Chapter 1

I spent ten whole years pouring my heart and soul into restoring a historic colonial estate that had been crumbling for decades.

Before I could even celebrate, a massive firework display lit up the sky.

Stray sparks rained down, turning my life's work into a roaring inferno.

I barely escaped the flames with my life.

When I found Cillian Sterling, sobbing and begging him to check the security footage to find out who did this, he wasn't alone.

He was stepping off a private helicopter, his arm wrapped around his childhood sweetheart, Sadie.

They were both laughing, looking happier than I'd ever seen them.

"Sadie, did you like the fireworks? I've been planning this gift for ten years just to see you smile," Cillian said.

I watched the building turn to ash in the distance, my entire body shaking with cold fury.

In that moment, the last bit of love I had for him died.

1.

The steak on the plate smelled delicious, but neither Cillian nor I touched our forks.

I had stopped my usual chatter, and he, as always, had nothing to say to me.

He was glued to his phone, smiling as he replied to messages and snapping photos of the food to send to someone.

I knew exactly who it was.

Aside from Sadie, no one could make a man as cold as Cillian feel such a desperate need to share his life.

Suddenly, he accidentally tapped a voice note, and that familiar, high-pitched voice filled the quiet booth.

"Why aren't you eating? Is it because I'm not there to keep you company? Should I come over right now?"

My throat tightened.

That kind of intimate sharing used to be reserved only for me.

Cillian looked flustered by the audio clip.

He glanced at me, set his phone down, and finally put a piece of meat on my plate.

"Why aren't you eating? This used to be your favorite place," he said.

I looked at the food and felt a wave of bitterness.

He remembered what I liked to eat, yet he couldn't find the patience to actually talk to me anymore.

Even sitting in our old favorite spot, ordering our old favorite meals, we were strangers.

We sat in silence, him hiding behind his screen and me staring into the void.

Simple gestures like this felt like a forced performance.

"I'm not hungry," I said coldly, leaving the food untouched.

Cillian didn't snap. Instead, he patiently poured me water and served me soup, his movements as smooth as silk.

His voice was soft, almost pleading.

"Come on, don't be like this. I had no idea those fireworks would cause so much damage."

"My mom wanted us to have dinner and work on our relationship. Can't we just have one nice meal?"

I clenched my fists under the table and let out a hollow laugh.

"Right. If your mother hadn't ordered you to be here, you'd be with her. You wouldn't have the time of day for me."

He burned down ten years of my hard work just to make Sadie smile, and all I got was a flimsy excuse.

He wasn't here because he felt guilty.

He was here to check a box for his mother so he could leave with a clear conscience.

Cillian's face darkened with instant rage.

He slammed his silverware down on the table, a low growl escaping his throat.

"What more do you want? I'm here, aren't I? I'm apologizing! Are you really going to hold onto this one little thing forever?"

"Is it a little thing? Or is the only 'big thing' making sure Sadie is happy?"

I met his angry eyes with a mocking smile.

I couldn't forget the sight of him stepping off that helicopter while I was covered in soot and tears.

The way he looked at her was a knife to my heart.

That image was burned into my mind forever.

Cillian looked stunned for a second, then rubbed his temples like he was exhausted by me.

"Avery, please. Let's not fight. I truly didn't think it would get that serious."

He reached into his bag and pulled out a beautifully wrapped jewelry box.

"This is for you. A peace offering. Just stop being mad, okay?"

I opened the box and saw a massive diamond ring―a literal rock.

Cillian watched me, waiting for me to be impressed.

But then his eyes dropped to the ring, and his face went pale.

He scrambled to snatch the box back, stuffing it into his bag with trembling hands.

"That's… that's not the one. Hold on, let me find it…"

He pulled out another box.

Compared to the first one, this one looked pathetic.

Inside was a simple gold band with a tiny, microscopic diamond chip.

I let out a sharp laugh, fighting back tears. "Who was the first one for?"

I had seen the first ring for five seconds.

That was long enough to see the engraving on the inside of the band: SZ.

Sadie's initials.

I just wanted to see what kind of lie he'd come up with this time.

Cillian actually looked nervous, his eyes darting around the room.

"A client gave it to me to hold onto. I'm supposed to return it this afternoon."

I sneered. It was such a lazy lie.

Who hands over an expensive engagement ring to a guy like Cillian for safekeeping?

He was too arrogant to do favors for anyone.

His patience with me was officially gone.

"Just take the ring, Avery. Haven't you been begging me to propose for years?"

I had waited four years for this moment.

There were no vows, no confession of love, and no romantic setting.

There was only an impatient man demanding I settle for crumbs.

I looked him dead in the eye and didn't touch the box.

"Cillian, we're done. It's over."

His face turned a sickly shade of gray as he gritted his teeth.

"Are you being serious right now? You're being so childish! We've been together for eight years. You're throwing that away over a misunderstanding?"

He wasn't finished. He grabbed the cheap ring box and threw it into the trash can next to the table.

"Don't even think about it," he hissed.

Then he turned and walked out of the restaurant without looking back.