Chapter 1

My fiancée had a "perfect crush" she had loved for three years.

The day before our wedding, they hooked up and ruined her wedding dress.

When I demanded to call off the wedding, she scoffed.

"I just didn't want my youth to end with regrets. After tomorrow, I'll be yours forever. Can't you just be the bigger man?"

I turned around, prepared a massive "gift" for them, and wished them a lifetime of misery together.

Later, she came crawling back, crying for my forgiveness.

I flashed my wedding ring. "Sorry, babe. I'm married."

I was at the venue confirming the final details for tomorrow’s wedding when I received a video from an unknown number.

I tapped it open. It was Chloe, wearing her wedding dress.

A pair of large hands gripped her waist, turning her usually pale skin a flushed, deep pink.

The voluminous layers of the gown tried to hide the heavy friction, but by the end of the video, the gorgeous, custom-made dress was ruined with messy stains.

A text from the unknown number followed, dripping with malice: [So what if you’re marrying her? I’m the only one she truly loves.]

My vision went black. My chest tightened as if wrapped in barbed wire, squeezing the air right out of my lungs. I couldn’t breathe for what felt like eternity.

Seeing my pale face, the wedding coordinator asked cautiously, "Mr. Vance? Just to confirm, you want her to wear sneakers with the main gown for the reception, correct?"

I snapped back to reality, feeling utterly pathetic.

When we were planning the wedding, Chloe had whined to me, saying that wearing high heels all day would be absolute torture.

To make things easier for her, I had spent a fortune customizing a pair of designer sneakers to match her gown.

Just minutes ago, worried her feet might still ache, I was thinking about adding custom gel insoles to the shoes.

And what was she doing?

Under the guise of having a wild bachelorette party with her girls, she was wearing the custom gown I designed, screwing her long-time crush.

That was a dress I spent months of salary on, tailored specifically for her!

My heart throbbed with a dull, stabbing pain. I gave the coordinator a mindless nod and dragged my numb body back home.

The apartment was decorated with festive lights. Our pre-wedding photoshoot hung on the wall behind the sofa.

The bright red accents looked like fresh blood.

I collapsed onto the sofa, my mind drifting to the man in the video.

I knew him.

His name was Tyler Brooks. He was Chloe’s college senior, the guy she had chased for three years—the untouchable "one that got away."

Chloe's best friend had mentioned him to me before, but I didn't care back then.

It was college. Everyone had a past, right?

Besides, Tyler was already married.

He was supposed to be a closed chapter, someone who would never interfere with our lives again.

I thought I held Chloe’s present and future. I thought we were building a bright, happy life together.

But today, that video shattered my delusions completely.

I wiped my face hard and dialed Chloe's number.

No answer.

I guess she was still "busy."

I called Liam instead. He had gone to the same college as Chloe.

He picked up almost instantly, joking, "Getting married tomorrow and the groom still has time to call me?"

I got straight to the point. "Liam, do me a favor. Dig up everything you can on Chloe and Tyler Brooks. The more details, the better. I need it now."

Sensing the coldness in my voice, Liam’s tone grew serious. "Ethan, did something happen?"

I didn't answer. I just hung up, feeling completely drained.

Two hours later, Liam sent dozens of texts, ending with messages of concern.

I ignored his worried questions and focused on one specific link he sent—a secret Snapchat account Chloe had kept from me.

An account I never knew existed.

She posted on it constantly. Almost every story and post was about Tyler. It was basically a digital diary of her secret affair.

On Tyler’s birthday, she had ordered a high-end mechanical keyboard. Her caption read: [A developer’s keyboard. Every line of code holds my secret love.]

Tyler had replied in the comments: [Love received. Too bad the wife is watching closely, can't come pick it up.]

Chloe replied: [Crying. Need a hug.]

I stared at the picture of that sleek, metallic keyboard. Right now, that exact keyboard was sitting on my study desk.

Chloe had given it to me as a Christmas present.

I wasn't a programmer, but my job required heavy typing. When Chloe gave it to me, I was so touched I nearly cried.

But it turned out I was just getting Tyler’s leftovers.

I stood up, walked to my desk, and peeled off the custom sticker she had placed on the corner of the keyboard. Underneath, a faint "T" was engraved.

T for Tyler.

I kept scrolling through her secret posts, my heart turning completely to ice.

Liam texted: [Is the wedding still on?]

I pinched the bridge of my nose, staring into the dark apartment, lost.