Chapter 1

My girlfriend's first love once saved her life, and in return, she promised to do three things for him.

The first was when I proposed to her. He called her away and took her on the Ferris wheel, leaving me waiting.

The second time was when I was in the hospital, sick and alone. He convinced her to go with him to see the northern lights.

For eight long years, I silently watched, bearing it all.

Then, at our wedding, she made a shocking confession that she hadn't married the man she loved the most.

With a gentle tone, she tried to soothe me, "Zack, after this, I'll have nothing to do with Julian anymore. Can you forgive me just one last time?"

But this time, I couldn't take it anymore.

If she hadn't married the right person, then I wouldn't force myself to be that person.

As the priest stood at the altar, asking if I would take her as my wife, a knot tightened in my chest. My gaze instinctively moved to Victoria Hale's first love, sitting quietly in the audience.

Julian Pierce's confident smile was like a weight on my heart, and it made everything feel colder.

When Victoria finally said "I do," I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

But just as I thought it was over, she spoke again, her voice cutting through the tension, "I have a song I'd like to sing for my groom."

The song was for me, but her eyes never left Julian's in the crowd, and I could feel the bitterness rising in my throat.

The priest handed over the stage, and Victoria began to sing. But as the music filled the air, I felt the room grow colder, like I was drowning in ice.

I recognized the song right away. It was one Julian had written himself and it was called "Not Marrying the One I Love."

For eight long minutes, Victoria sang. Eight minutes that felt like an eternity, as I thought back on the eight years I'd spent loving her.

From the moment I'd first fallen for her in college, to the years that followed, through graduation, my career, and everything in between. She'd always been tangled up with Julian, and I had quietly accepted it. Even when she married me for the sake of her family's business, I endured it all.

But now, as I watched my parents, their faces twisted with anger, and saw the way Victoria and Julian looked at each other, something inside me snapped. I couldn't keep pretending it didn't hurt.

Victoria must've noticed the change in me, because she put the microphone down and slowly walked toward me.

"Zack, I'm sorry. Julian said this is the last time. After today, I won't have anything to do with him anymore."

Her words were like empty promises. As if I should believe that everything would magically be fine between them just because she said so.

I knew what was really going on. Julian knew he could never marry Victoria, so this was his way of humiliating me. At least this wedding would be the nightmare I'd carry with me for years.

Looking at the woman in front of me, pretending to be so sincere, I suddenly felt sick to my stomach.

I took a step back, distancing myself from her, and tossed my wedding ring onto the floor. "If you didn't marry the one you love, then go marry him. He's right there."

My voice rang out, cutting through the room. The murmurs of the crowd swirled around us, and for a moment, Victoria's face flickered with embarrassment.

"Zack, stop this. Today's supposed to be our wedding."

"Yeah? Well, it's not happening. You're free now. Go be with the person you really want," I shot back.

Then, I turned to face Julian, who was watching from the crowd.

"Julian, congratulations. You won. I don't want her anymore. I hope you two have a lifetime of happiness."

I wasn't holding back anymore.

Julian was a well-known music producer in our circle, someone who had used his connections to force his way into our lives. Now, I was going to make sure they both felt the consequences of their actions.

I dropped the microphone to the floor, shrugged off my suit jacket, and walked away, pulling my parents along with me.

On the drive home, my parents didn't say a word. They didn't scold me, not even once.

My mom just pulled me close, holding me in silence, offering what little comfort she could.

Loving Victoria in silence for eight years had been a pain I could never fully explain.

We were from the same world, same university, same circle. If it weren't for her family's business crisis, Victoria would never have agreed to this marriage. I knew that.

I'll admit, I was desperate. But after two years of being with her, I honestly thought I'd won her over.

Even though she'd always put Julian first, I stood by, hoping she would one day choose me.

My family had never wanted to get involved with the Hale family. After all, they were the ones trying to climb the social ladder by marrying into ours. But because I insisted, my parents had reluctantly gone along with it.

If I had forgiven her today, it wouldn't just be my pride that would be shattered. It would be my family's as well.