Chapter 1

Chapter 1

When my pilot boyfriend called off our wedding for the eighteenth time, I was completely drained.

The first time, his female apprentice had menstrual cramps. He left me standing at the venue just to buy her ginger tea and a heating pad.

The second time, she failed her flight simulator check. He walked out, claiming she was too emotionally unstable to be left alone, leaving me as the laughingstock of all our guests.

In our three years together, whenever anything happened to his apprentice, he dropped our wedding without hesitation.

I finally realized that I meant nothing to him.

So, I booked a one-way ticket to Paris, choosing to leave everything behind.

That way, I would never be abandoned again.

***

In the third year of our relationship, I realized Gavin had strayed.

The moment that sweet, innocent voice echoed through his phone, I already knew what was coming.

Our wedding was ruined once again.

Gavin looked at me with that familiar gaze full of guilt, playing out the exact same script.

With reluctant determination, he said those rehearsed words.

"I am sorry, Elena."

"Gia sprained her wrist during flight controls training. I need to go check on her right away."

Looking at the bewildered guests below the stage, I forced a bitter smile.

"The ceremony is about to start. Do you really have to go to her right now?"

The moment the words left my mouth, Gavin frowned with deep irritation.

"A wrist injury can be fatal to a pilot's career. I am her primary mentor, and I am responsible for her safety."

"Besides, we can hold the ceremony any day. Do you really have to throw a tantrum over this right now?"

Looking at Gavin's icy face, my heart trembled.

Gavin was usually a man of few words, but whenever it came to Gia, he suddenly had endless things to say.

At first, I thought he was just being a responsible mentor.

Only later did I realize it was not professional care, but blatant favoritism.

I fought back the tears threatening to spill from my eyes, my voice dropping to a desperate plead.

"This is already the eighteenth time, Gavin. I can't keep waiting. I am begging you, just finish the ceremony before you leave, okay?"

The guests in the hall had already started whispering among themselves. They could not understand why the bride on stage looked so miserable on her big day.

Hearing the chatter from below, Gavin grew increasingly annoyed.

"It is just a wedding! We have planned it so many times already, and waiting one more time will not kill you. But if Gia's hand is ruined, she will never fly again. Can you take responsibility for that?"

He ripped off his boutonniere in anger and tossed it onto the floor. Then, without caring about the stunned officiant, he turned and marched out.

In that exact moment, I finally saw how pathetic I had made myself.

I had believed that my desperate pleading could make Gavin turn back at least once. But reality slapped me in the face over and over: Gavin never cared about my feelings.

Holding back my tears, I stepped up to dismiss the confused guests.

Scattered whispers drifted into my ears.

"Turns out Elena is just a desperate doormat. She acted like landing a pilot was such a big deal."

"Seriously. The guy clearly does not even want to marry her. What an embarrassment."

I let out a bitter laugh. Over the past three years, hearing these words had become my daily routine.

Everyone said I was chasing a man who did not want me, and even my parents were deeply disappointed in me.

Yet I had foolishly believed Gavin truly loved me, refusing to let go of this relationship.

Now I knew better.

They had been right all along.