Chapter 2

My marriage to Olivia Hayes was a story that defied all logic. She was born at the top, the heiress to a massive family fortune. I was from a small, impoverished town, a kid who fought his way into a top university on a scholarship. We were like planets on completely different orbits, never meant to cross paths.

But we did.

I first met her at a university party. I was working as a bartender to make ends meet. She was the center of attention, beautiful and untouchable. That night, she had a fight with her family and drank too much. I was tasked with taking her to a quiet room to rest. She lay on the sofa, her silk dress clinging to her curves, her long hair spread out like a fan. She smelled sweet, like expensive perfume and champagne.

She opened her eyes, looked at me, and with a voice that was both imperious and vulnerable, she said, "Marry me. Do you dare?"

I was just a poor student. I knew she was out of my league, a dangerous, beautiful creature who could destroy me without a second thought. But I was mesmerized. I couldn't say no. It was a dare, a whim, but for me, it felt like fate.

So, we got married. It was a quiet affair, no grand ceremony. Her family was furious. They saw me as a gold-digger, a nobody who had tricked their precious daughter. They made my life difficult, but I endured it all. I thought that if I worked hard enough, if I loved her enough, I could eventually win them over, and more importantly, win her heart.

For five years, I dedicated myself to her. I gave up my promising career in physics to help her manage her art gallery, turning it from a struggling venture into a profitable business. I learned to cook her favorite dishes, I took care of her when she was sick, I handled all the tedious details of her life so she could focus on her art. I tried to walk into her world, into her heart, but she always kept the door shut.

I knew about her childhood sweetheart, Qi Mufan. He had died in a car accident when they were teenagers. He was her one true love, the "white moonlight" of her life. I knew I could never compete with a memory. A dead person is invincible, they can never make a mistake, never disappoint. They are perfect forever.

Still, I foolishly believed that my persistent effort would eventually make a difference. I told myself that sincerity could move mountains, that water could wear away stone. I kept telling myself that one day, she would see me for who I was, not as a replacement or a convenience.

But then Liam appeared. He was an aspiring artist with a charming smile and a face that was a near-perfect copy of Qi Mufan. He was everything I wasn't. He was a ghost from her past, brought to life.

His arrival shattered my self-deception. I could no longer play the fool, pretending that my love was enough. The candle had burned down to its end, and the flame of my hope was finally extinguished.