Chapter 1

Chapter 1

It was our engagement party.

The woman my fiancé had pined for years, Clementine Miller, looked him dead in the eye. "If I crashed this party right now, would you leave with me?" she asked.

Beckett Hayes didn't even hesitate. His eyes were rimmed with red as he whispered, "I would."

The ballroom fell into a suffocating silence. Everyone expected me to flip the tables and scream.

Instead, I stood up and started clapping. "Go ahead then. I won't stand in the way of true love!"

The silence deepened.

Every guest turned their gaze toward me, their expressions a mix of pity and shock.

A few people who thrived on drama stood up. They were waiting for me, the girl known for being a pushover, to finally lose it.

They probably thought I was just bluffing to save face. After all, everyone knew Beckett was my entire world.

I was the girl who followed him like a shadow. I wasn't supposed to have a backbone.

But Beckett's face twisted in anger. Ignoring the people trying to hold him back, he grabbed a glass of red wine and splashed it right in my face.

"Elara Vance, what is wrong with you?" he hissed. "I was just joking. Why do you have to be so bitter?"

"All these years and you're still so jealous. You can't even take a joke. Who do you think you are!"

The wine dripped down my face, sticky and smelling like fermented regret.

I had spoiled Beckett until he thought he was a god. Whenever he was in a bad mood, he'd lash out, regardless of where we were.

He was used to berating me and trampling on my dignity.

He expected me to apologize like I always did, standing there with his chin high, waiting for me to beg for his forgiveness.

But looking at him now, I realized this relationship was a joke.

I stood up straight, my voice cold and hollow.

"Since the two of you are so soul-bound, I'd feel guilty holding you back from your destiny. Let's consider this our breakup dinner. Congratulations, Beckett. You finally got the girl."

Now it was Beckett's turn to look uncomfortable. He had only wanted to put me in my place.

He didn't expect me to actually walk away. He was trapped by his own bravado.

"Elara, stop throwing a tantrum," he muttered, his voice dropping. "There are guests everywhere. Think about how this looks for Clementine. Fine, if you're mad about what I said, I'll apologize, okay?"

He couldn't bear to let his precious Clementine apologize to me, so he grew desperate and reckless.

"You've ruined a perfectly good engagement party! Are you happy now? Get down on your knees and apologize to me! Or I swear, I won't marry you!"

I looked at his face, flushed with ego and rage. A wave of coldness washed over me.

I had given him my heart and soul for years. Yet, it didn't weigh as much as a few words from Clementine, who had been gone for a decade.

Who really ruined this night?

My fiancé just told another woman he'd run away with her. Was I supposed to act like it was nothing?

If I did, I'd be the biggest fool in the city.

He started trying to claim the moral high ground again, but I just grabbed my coat from the chair.

"No need for the threats, Beckett. You both made yourselves very clear. I'm out. Enjoy your happy ending. I hope you have a life as beautiful as you are."

I turned to leave, not looking back once.

Beckett was livid. He screamed after me as I walked toward the exit.

"If you walk out that door, we are done! Think carefully, Elara!"

I stopped for a second. He smirked, thinking I had folded.

"That's right. Come back here and apologize on your knees..."

I didn't turn around. I just pulled the engagement ring off my finger and tossed it onto the marble floor.

Then, I walked out into the night.

Was he insane? They had basically announced their emotional entanglement in front of everyone.

Was I supposed to smile and play the supporting role in their twisted romance?

I had let Beckett's ego grow too large. I was done with this toxic cycle.

As soon as I got home, my phone buzzed with a notification. Two thousand dollars had been charged to my card.

Beckett's primary card was linked to my account. He used my money like it was his own.

It was his habit. Whenever he was stressed, he'd go on a shopping spree using my funds.

Once, he spent twenty thousand dollars in a single night.

He thought it was his right. He believed that since I was the "obsessed" one, I should be the one paying for the privilege of being with him.

Well, the bank of Elara was officially closed. Using my money while insulting me? Not anymore.

I pulled up the app and froze every single card.