Chapter 1

I had been with Chloe for five years. My love for her was the worst-kept secret in the entire city.

Everyone sneered behind my back, calling me her loyal golden retriever—always on call, discarded the second she was bored.

On the day of our wedding fitting, I stood in front of the mirror wearing a custom $40,000 tuxedo, waiting for her.

Instead of Chloe, I got a text saying she had rushed to take my brother Tristan’s cat to the emergency vet.

"Carter, stop being so dramatic," Chloe’s voice drifted through the receiver, laced with annoyance. "The cat is really sick. You can fit that tuxedo any day, can't you?"

I looked at my reflection in the mirror, forced a smile, and slowly began unbuttoning the jacket. "Then let's not fit it. Let's not get married at all."

She let out a mocking scoff and hung up.

She probably thought I was throwing another tantrum. She was probably expecting me to crawl back and apologize in a couple of days with my tail between my legs.

After all, for five years, I was always the one to bow my head first after every single fight.

But she didn't know that just yesterday, I signed an offer with a top-tier investment firm on Wall Street. A $500,000 starting salary. My flight to New York was next week.

I used to be a fool, treating her like a goddess.

But now, I was wide awake.

This trash wedding? Anyone else could have it. I was done.