Chapter 3

Suitcase in hand, I took one final look at the apartment and walked out.

I didn't go straight to Maya's place. Instead, I took a cab to Starry Night Lake on the outskirts of the city.

It was the place where, during the first winter of college, Julian had tucked my freezing hand into his coat pocket and confessed his love.

Reaching into my coat pocket, I pulled out the diamond engagement ring. Without a single ounce of hesitation, I drew my arm back and threw it.

The ring plummeted into the dark water, barely making a splash.

I watched the surface ripple and settle back into a glassy calm. With it, I let the very last trace of grief for my five lost years sink to the bottom, buried forever.

It was finally over.

The phone in my pocket buzzed.

The screen lit up with a new message: [Elara, I'm right behind you.]

I turned around to see a black Maybach idling quietly by the curb.

The car door opened. Stepping out under a black umbrella, Hayes looked at me through the misty rain, his gaze deep and profoundly steady.

Hayes was a senior from my department back in college.

It wasn't until we crossed paths at a gala last week that I learned this man had been secretly in love with me for seven whole years.

When he heard that Julian had treated our five-year engagement like a joke for Chloe's sake, this man, normally known for his ruthless self-control, had a flush of red in his eyes as he enveloped my hand in his.

"Elara, what he takes for granted, I will protect with my life." That night, he had formally proposed. "If he won't give you a wedding, I will. A grand sea of white roses, where you won't have to compromise on a single thing."

I had thought it was just the impulse of the moment, yet within a single week, he had actually rented out the city's most exclusive glass dome and filled it with a dazzling expanse of Juliet white roses just for me.

It had been exactly three days since I left that apartment.

For the past three days, I had been staying at Hayes's luxury penthouse downtown.

Tomorrow was our wedding day.

Around dusk, Maya called me.

Her tone on the other end of the line was dead serious, laced with genuine worry. "Honey, tell me the truth... are you really marrying Hayes tomorrow? Is this some impulsive decision just to spite Julian? Marriage isn't a game. I'm so scared you're going to regret this."

Phone in hand, my gaze drifted to the broad figure busying himself in the kitchen.

Over the three days I'd spent at Hayes's place, I finally learned what it meant to have someone be my safety net.

Hayes knew exactly how much pain I was in when I left Julian, yet he hadn't pried with a single question.

From installing soundproof carpeting outside my bedroom so my light sleep wouldn't be disturbed, to the way he effortlessly gave me space to breathe—he used his quiet, understated devotion to painstakingly piece my long-lost sense of security back together.

He was like the very air I breathed—unobtrusive, yet surrounding me completely, healing me softly in every corner of my life.

"I'm laid-back, but I'm not acting out of spite, Maya," I replied softly but with absolute certainty, pulling my gaze away. "It wasn't until these past few days that I finally realized what it feels like to be truly cherished—to be held like I matter. I don't regret it. I'm ready."

Hanging up, my eyes settled on the wedding gown displayed in the center of the room.

Tomorrow was the day I had once yearned for with such foolish stubbornness.

Even now, Julian was still out there keeping Chloe company, absolutely certain that I would still be waiting for him.

The wedding would go on exactly as planned.

What he didn't know was that there would be a different groom waiting at the altar.