Chapter 1

On the eve of our wedding, my fiancé's childhood friend―a mercenary who had been missing for five years―returned. She had been poisoned with a potent aphrodisiac while on a mission.

Her teammates brought her to him, covered in scars and clinging to life.

Caleb, usually so composed, looked at her with bloodshot eyes. Ignoring my pleas, he locked himself in a room with her for the entire night.

I stayed outside that door, unable to close my eyes even for a second.

The next morning, when I confronted him with hysterical questions, he shielded her. He didn't even try to hide it anymore.

"I couldn't just watch Serena die. It was just one night. What's the harm in letting loose once before the wedding?"

At that moment, every ounce of love I had for him vanished.

1

The sounds of their intimacy finally faded after a long night. Caleb walked out of the bedroom wearing a tattered bathrobe.

His steps were unsteady, his face flushed with satisfaction. There was a look of lingering pleasure in his eyes.

The dark bruises and hickeys on his neck were painfully obvious.

He walked past me to the dining table and poured himself a glass of water. He looked annoyed.

"Elena, stop throwing a tantrum. I'm exhausted right now and don't have time for your drama."

"It was just a physical thing. Serena is the woman here, and she isn't even complaining. Can you stop being so prudish?"

"I'm the one being prudish?"

I let out a bitter, angry laugh.

"She throws herself at a man, and you call that open-minded?"

Caleb slammed the glass onto the floor, shattering it.

"Shut up!"

"Serena is in bad shape. Don't say such disgusting things in front of her, or you can forget about this wedding!"

Just as he spoke, medical staff I had previously arranged entered the bedroom to start emergency treatment.

Caleb rushed over to them immediately. He didn't give me a single glance.

Serena lay on my wedding bed. She gripped Caleb's hand with what little strength she had left.

"Caleb, I'm so sorry for causing trouble. I just wanted to see you one last time before I died…"

The air in the room was thick with a musky, lingering scent. The overflowing trash can was a testament to their long night together.

"I'm so happy I could have you before the end… Can I have a seat at the wedding to watch you?"

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Caleb's eyes filled with tears as he held her hand. He turned and screamed at the doctors.

"Save her! Do whatever it takes!"

"Serena, you'll be fine. I'm still waiting for the day I can take off your wedding dress!"

The two of them kissed passionately, like a scene from a tragic movie. They acted like it was their last moment on earth.

As I watched this melodrama play out in front of me, my stomach churned.

Everyone knew that Caleb was the most important person in my life.

For him, I―a wealthy heiress who had never lifted a finger―learned how to cook and gave him everything he asked for.

I even knelt outside my grandfather's house for three days and nights until he broke my spirit, just so I could marry Caleb.

I thought I had given him my heart and soul. I never expected this to be my reward.

"Elena, are you blind? Don't just stand there like a statue!"

Caleb's voice snapped me back to reality. He looked at me with pure impatience.

"Call your family's medical team right now. If something happens to her, you won't be able to pay the price!"

When I didn't move, his face darkened. This was the first time I had ever ignored him in front of others.

"The wedding is tomorrow! Do you really have to pick a fight now?"

"Oh, so you remember you're getting married tomorrow?"

I stared at the red marks on his neck and sneered.

"When you were rolling around in bed with Serena, did you think about the wedding then?"

"I did it to save a life!"

I laughed coldly.

"Right. To save a life."

"There was an antidote available, but you chose to 'sacrifice' your body instead. How noble of you!"

His face turned various shades of red and white. Before he could speak, the wedding planning crew and the groomsmen arrived.

Caleb's friends entered first. They froze when they saw the state of the room.

The lead groomsman quickly grabbed a jacket and threw it to Caleb. He looked at me with disapproval.

"Elena, I know tomorrow is the big day. But shouldn't you show some restraint?"

"You guys went so hard that a suit can barely hide those marks…"

"This has nothing to do with her!"

Caleb pulled on the jacket and glared at me.

"Serena was poisoned last night. I was just helping her, but some people are just petty."