Chapter 1

On our seventh anniversary, Hayden Sterling finally proposed to me.

I was so happy that I said yes immediately.

But a month before the wedding, I caught him coming home completely wasted.

He held me and kissed me deeply, but the name he kept whispering wasn't mine.

I looked down at the rare diamond ring on my finger and slowly took it off.

I packed his things quietly and tossed the wedding invitations I hadn't sent yet into the trash.

Then, I booked a one-way ticket to London.

Seven years of devotion turned out to be nothing more than a hollow dream.

1

"Mom, I booked a flight to London for two weeks from now. Can you pick me up?"

My mother sounded thrilled to hear that I was finally coming.

"Of course, honey! I'm so happy you're moving here. I'll be at the airport waiting for you. But... I heard you were getting married next month?"

"No," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "We broke up."

I chatted with her for a few more minutes about mundane things before hanging up.

The moment the call ended, my composure shattered.

My body began to shake uncontrollably, but I finally felt certain about my decision.

I stood there in silence, looking at Hayden on the couch.

His hair was messy, and he looked softer and less aggressive than usual.

He looked like a sweet, gentle man, but that gentleness wasn't meant for me.

This was the man I had stayed with for seven years, and he had just called out another woman's name while holding me.

"Elena... Elena, please come back. I miss you so much."

Every time he whispered her name, it felt like a serrated blade twisting in my chest.

Suddenly, his phone started buzzing with nonstop notifications.

I reached out to silence it, but as the screen lit up, a woman's face stared back at me.

It was a different phone―one I had never seen before.

Driven by a ghost of curiosity, I unlocked it.

The gallery was filled with photos of that woman, Elena Shaw.

Every album was meticulously organized with captions.

【Our first road trip together】

【Her and her little Corgi】

【She said she loves the chocolate mousse I bought her】

【She looks so cute when she's crying from spicy food】

My blood turned to ice in an instant.

Hayden was always a private man who claimed his life was only about work.

I used to beg him to post a single photo of us on his social media.

I wanted him to show the world he chose me, just to feel a little bit of security.

But he always refused, saying he didn't like the attention.

We were together for seven years―the best years of my life―and yet there wasn't a single trace of me in his world.

I used to think he was just cold and didn't know how to express himself.

Now I realized he knew exactly how to be romantic.

He just didn't love me.

I thought I could melt his icy heart if I stayed long enough.

Looking back, I was nothing but a pathetic fool.

Two months ago, a friend jokingly asked when we were getting married, and Hayden said it was in the works.

I had been so ecstatic that I didn't notice the shadows in his eyes.

His friend teased him, saying, "Wow, Hayden. I guess you've finally moved on from Elena Shaw and started a new chapter."

I thought I had finally won, ignoring the darkness that crossed his face.

I had hugged his arm tightly, thinking I had the whole world.

"I'm finally marrying the love of my life!" I told myself.

I was so blinded by happiness that I forgot there was no real proposal, no public announcement, and his expression was always cold.

My focus shifted back to Hayden on the couch, and I noticed something else.

His tie... it was different.

I had personally put a tie on him this morning―an anniversary gift I designed myself.

This one was the same color but a completely different brand.

There was no way I could mistake my own custom design.

I let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh.

When you care about someone, you notice even the smallest changes.

But when you don't care, you can ignore a person's entire soul even if they give it to you on a silver platter.

My heart throbbed with a sharp pain as I looked around our home.

I pulled out my phone and forwarded my flight details to my mother.