Chapter 1

1.

I'd been with Elias for seven years, and not once did he ever mention a proposal.

The irony was, I found him at a wedding rehearsal, posing as the groom-to-be, with another woman on his arm.

"Her fiancé's stuck on a business trip in London and couldn't make it back. I'm just helping out, being a stand-in," Elias explained with a smile.

But I could see the jealousy and disappointment he was trying so hard to hide.

What was worse, Elias actually asked me to give her my own wedding design plan―the one I cherished more than anything.

"We're not in a hurry anyway, Chloe. You're so talented, you can always design something better. Just do this for me, okay? This client is really important to me."

He had no idea that the design, named "Winter's Dawn," was my dream.

It was the culmination of five years of my own heart and soul.

In the end, I did as he asked and waited for my own clock to run out.

Maybe the person who creates happiness for others is destined to be forgotten by it.

...

My last appointment of the day was a rehearsal for a high-end client.

"The client's here. Hopefully, we can finalize everything today," my assistant, Sarah, said, rolling her eyes as she clutched her tablet.

"She's so damn picky. We've already gone through five different proposals, and she's still not happy."

I straightened my blazer and walked into the showroom.

But when I saw the couple smiling at each other at the altar, I froze.

"Is that...?"

Sarah covered her mouth, her cheeks dimpling with excitement. "I have to say, they look perfect together! No wonder she has such high standards. If I could marry a guy that handsome, I'd demand a custom gown and a venue just like this one, too!"