Chapter 1

Julian’s best friend texted me that Julian was planning to propose to me tonight.

He even told me in secret to dress up and make myself look stunning.

When I showed up in my finest dress at the venue, full of hope, all I found was Julian and his buddies laughing and pointing at me.

"See? I told you she’s desperate! One text and she comes running. You guys didn't believe me!"

"A bet's a bet! Since she showed up, three shots of hard liquor each!"

Julian smirked proudly, tossing back his glass in front of his friends.

"Fiona, I didn't think you’d be this gullible. One little text and you come running like a puppy."

The whole room erupted into roaring laughter.

"Hey Julian, when are you going to marry this loyal little maid of yours?"

Julian shot me a contemptuous look. "Not anytime soon. I haven't had my fun yet."

Much later, when he came over for a family holiday gathering and saw the newlywed husband standing beside me, he froze dead in his tracks.

Tears blurred my vision as I watched Julian cheerfully pour drinks for his so-called brothers. My heart felt like it had been sliced open by a dull blade.

It was torn raw, throbbing with excruciating pain.

Only today did I realize that Julian had never intended to marry me.

To him, I was just a toy to pass the time when he was bored.

Suddenly, one of the guys downed a shot of tequila, wincing at the burn. "Fiona, why are you always so spineless? You’re making all of us suffer through these shots with you!"

"Seriously. Know your place! Did you really think Julian would propose to someone like you? Keep dreaming."

"We thought messing with you a few times would teach you a lesson, but you're still living in a fantasy world."

I wiped the tears from my cheeks, keeping my eyes down, my fingernails digging into my palms.

"Why are you just standing there like a corpse? Come over here and pour our drinks!"

I didn't move. Julian walked up to me, shoving my shoulder. "All my boys are here. Give me some face."

"If you don't behave, you won't like the consequences."

His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly to everyone in the room.

"Come on, Julian, cut your girl some slack! She loves you so much after all! Hahaha..."

The sarcasm dripped from the guy’s voice. Julian kicked him lightly in the shin. "Shut your mouth. She’s not my girl."

In the past, I would have broken down in tears, begging Julian not to treat me like this.

But now, with bloodshot eyes, I walked to the table, picked up an empty shot glass, filled it to the brim, and downed it in one go.

"Since you guys love drinking so much, I'll make sure you drink your fill at my wedding reception."

Julian frowned, then let out a scoff. "Fiona, what kind of nonsense are you spewing? When did I ever say I was marrying you?"

"Don't tell me you actually thought tonight was a real proposal?"

"I already said, it was just a prank. A little fun between the boys."

He snatched the glass from my hand and slammed it onto the floor, shattering it into pieces. "After all these years, have you still not learned your place?"

Even though Julian had said cruel things like this countless times, hearing it again still made my chest tighten until I could barely breathe.

Actually, I had known about his little prank all along.

Three days ago, my mother called, urging me to honor an arranged marriage set up by our grandfathers years ago. I had fought with her fiercely on the phone.

I told her nobody cared about ancient family promises anymore, and that I refused to marry a complete stranger I had never even met.

No matter how much she praised the man, I wouldn't listen.

The call ended terribly.

That night, I walked aimlessly in the freezing wind for hours.

It wasn't until I saw Julian that I snapped back to reality.

He had been hanging out with his friends then, too. "Julian, your old man is dying for a grandson. When are you finally going to settle down with that dirty, desperate woman?"

I knew the "dirty woman" they were talking about was me.

He always did this—letting anyone walk all over me, never defending me, never caring about my feelings.

Julian had frowned. "When did I ever say I was going to marry her?"

"She's just someone to fool around with when I'm bored. Why take it so seriously?"

"You think that way, but Fiona doesn't. Anyone can see she's crazy about you."

"Just because she likes me means I have to lower myself to marry her?"

Hearing those words that night had rooted me to the spot. It felt as if my whole world had been shattered into dust.

In Julian's eyes, marrying me was "lowering himself."

The love I had held onto for five years was nothing more than a pathetic joke.

"What about Rachel, then?" one of his friends asked.

Julian’s face instantly darkened, and he snapped, "Fiona doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Rachel."

Rachel was his childhood sweetheart.

The pure, untouchable girl of his dreams.

In Julian’s heart, no one could ever compare to Rachel.

In that very moment, I finally understood. Love isn't something where loyalty and sacrifice earn you equal devotion in return.

Sometimes, you don't even get basic human respect.

He knew how deeply I loved him, yet he used my love as a weapon to hurt me without mercy.

When I got home that night, I called my mother right back.

"Mom, I agree to the marriage. Set up a date for us to meet."

Five years of devotion. It was time to put an end to it.