of deep disgust and irritation flashed in Julian’s eyes.

"Chloe, you didn't seriously think you could accept Julian’s proposal looking like a hot mess, did you?"

Julian’s friends pointed at me, laughing hysterically.

One of them even nudged Julian, speaking in an exaggerated tone of envy.

"Damn, Julian! I didn't know Chloe was this obsessed with you. One phone call and she runs up a mountain in a storm!"

"Man, you're a legend. How did you keep a wealthy heiress wrapped around your finger for four whole years?"

"You better cherish her, bro!"

Seeing the scene, Serena gently pulled herself away from Julian’s chest and said softly, "Julian, Chloe must be so excited for your proposal."

"After all, she took care of you for four years just for this day. Now that you can walk, you two can finally be together."

Julian stood up, took a cigarette from a friend, and lit it.

Through the rising smoke, his eyes were cold and filled with nothing but contempt.

"Weren't you giving me the silent treatment? Who are you trying to play the victim for with this miserable look?"

I looked up at him. Standing on his own two feet, Julian looked completely foreign.

The chalet was warm, and though I desperately tried to hold them back, tears began to stream down my face.

Seeing my tears, Julian’s friends realized the joke had gone too far.

They quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Hey Julian, you see how much Chloe cares about you. Why not just make it official tonight?"

"Yeah, when you got into that car crash, Chloe never left your side. It's been four years, and she’s still here. Be happy, man. She’s a Harrington, after all."

But those words struck a nerve.

"Don't forget, today is Serena's birthday."

He sneered, flicking his cigarette ash, and looked at me with pure mockery.

"Besides, so what if she's a Harrington? In front of me, she’s nothing but a dog that comes when called. You can't even kick her away."

He wrapped his arm around Serena’s waist, pulling her back into his chest.

"Don't believe me? I could kiss Serena right in front of her, and she wouldn't dare say a word."

With that, he grabbed Serena's chin in front of everyone and crashed his lips onto hers.