At our engagement party, Declan Kane learned that his childhood sweetheart was being forced to marry his blind, bitter rival. He didn't hesitate. He ditched me, rushed off to get a marriage license with her, and by that afternoon, they were on a flight to Iceland for their honeymoon. Their epic, "childhood sweethearts" love story went viral. And I became the villain. The shameful other woman who’d tried to stand in their way, so viciously attacked online that I couldn't even leave my own home. But then, his blind rival showed up at my door. "I'm a man who believes in an eye for an eye," he said, his voice a low rumble. "Declan Kane stole my fiancée. So, I'm going to poach what's his." He tilted his head in my direction. "It's only fair trade, Ms. Sutton. Are you interested in getting a license of your own?" I glanced at my phone, at the trending photo of Declan and his new bride sharing a romantic kiss under the Northern Lights. Without a second thought, I grabbed my documents and handed them to the man before me. 1 Even with the marriage certificate in my hand, I couldn’t quite believe I had just gotten married on a whim. And my new husband wasn't Declan, my boyfriend of eight years. It was Kian Croft, a man I’d only met a handful of times, always as an adversary. "Once it's signed, there's no turning back," he said. "So, when are you moving in?" The meaning behind his words finally hit me, and a hot blush crept up my neck. Thank God he couldn't see it. "Maybe in a couple of weeks. I have some things to pack up." Kian nodded. "Alright. Two weeks is enough time to plan our wedding." He pressed a black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you like." The tips of his ears, bright red, betrayed his quiet excitement. A small smile touched my lips. This was a good start. After a ten-day honeymoon, Declan finally remembered to call me. "My flight lands at 3 PM. Come get me." His tone was casual, as if nothing had happened. For the past ten days, the internet had been buzzing with real-time updates of his romantic getaway with Jessica Grant. Every sweet moment was documented and shared. I’d seen them cuddling in the Blue Lagoon, kissing passionately under the aurora, and making promises of eternal love on a black sand beach. It was a list of all the honeymoon spots I’d ever dreamed of visiting. He’d just experienced them with someone else. "I'm busy," I said coolly. "Get a cab." It used to be that a single word from him was enough to make me drop everything and run to his side. "Tch. Buzzkill." Declan went silent for a moment, then hung up with a dismissive grunt. I figured that was it—the unspoken breakup signal between two adults. But when I got home that evening, I found him sitting on my sofa, wearing a bathrobe. He glanced up as I walked in, his expression nonchalant. "You've kept the place clean while I was away." I had spent the past few days throwing out everything that reminded me of him. The couple's portrait we once had hanging in the living room was gone, but he hadn't even noticed. He pointed to a paper bag on the table. "A gift for you. Take a look." I glanced inside. It was a collection of broken seashells, some still caked with mud. Just an hour ago, Jessica had been bragging on social media about the "Star of the Ocean" diamond Declan had given her. Thanks to the exhaustive efforts of internet sleuths, I now knew that all the "thoughtful" gifts I'd received over the years were just someone else's trash. For Valentine's Day, he gave Jessica a limited-edition handbag and me a heart folded from the wrapping paper. For my birthday, he set off a city-wide firework display for her, then took me to a cheap street vendor for skewers. On holidays, he'd claim he was too busy with work to meet my parents, when in reality he was with Jessica and her family. "You're a married man, Mr. Kane. It's not appropriate for you to be here in the middle of the night." A flash of guilt crossed his face. "Ava, I was just trying to help Jessica." "Kian Croft is a cold, ruthless man, and he's blind. I couldn't just stand by and watch her walk into a disaster, could I?" "Marrying her was just a temporary solution. I'll divorce her after a while." He had his excuses all lined up. "I have no interest in being your mistress, Declan. Please leave." The moment he abandoned me at our engagement party, we were over. His face darkened. "Ava, can you stop being so selfish for once?" "Jessica was worried you'd be upset, so she insisted I come back to be with you, and this is how you act?" "If you know what's good for you, I can come see you on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Jessica is my wife, after all. She deserves more of my time." A bitter taste filled my mouth. After eight years together, I was being demoted to a dirty little secret. "Declan, we're breaking up." 2 Declan's face turned to stone, his anger barely contained. "Don't push your luck, Ava." "It's just a piece of paper. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?" "You let me sleep with you for eight years without that piece of paper. Why are you acting so high and mighty now?" "If you hadn't been on your knees in my bed, begging me that you couldn't live without me, do you really think I would have kept you around?" "You're not a kid anymore. Don't you feel pathetic playing these hard-to-get games?" I trembled with rage. He was the one who relentlessly pursued me. He was the one who, drunk and crying, had begged me to ease his pain. Now, after he'd married another woman and made me a public laughingstock, he had the audacity to call me selfish? "It's over, Declan. From now on, we go our separate ways." His anger exploded. He grabbed the bag of broken shells and smashed it on the floor, sending fragments skittering across the tiles. "You think you can just marry someone else, Ava?" he snarled. "Everyone in our circle knows you've been my woman for eight years. Who's going to want you now?" Just then, the bathroom door opened. Jessica emerged, wrapped in a towel, her feet bare. The air left my lungs. He had left our engagement party after a single phone call, and I'd spent the last ten days watching their love story unfold online. Now, standing here, I couldn't tell if what I felt was pain, resentment, or pure, unadulterated fury. This apartment was supposed to be our home, a place we’d bought together, half and half, when we were deeply in love. He'd called it our love nest, a place to fill with happy memories. "Ava," Jessica said, her voice soft and placating. "Please don't blame Declan. He was just trying to help me." "If you have to blame someone, blame me. I'm the one who doesn't belong…" She reached for my hand. I flinched back instinctively. I didn't even touch her, but she let out a cry and crumpled to the floor. Before I could process what had happened, a sharp sting exploded across my cheek. Declan had slapped me so hard I stumbled and fell. A searing pain shot through my hand. A shard from the broken shells had pierced my palm, and blood dripped steadily onto the floor. "Jessica, are you okay?" he asked, his voice full of concern. He shot me a look of pure disgust. "If anything happens to her, I'll make you regret it." He scooped Jessica into his arms and rushed out of the apartment, presumably heading for the hospital. I struggled to my feet and looked around the home I had lived in for eight years. It felt utterly alien. My bed was a mess of wrinkled sheets. A torn black stocking was draped over the side, and used tissues littered the floor. The air was thick with a cloying, nauseating scent. I fled, tears streaming down my face. It was all tainted. The whole apartment felt dirty. My palm was bleeding too much to ignore, so I hailed a cab to the hospital. I deliberately chose one far from my apartment, but as fate would have it, I ran into them anyway. Jessica was holding up a hand that didn't even have a scratch on it, whining about the pain. Declan had her sitting on his lap, patiently asking the doctor for care instructions. He used to be that attentive with me. I remembered a time I'd had a fever in the middle of the night. He’d panicked and run out without even putting on shoes. It was only after the doctor confirmed I was fine that he realized his own foot was bleeding from a piece of broken glass. "Ava, you're the most precious thing in the world to me," he had said. "I can't bear to see you hurt." As I walked in, they were just leaving. "Ava," Jessica said, her voice dripping with false concern. "Declan was just here with me. Were you so worried that you had to follow us?" Declan gave me a disdainful look. "Weren't you the one who was so high and mighty about us going our separate ways? What are you doing here?" "Ava, you can't have it both ways. It's pathetic. If you dare lay a finger on Jessica again, I won't be so lenient." I held up my blood-soaked hand. "I'm here to see a doctor. Excuse me." Declan froze, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. "Ava, is it serious?" He started to follow me, but Jessica let out a sharp cry. "Declan, my hand hurts so much…" He didn't hesitate. He turned, scooped her up, and walked away. The next morning, I woke up to a text from Kian, reminding me to go for a fitting for our custom-made wedding rings. When I came out of the bathroom, Declan was there, unusually, with breakfast. "You must be starving. Come and eat." It was a box of crab cakes and a bowl of butternut squash soup. I was allergic to shellfish, and I hated squash. "It's my day off," he said. "The season's changing. Let's go shopping for some new clothes." It was his classic move: a slap followed by a small piece of candy. When we got to the car, he climbed into the back seat. "You can drive today. I didn't get much sleep last night." 3 I glanced at my bandaged hand and laughed bitterly at my own foolishness. In the rearview mirror, I could see him staring at his phone, a faint smile on his lips. It wasn't until I pulled up in front of a high-end jewelry store that he finally looked up. His expression immediately soured. He got out and blocked my way, his face a mask of annoyance. "Ava, I told you, we'll talk about this later. Why are you pushing me like this?" "Jessica and I only have the license; we're not having a wedding. No one even knows. Once things calm down, we'll get a quiet divorce." He was cut off by a cheerful voice. "Declan, honey, look! Isn't this diamond ring beautiful?" Jessica stood there, wearing a one-carat diamond ring, holding her hand up for him to admire. Declan's scowl vanished, replaced by a warm smile. "Anything you like is beautiful, Jessica." "Our wedding is in five days. Can I buy this for my wedding ring?" My feet stopped moving. I saw Declan look away, a flicker of discomfort on his face. He was a liar, through and through. But it didn't matter. My own wedding was also in five days. It seemed we really were going our separate ways. A salesperson brought over the rings Kian had ordered. They were presented on a velvet tray—a breathtaking, one-of-a-kind pink diamond that glittered under the lights. Jessica’s eyes locked onto the ring on my finger, her expression turning greedy. "Ava, I love that ring. Can I try it on?" The salesperson interjected apologetically. "I'm sorry, miss, but that ring has already been reserved. Perhaps you'd like to see something else." Jessica's eyes instantly filled with tears. "Ava, did you know our wedding was in five days? Are you doing this on purpose, conspiring with the staff to make things difficult for me?" "I love this ring so much. I just want to feel like a bride. Can't you just let me have this one thing?" "No. My wedding is also in five days." Declan's face was a thundercloud. "Ava, what the hell is wrong with you? When did I ever say I was going to marry you?" I frowned. "Don't be so dramatic, Declan. The man I'm marrying isn't you." He let out a cold, harsh laugh. "After I've had you for eight years? Who else would want you?" "Know your place, Ava. Don't delude yourself into thinking you're something special." He lunged forward and roughly yanked the ring from my hand, scraping the skin from my knuckle. He then tried to slide it onto Jessica's finger, but it was too small. "We'll take this one," he said to the salesperson. "Can you resize it? How much is it?" The salesperson quietly quoted the price. Both Declan and Jessica blanched. "Ava," Jessica sniffled, "even if you don't want Declan and me to get married, you don't have to be so cruel as to trick us into buying something so expensive." Declan shook his head at me, his eyes full of disappointment. "Ava, I never knew you could be so vicious." So, they try to steal my ring, can't afford it, and now it's my fault? They stormed out. A moment later, my phone rang. It was Kian. "Do you like the ring? Don't forget, you have a fitting for your wedding dress in a bit." "Yes," I said, my voice soft. "I love it." I drove to the bridal boutique Kian had recommended. As I walked in, I saw Jessica stroking an off-the-shoulder gown. "Excuse me, miss," a consultant said politely, "but this gown has been reserved." "I want this one," Jessica insisted. "Call the person who reserved it. I'm willing to pay ten percent more." When the consultant saw me, her face lit up. "Ah, the lady herself has arrived. Perhaps you'd like to discuss it with her directly?" Jessica's eyes flashed with anger and resentment when she saw me. "Ava, why do you keep following me, trying to ruin everything? First the ring, now my dress…" Declan, standing beside her, scowled. "Ava, you say you're done with me, but then you show up with a ring and a dress, trying to force my hand. You're unbelievable. So two-faced." "Even if you crash my wedding, I won't give you a second look. Give the dress and the ring to Jessica!" I let out a small laugh. "Who said I was marrying you? You're not the only man in the world." "What, you can't afford a ring and a dress, so you want me to just hand them over?" Declan's face turned a mottled shade of red and white. Jessica covered her face and ran out. "Declan, if you've already bought her a ring and a dress, then I'm the one who's not wanted. I'll just go…" "Ava!" Declan roared, his face contorted with rage. He grabbed a pair of scissors from a nearby table and charged at the dress. "You want to force me into marriage? You want to make Jessica cry?" "You want a wedding? Let's see what you wear now!" This dress was a custom creation. Kian had commissioned a top designer from Milan to work overtime to finish it. I tried to stop him, but he shoved me to the ground. The sharp point of the scissors grazed my other hand, drawing blood. He was like a man possessed, shredding the beautiful gown into a pile of ruined silk. Still not satisfied, he stomped on the remains. "You want to marry me, Ava? In your dreams!" "If you dare show up and ruin my wedding in five days, you'll end up just like this dress!" With that, he stormed out, chasing after Jessica without a second glance at me. The consultant stood by, her face pale, frantically making a phone call. In my daze, my phone rang again. It was Kian. "Are you hurt? Don't worry about the dress. I'll have my legal team handle it." "I'm so sorry…" 4 I was overwhelmed with shame and misery. "Ava, it's just a dress. It's okay." "I'm out of the country right now, but I've sent you a little something. I hope it cheers you up." I had just gotten home when a butler in a sharp suit knocked on my door. He solemnly presented me with a box. Inside was a complete set of emerald jewelry. "This is a Croft family heirloom," the butler explained. "It's passed down to the matriarch of each generation. Please accept it, Ms. Sutton." I took the box with trembling hands, a warmth spreading through my chest. Kian was truly treating me with the respect due to a wife. For the first time, I felt a flicker of hope for our future together. A colleague called about a work handover, needing to discuss some details in person. When I returned home, the emerald heirloom was gone. I searched the entire apartment, but there was no sign of it. The doors and windows were locked, with no signs of a break-in. Just as I was about to call the police, I saw a new post from Jessica. "I couldn't find the perfect wedding ring, but then he surprised me with this traditional set of jewelry. I guess this is what it feels like to marry for love." The photo showed Jessica wearing a pair of emerald earrings, a matching necklace, and a jade bracelet. It was the Croft family heirloom Kian had given me. I checked my security camera footage. After I had left, Declan and Jessica had come over. "Declan, honey, is this a surprise for me? It's beautiful!" Jessica had exclaimed, her eyes immediately drawn to the emerald set I'd left on my bedside table. Declan had hesitated for a moment before stammering, "Uh… yeah. I'm glad you like it." My mind was in turmoil. Without a second thought, I rushed to the Kane family home. When I arrived, Jessica was showing off the jewelry to Declan's relatives. "This is a family heirloom Declan gave me. He said it proves he sees me as the future Mrs. Kane." "Look at the quality of that jade! It must be worth a fortune. Declan treats you so well!" My blood boiled. I stormed over to them. "Thief! Who gave you permission to steal my emeralds? Give them back!" Jessica just laughed mockingly. "Ava, have you no shame? This is a Kane family heirloom. When did it become yours?" "First you try to steal my ring and my dress, and now you're after the Kane family heirloom? You're pathetic." I turned to Declan, who was standing beside her, looking guilty. "Are you sure this is a Kane family heirloom? Should I call the police and have them verify it?" Humiliated, Declan's face flushed with anger. "That's enough! So what if it's not a Kane heirloom? You ruined Jessica's ring and dress. You should be offering her a gift as an apology!" "When she's tired of wearing it, maybe I'll let you borrow it for a few days!" I was shaking with rage. I had never encountered such shameless, despicable people. I wasn't going to waste another breath on them. I pulled out my phone to call the police. Jessica's eyes darted back and forth. Suddenly, she tore the jewelry off. "Ava, please, stop making things so difficult for us. If you want it, just take it…" "Just let us go. Declan doesn't love you. Stop harassing him." She looked like a martyr, as if I were the shameless one, desperately clinging to her man. She held the jewelry out to me, and then, her fingers loosened. The entire emerald set crashed to the floor, shattering into a dozen pieces. My head spun. It felt like the blood in my veins had frozen solid. Jessica smiled. "Oh, dear, Ava. You didn't catch it. What a shame. Such beautiful emeralds…" Declan looked down at me with contempt. "Stop embarrassing yourself, Ava. Take your broken junk and get out of my house!" I stared at the shattered pieces on the floor, my heart aching. "Declan Kane," I said, my voice shaking, "I will never forgive you for this." He sneered. "So what? In a couple of days, you'll be on your knees, begging me to take you back." "I'm warning you, don't you dare cause trouble at my wedding." "If you behave, maybe I'll be in a good mood and come visit you every now and then." "Don't bother. It's best if you never see me again." Without another word, I turned and left. The first thing I did was list the apartment for sale. I was consumed with guilt over the broken heirloom. Kian was endlessly patient on the phone. "It's just a material thing, Ava. I gave it to you, so it was yours to do with as you please." "Are you ready? I don't want my bride to have red, puffy eyes at our wedding." The wedding day arrived in a blur. I was surprisingly nervous. I had just finished my makeup and went to the restroom. And there, of all people, was Declan, dressed in a tuxedo. "You've got some nerve, Ava," he snarled. "I told you not to come here and cause a scene. Are you deaf?" "It seems I have to teach you a lesson before you'll take me seriously. Men, take her away and lock her up!" I struggled against the guards who grabbed my arms. "Declan, let me go! I'm not here to ruin your wedding!" He laughed coldly. "Don't lie to me, Ava. If you're not here to crash the wedding, why are you dressed like that?" "Let go of me! I told you, my wedding has nothing to do with you. The man I'm marrying isn't you!" He gripped my chin, his eyes full of scorn. "Besides me, who would ever want you?" "There's a limit to how much drama one person can cause, Ava. You're starting to get annoying." Just as he ordered them to drag me away, a deep voice cut through the air from behind us. "Mr. Kane. Where, exactly, do you think you're taking my bride?"
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