Chapter 1

My grandfather was dying in hospice, and his final wish was to see me marry my fiancée.

Yet on the day of our wedding, she ditched me for another man. I stood at the altar alone, turned into a laughingstock in front of hundreds of guests.

Grandpa took the news so hard that he passed away that very night, consumed by grief and fury.

On the day of Grandpa's funeral, my missing fiancée finally called.

Her voice was cold and casual. "Bring a box of condoms to the hotel downtown."

The blood in my veins turned to ice, and rage erupted in my chest. "Lorena! How can you be so shameless!"

The line went silent for a second before a familiar male voice cut in. It was her stepbrother, Bryce.

"David, relax. Lorena just lost a game of truth or dare. It was a joke. Is there any need to throw a tantrum?"

In the past, I would have swallowed my pride and apologized just to appease her. But this time, I was done compromising.

I packed my bags, left a single breakup text, and walked away from this city.

Later, she searched the world for me like a madwoman.

She wept bitter tears, begging for forgiveness and crying that she was wrong.

1

Inside the memorial hall, I knelt before Grandpa's urn. My eyes were swollen, and my gaze was completely hollow.

The quiet hall suddenly grew noisy as a crowd entered.

I stood up and looked over, only to see the last person I ever wanted to lay eyes on: Lorena Vance.

She was the high-powered CEO of Vance Enterprises, surrounded by fawning sycophants wherever she went.

"Lorena, if our puppy knew so many people came to say goodbye, it would be so happy," Bryce said beside her.

Bryce held a small urn in his hands, his eyes slightly red.

Lorena comforted him in a gentle tone. "It will. I made sure its funeral is lavish so it can rest in peace."

For Bryce's dead dog, she invited half the elite in the city. Yet on the night my grandfather died, she called to humiliate me.

I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat and turned away, but Bryce spotted me.

"Lorena, look… isn't that your fiancé?"

Lorena turned around and locked eyes with me.

She frowned deeply. "I've only been gone for three days, and you're already stalking me here?"

I had nothing to say to her. I picked up Grandpa's urn and prepared to leave.

Bryce, however, had no intention of letting me go.

He grabbed my arm tightly. "Lorena is talking to you. Didn't you hear her?"

"I bumped my head on your wedding day, and Lorena only stayed because she was worried about me. She'll make it up to you later. And as for the call the other night, it was just a harmless prank. You're not still holding a grudge, are you?"

It was utterly repulsive.

Only someone as vile as Bryce could say something so sickening with a straight face.

I knocked his hand away with a cold stare. "Get lost!"

Lorena instantly stepped in front of Bryce, grabbing my jacket. "David, what the hell is your problem!"

She shielded Bryce as if I were the villain bullying him.

In the past, I would have fought to defend myself. Now, looking at this disgusting pair only made me sick to my stomach.

"Whatever you think my problem is, that's what it is!"

I turned to walk away.

Lorena froze for a moment.

She clearly did not expect me to walk away quietly instead of arguing and pleading.

Within seconds, she caught up and blocked my path. "What more do you want? So what if I missed the wedding? Is that worth giving me this attitude? I already said I'd compensate you. Don't push your luck!"

I stared at her furious face and tried to speak.

A wave of exhaustion washed over me, leaving me unable to form a word.

Even if I told her, what difference would it make?

In her eyes, I was never a partner. I was merely a walking kidney donor for Bryce.

I refused to waste another second on them and shoved past her.

Lorena was used to having absolute control. As the head of a corporate empire, everyone bowed to her every whim.

She could not accept that her once-submissive fiancé had suddenly changed.

She gripped my arm tightly, refusing to let me take another step.

"What kind of tantrum is this now? I already explained everything. Stop making a scene!"

I wrenched my arm from her grip.

"If I stabbed you and then told you it was an accident, would you forgive me? Don't make me laugh, Ms. Vance. We are done!"

Lorena's face turned icy. "David, if you keep this attitude up, I will pull the medical team from your grandfather's hospice tomorrow!"

"Go ahead. He passed away," I said flatly, glancing down at the box in my hands.

Lorena finally noticed the container I was holding.

A flicker of panic crossed her face, followed by sharp irritation. "Using a cheap box to fake a death just for my attention? There is no lie you won't tell!"

I had little money left, so I could only afford the most basic urn.

Still, that gave her no right to insult my grandfather's memory.

My heart felt as though it had been sliced open by a thousand blades.

Grandpa's death taught me that Lorena's heart was made of stone.

She had ground away every last shred of my love for her. I had no desire to stay entangled in her toxic games.

I looked straight into her eyes. "Let's break up."

Without waiting for a response, I walked around her.