Chapter 1

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Without my consent, my fiancé, Ethan, let his late mentor's daughter move into the home we were supposed to share after marriage.

I didn't scream.

I just quietly packed the bags I had prepared weeks ago and called the man I had rejected so many times before.

"You said you wanted to take me away. Does that offer still stand?"

This time, I left Ethan without looking back.

We met again five years later at an annual industry symposium.

I was the keynote speaker presenting the final award, and Ethan was this year's recipient.

When the host announced my name, the entire hall fell silent.

I took the trophy, walked up to Ethan, and handed it to him with a polite smile.

Ethan froze.

His eyes swirling with an overwhelming storm of emotions.

But to me, he was just a stranger.

"Congratulations, Professor Vance."

It took him a long time to finally find his voice and call my name.

"Hazel... where have you been all these years?"

I offered a polite smile.

"Getting married."

......

My tone was cold and distant, the kind of voice you’d use with a stranger you just bumped into on the street.

But inside, my heart was a chaotic mess.

Ethan and I had started dating in college. After graduation, we naturally got engaged.

After our engagement, we both threw ourselves into our careers. We were constantly busy and rarely saw each other.

I never thought it was an issue—until he started constantly bringing up Chloe, the daughter of his former PhD advisor.

Ethan never acknowledged our relationship in public, and he never allowed me to mention it either. Yet, he let Chloe hold his arm and act cute with him in front of everyone.

At first, I didn't think much of it. I thought he was just looking out for his late mentor’s daughter.

Until my birthday, when he stood me up to help Chloe take her dog to the vet.

I was furious and demanded a breakup right then and there.

Ethan, who usually kept his emotions locked away, fell to his knees. He cried, begging me not to leave him.

"Hazel, I swear I don't feel anything for her!"

"I only look after her because her father was my mentor. He did so much for my career."

"Please believe me. Don't leave me, okay?"

Remembering all the good times we had shared, I softened. I accepted his apology.

But after that, it happened again and again. Ethan would abandon me for Chloe over and over. I was foolish enough to keep making excuses for him, telling myself it was just out of respect for his late mentor.

Until his birthday. I came home early, wanting to surprise him at our new townhouse.

We had agreed to celebrate his birthday there together.

But when I walked in, Chloe was already there.

The sofa we had picked out together was covered in plush toys.

Ethan, who had always hated stuffed animals, was holding one in his hands, gently asking Chloe where she wanted to put it.

In that second, I forgot how to breathe.

It took me several agonizing seconds to snap out of it. I stepped back out of the door.

"Why is Chloe in our townhouse?"

Ethan brushed it off, completely oblivious to how inappropriate he was being.

"Oh, Chloe just started her internship in the city. It’s not safe for a young girl to live alone. Since this place is empty anyway, I told her she could stay here for a while."

Letting her move in?

I let out a bitter laugh.

"Ethan, that is our future home!"

"It's just temporary. Don't be so petty, Hazel. She’s my late mentor’s only daughter. What’s the big deal if she stays here?"

I wanted to scream at him. I wanted to ask what kind of fiancé lets another young woman move into his marital home. But when I finally opened my mouth, the only words that came out were:

"......Never mind."

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