Chapter 1

On the eve of our wedding, I found a digital folder on my fiancé's laptop.

It was filled with intimate letters he had written to his first love, the woman who was always the one that got away.

I was about to confront him when my phone rang. It was him.

"Wren, I'm at a college reunion tonight, so I'll be home late," Shane said smoothly.

A second later, a notification popped up on my feed. His first love had just posted a new photo.

"A candlelight dinner just for the two of us," the caption read.

The picture showed her straddling Shane's lap, the two of them locked in a passionate, breathless kiss.

I didn't cry. Instead, I smiled and called the wedding planner to change the bride's name to hers.

By the time Shane realized I was gone on our wedding day, I was already across the ocean, starting a new life.

1.

I sat there and read every single word of the ten-thousand-word love letter Shane Sawyer had written to Jade Rose.

His words were filled with a raw, unreserved devotion that he had never once shown me.

I always knew Shane was a gifted writer, but I didn't know he could be this poetic. It was enough to make my chest ache with a sharp, stabbing pain.

Every memory he cherished in those letters was something I had never experienced with him.

When we first started dating, I saved up to buy tickets for a ride on the Giant Wheel, hoping for a romantic kiss at the top.

But when he realized where we were, he didn't just tear up the tickets in a rage. He slapped me across the face and called me childish.

I was heartbroken back then, but I actually spent months reflecting on whether I was being too immature for him.

Now, I finally understood. It wasn't about maturity.

The Giant Wheel was a place that belonged only to his memories of her. I was never worthy of stepping into that circle.

Jade's social media was still updating.

From the gourmet dishes they were sharing to the expensive gifts Shane had carefully picked out, every post screamed favoritism.

In the comments, our mutual friends were showering them with blessings for a long and happy life together.

Even Shane's best friends, who usually looked down on me, were celebrating that he had finally escaped his misery to be with his true soulmate.

I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.

Jade was his soulmate?

Then what was I? Some kind of intruder who had stolen her place for three years?

Maybe I was. Shane was willing to spend hours preparing a romantic dinner for her, yet he told me he had skipped dinner for months to stay in shape.

My grip tightened on my phone as a cold realization settled in my heart.

When I saw Shane reply to a comment with a simple "Thank you," I knew it was time for me to go.

Our wedding was only two weeks away.

The venue was booked, and the catering was finalized.

It seemed like a waste to cancel everything now, so I decided to do them a favor.

The wedding would go on, but the bride would be different.

I called the wedding planner and gave her a new name for the marriage certificate: Jade Rose.

Right after that, I dialed my old college professor.

"Professor Miller, I've decided to take that spot for the grad program in London."

There was a brief pause before he responded with pure joy.

"Wren! You've finally come to your senses! You shouldn't let your talent go to waste over life's messy distractions."

Professor Miller was my mentor and the one who discovered my potential.

He had begged me to apply for top-tier international universities because of my grades.

But I had turned him down every time, wanting to stay and work to support Shane's expensive lifestyle.

A month ago, I had secretly taken the entrance exam just to see if I could get a promotion at work.

I passed with flying colors and got the admission letter along with a raise.

When I shared the news with Shane, he just sneered at me.

"A three-thousand-dollar raise? That won't even cover one of my dinners. You're pathetic," he had said.

His lack of love was always so obvious. I had just spent years lying to myself, pretending he cared.

But at this moment, I was done playing the fool.

After booking my one-way flight, I called Shane to end things once and for all.

Before I could say a word, Jade's voice came through the line.

"Is this Wren? You can just talk to me. Shane's wasted; he's already crashed in my bed."

Her voice was calm and chillingly indifferent.

She talked about my boyfriend staying the night at her place as if she were discussing the weather.

She had all of Shane's love, so of course she felt untouchable.

When I didn't reply, she sent a photo of Shane curled up in her bed.

"Oops, sorry Wren. My finger slipped and took a photo," she texted with fake innocence.

I let out a soft laugh. "No worries. Since he's asleep, I won't disturb your night."