Chapter 1

1

My fiancé wanted to leave an heir for his best buddy.

Exactly a month before our wedding, he insisted on having a baby with his friend's wife.

I hysterically asked him why he had to do this. "Can't they just adopt a child?" I cried.

But my fiancé simply brushed it off.

"Seth was my best buddy, and he passed away so suddenly. Grace can't take it and has already tried to end it all several times," he argued.

"Could you please stop being so sensitive? I am the only person Grace knows in this city. Who else is she supposed to turn to?"

Later, when I saw that so-called widow actually get pregnant with my fiancé's baby, my heart completely died.

So, I decided to find a new groom.

……

Exactly one month before the wedding, I was ready to swap out my groom.

So, I posted a status on my social media feed.

"Looking for a marriage partner. Please introduce me to a reliable, single man."

The comment section was quickly flooded with people eating up the drama. Some asked if I had a fight with my boyfriend, considering the wedding was only a month away. Others tried to advise me, saying that since we had been dating for so long, we needed to be forgiving of each other. George's friends even commented, aggressively questioning why I was doing this.

Seeing all this, I couldn't help but let out a sarcastic chuckle. If George hadn't done something utterly unforgivable, how could I ever throw away a relationship of over a decade? The thought alone sent boundless bitterness creeping into my chest.

I sniffled and was just about to lock my phone when a new message suddenly popped up on the screen. Looking closely, I realized it was from 【Evil Capitalist】. This was my boss, Pierce.

【Evil Capitalist: You are looking for someone to marry?】

【Evil Capitalist: Then pick me.】

I was completely stunned. Before I could even process it, another message came through.

【Evil Capitalist: When is the wedding?】

【Evil Capitalist: I am serious, this isn't a joke.】

Thinking of my boss's handsome, deadpan face, I shakily typed back that it was in a month. Unexpectedly, Pierce agreed right away. He told me that once I sorted out my personal affairs, we could go straight to City Hall to get our marriage license.

As if afraid I wouldn't believe him, he immediately started a video call. I absentmindedly tapped the accept button.

"Zoey, one month is enough time for you to handle things, right?"

The man's incredibly handsome face appeared on my screen. His crisp, pine-like voice finally cleared some of the fog in my dizzy brain. I nodded my head. Pierce then hung up the phone, looking satisfied.

I stared at the black screen, unable to snap out of it for a long time. Did I just hit the absolute jackpot? I thought to myself blankly.

Just then, a phone ringtone shattered my wild thoughts. It was George. I swiped the screen and answered. What greeted me was a barrage of angry accusations from the man.

"Zoey, are you out of your mind? What kind of garbage are you posting on social media?!"

"Do you really have to broadcast our business everywhere? I have explained it to you countless times. Seth was my best friend, and he died suddenly, leaving Grace all alone. She almost did something unthinkable several times."

"If having a child to accompany her can help her get through this dark time, it might save her life!"

Lately, the countless fights between George and me all stemmed from his best friend's widow. He absolutely insisted on having a baby with her. The very first time I found out, I was beyond confused and asked him about it.

"If she wants a child, she can adopt, or she can remarry. She could even go pick from a sperm bank. Why does she have to make a baby with you?"

George and I had known each other for fifteen years and had been dating for thirteen. Our wedding was literally just a month away. Yet now, the man I loved deeply was using such a disgusting thing to back me into a corner.

Because of this IVF drama, George and I had been giving each other the silent treatment for nearly a month. During this time, I finally figured it out. The man I loved so deeply had probably already shifted his affections elsewhere. Otherwise, he wouldn't be completely ignoring my feelings like this.

"Staying silent won't work. Since you don't respect my thoughts, let's just postpone the wedding." After saying that, George hung up the phone directly.

I bit my lip. I thought to myself, George, I am never marrying you now. But when my eyes landed on the framed photo of us on the dresser, my eyes instantly grew red.

We had been together for fifteen whole years. Yet, because of Grace, we were going to break up forever.