Chapter 1

1 My fiancée, Lynnea Sinclair, ended up in the emergency room at midnight with severe food poisoning from wild mushrooms.

In her delirium, she blurted out, "Preston, I am so sorry. If I hadn't been broke back then, I never would have stayed with Heath."

Heath was me.

Preston Crawford was the unattainable first love she never got over.

Eight years ago, when the Sinclair family stood on the brink of bankruptcy, Preston abandoned her and fled overseas without looking back.

I was the one who worked multiple jobs to help pay off her massive debts and stood by her side as she rebuilt her empire.

Yet on Valentine's Day, she ditched me to pick Preston up from the airport.

That night, Preston posted a photo on Instagram showing their intertwined hands.

His caption read: "My princess told me she would wait for me forever."

I liked the post and left a comment.

"Wishing you two a lifetime of misery together, locked in forever with an army of brats."

...

At a private dinner party, Lynnea casually laughed about her mushroom poisoning incident.

All her wealthy friends joined in the laughter.

I could not bring myself to smile.

I sat quietly in the corner, keeping my head down and eating, trying to swallow the sickening knot in my chest.

"Heath, why so quiet?" Chad Hayes asked with a fake smile, dripping with malice.

He was Preston's best friend and Sienna Palmer's boyfriend.

"Don't tell me your little ego is shattered?"

A wave of mocking laughter echoed through the private dining room.

With Chad and Sienna leading the charge, the rest of the clique piled on.

"Honestly, you should count your lucky stars."

"Even if Lynn still loves Preston, she is still marrying you, isn't she?"

Their sharp words flew back and forth like darts.

I had not said a single word, yet they had already put me on trial.

I glanced at Lynnea. She was sipping her tea in silence.

Her gaze was distant, staring into space.

It was as if the humiliating mockery had nothing to do with her.

Seeing her cold detachment, I knew she had no intention of defending me.

"Chad, as far as I know, you weren't Sienna's first choice either," I replied calmly.

"And if Preston is so extraordinary, why did he vanish into thin air the second Lynnea lost everything?"

My words struck a raw nerve.

Chad jumped to his feet, pointing an accusing finger at me. "Don't think tying Lynn down makes you better than Preston! You're not even worthy of tying his shoes!"

"If Preston hadn't left the country, a defective nobody like you would never have stood a chance!"

A glass shattered against the marble floor, cutting through the shouting.

Lynnea, who had looked indifferent a moment ago, was suddenly radiating pure hostility.

Seeing her fury, the entire room fell dead silent.

Before I could react, Lynnea's hand gripped my throat tightly.

"Apologize, Heath. You don't have the right to speak Preston's name."

I looked into her eyes, enunciating every syllable. "No. I didn't say anything wrong."

"Fine. Excellent. I've clearly spoiled you too much."

Lynnea tightened her grip.

The air in my lungs rapidly vanished.

The people around us looked on with amused smiles, treating it like a show.

Just as darkness crept at the edges of my vision, someone finally spoke up. "Lynn, let go. A trash like him isn't worth going to jail for."

Lynnea did not listen. Preston was her sacred ground, untouchable and unquestionable.

The strength in her fingers did not waver in the slightest.

Seeing that words failed, someone stepped forward to pry her fingers off me.

Suddenly, a cheerful custom ringtone broke the silence.

"Your baby is calling! Lynn, pick up the phone!"

It was Preston's voice. Even after eight years apart, she had never changed that ringtone.

Lynnea let go instantly, letting me collapse onto the floor.

She answered the call without hesitation.

When it came to Preston, she never made him wait a single second.

Preston's warm, bright voice poured through the speaker. "Lynn, I'm back in town. Come pick me up."

The suffocating tension in the room vanished, instantly replaced by excitement.

Everyone cheered in anticipation.

Within seconds, the crowd emptied out of the room, leaving only Chad looking down at me with disdain.

My throat burned as I desperately gasped for air on the cold floor.

"You were acting pretty tough a minute ago, weren't you?" Chad sneered, reveling in my misery. "Now that Preston is back, just watch how you lose every piece of stolen happiness."