Chapter 1

On the day we were supposed to get our marriage license, Julian Vance left me standing alone outside City Hall.

On my way back, I passed the back door of a quiet diner on the street corner and saw him. He was peeling shrimp for Serena Ross.

Serena wore a simple white dress, her eyelashes still damp with tears.

A few mutual friends sat around them, joking half-heartedly:

"Julian, aren't you supposed to be at City Hall with Evelyn right now? Leaving her hanging like that—aren't you worried she'll actually walk away?"

"Today’s her grandma’s seventy-ninth birthday. Word is the old lady threw a whole feast, just waiting for you two to sign the papers and come home for dinner."

Julian let out a casual laugh.

"What could she possibly be mad about? Evelyn is the most sensible woman I know."

"It's just an old lady's dinner. We can make it up to her tomorrow."

Serena pushed the peeled shrimp back into his bowl, her voice soft and fragile.

"Julian, maybe you should go to her. I can handle things on my own."

Julian looked at her with gentle warmth.

"You just finalized your divorce, and your ex is still stalking you. I'm not leaving you alone."

One of the guys clicked his tongue.

"Then what about Evelyn? She’s been with you for seven years. When your mom was sick in the hospital, she ran herself ragged taking care of her."

Julian curled his lips into an indifferent smirk.

"She wanted to do it."

"Besides, if a woman really wants to marry you, what’s waiting a few hours?"

I stood frozen in the shadows of the alley, the thorny stems of the gardenia bouquet pricking deep into my palm.

Yet in that moment, I couldn't feel any pain at all.

Serena was the first to spot me.

There wasn't a trace of panic on her face. She even calmly dabbed her lips with a napkin before setting it down.

"Evelyn, you're here."

When Julian turned around, the smile on his face hadn't even faded.

He stood up, his brow furrowing instantly.

"How did you find this place?"

I stared straight at him.

"Where is my phone?"

His gaze shifted guiltily for a fraction of a second.

"Let’s eat first. I'll drive you back after."

I repeated myself, my voice flat:

"My phone and my ID. Give them back to me."

The table fell dead silent.

Serena looked up at me. Her tone was gentle, yet every single word cut like glass.

"I called Julian here."

"I finalized my divorce today, and I didn't want to be alone."

"Evelyn, I'm not playing the victim, and I'm not claiming to be innocent. I needed him, so I called him."

Her blunt honesty was like a blade.

Julian stepped in front of her, lowering his voice:

"Evelyn, don't make a scene today."

A hollow laugh escaped my throat.

"Today was supposed to be our wedding day."

"You were the one who said my purse was too heavy this morning, taking my ID and my phone and stuffing them into your backpack."

"You were the one who promised we’d head back to the old neighborhood right after City Hall to celebrate Grandma’s birthday."

A flash of irritation crossed Julian’s face.

"It’s just a piece of paper. It’s not like today was our only chance in life to get it."

I stared at him, numb.

He didn't use to be like this.

Back in college, when the water pipes burst in our rental, he carried two heavy buckets up six flights of stairs, drenched in sweat, smiling at me:

"Evelyn, as long as I’m around, don't you ever worry."

My grandma had bad knees. Every time he came over to the old house, he would squat down by the porch first, hammering down any loose boards so she wouldn't trip.

I thought a man who cared about the smallest details was a man who truly held you in his heart.

But ever since Serena came back, everything changed.

Serena got a stomach ache in the middle of the night, and he abandoned me while I was shivering with a burning fever.

Serena’s ex cornered her, and he walked out halfway through my grandma’s birthday dinner.

A single text from her saying "I can't sleep" was enough for him to leave me waiting in the pouring rain until dawn.

I used to make countless excuses for him.

Unresolved history, long-time friendship, her vulnerable state after a messy divorce.

Until today, when the truth finally slapped me in the face.

It wasn't that Serena needed him so desperately.

It was that he relished being needed by her.

I reached out to grab his backpack off the chair.

Julian grabbed my wrist in an iron grip.

"Evelyn, can you stop embarrassing yourself?"

I locked eyes with him.

"I'm taking my own things. What's embarrassing about that?"

Serena suddenly stood up.

"Julian, let her have them."

She walked over, her fingertips brushing against my bag strap. She gave it a light tug without letting go.

"Though Evelyn, taking your ID now won't do you any good."

"City Hall is closed for the day."