Chapter 1

On our fifth wedding anniversary, my wife and I were at Disneyland to retake our wedding photos.

I stepped away for a few minutes to take an urgent work call, but when I returned, she had vanished from the park.

After searching for her in vain for half an hour, I opened Instagram and saw a new post from her first love.

The two of them were locked in a passionate embrace, kissing against the sunset along the Santa Monica waterfront.

She was still wearing the custom white designer gown I had bought for our anniversary shoot.

The caption read: “Love at sunset. After all the twists and turns, it has always been you!”

Looking at the radiant, blissful smile on my wife’s face, I left a comment: “Wishing you two a long and lasting life together.”

I never expected that once I truly let go, she would be the one drowning in regret.

1

I dismissed the photographer and drove home alone.

Our anniversary photoshoot was ruined, while my wife was out keeping another man company.

The moment I stepped into our bedroom, my wife, Celeste, called.

“Clayton, what the hell was that comment on Instagram? All our family and friends know today is our fifth anniversary!”

“Leaving a comment like that on Gavin’s post... how do you expect people to look at him now?”

Celeste rattled off a list of my supposed wrongs, demanding that I delete the comment immediately.

I met her barrage of accusations with total silence.

Beside her, Gavin Pierce chimed in before I could even speak.

“Clayton, please don’t be mad. It’s entirely my fault. I’m not familiar with the coast, unlike you, who grew up with a silver spoon.”

“Celeste was just worried I’d get lost. I’m the one who ruined your special day.”

Gavin looked at Celeste with a wounded, fragile expression, playing the innocent victim so naturally it was sickening.

Celeste immediately softened her tone to comfort him.

“Don’t take it to heart, Gavin. Your happiness and your recovery are more important than anything else.”

A cold laugh escaped my lips.

“Right, Gavin. I’m not upset at all. Why don’t you let Celeste keep you company for the rest of the night?”

Celeste didn’t sound guilty in the slightest.

“Of course I’m staying with him to make up for your petty behavior. Go to sleep on your own and don’t wait up for me!”

Before I could reply, she hung up.

Less than three minutes later, Gavin sent me a smug text message.

“Clayton, Celeste and I are about to take a private yacht cruise around the bay. Care to join us?”

I stared at the photo attached to the message and finally noticed the matching silver bands on their fingers.

Ever since I met Celeste, she had never taken off that simple, cheap ring.

No matter how many luxury diamond pieces I bought her, none could ever replace it.

It turned out that ring was a token of love between her and Gavin.

A profound sense of helplessness washed over me.

I had known about Gavin for a long time.

He was Celeste’s college sweetheart, a guy from a poor background who clawed his way into an elite university through sheer ambition.

However, to secure a prestigious graduate fellowship, Gavin dumped Celeste two years into their relationship and started dating the university dean’s daughter.

At the time, he didn't realize Celeste came from a wealthy family.

Once he gained the dean’s daughter’s favor, he easily secured his academic sponsorship.

I met Celeste five years ago at a charity gala.

I had a severe asthma attack that night and nearly died in the lounge, but she found me and saved my life.

From that single moment, I decided she was the woman I wanted to cherish forever.

My family ran an industry-leading empire, and her parents were thrilled with the match.

Back then, Celeste was the one who pushed to get married quickly. I had never forced her into anything.

Yet everything changed the moment Gavin returned to the city.

Gavin hadn’t achieved the success he dreamed of. He tried to discard the dean’s daughter to climb even higher, but the wealthy crowd saw right through him.

He was publicly exposed, beaten by the dean’s family, and soon after, diagnosed with chronic kidney failure.

If Celeste hadn’t been secretly bankrolling his medical treatments over the past few years, he would have rotted away in some alley.