Chapter 1

In the fifth year of my long-distance relationship with Zachary Bolton.

The last time we parted at the airport, he cried and promised me, "Lydia, when the first snow falls in New York this year, let's get married, okay?"

I checked the weather forecast—it was going to snow heavily tomorrow.

So I immediately bought a plane ticket to New York.

I was going to propose to my boyfriend!

In the swirling snowfall, I looked through the bridal shop's display window and saw Zachary in a sharp suit.

Before I could feel happy, a woman threw herself into his arms.

Zachary wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her passionately.

"Melanie, you look so beautiful in that wedding dress! You truly are my fiancée. I love you—far more than I ever loved Lydia Smith."

My heart seized violently.

My boyfriend of ten years had cheated on me with my best friend, Melanie.

Heavy snow fell on my eyelashes like goose feathers.

Having lived elsewhere for years, I'd never seen such a heavy snowfall.

But I had no heart to appreciate it. My eyes stayed fixed through the glass window on Zachary and Melanie.

One was my childhood sweetheart.

The other was my closest confidante.

The sight of them kissing each other so passionately hit me with devastating force.

Melanie gasped for breath, her face flushed, reluctantly pulling away from Zachary's lips.

She coyly lifted the hem of her wedding dress and twirled in front of the mirror.

Zachary's eyes overflowed with love.

"Miss, this wedding dress your fiancé personally designed for you is absolutely stunning—the most beautiful one our shop has ever produced."

"Love really does make people glow! You two have been together for five years, and you're finally about to tie the knot."

Melanie turned to look at Zachary, her eyes sparkling with affection.

"Zachary, I absolutely adore this first snow gift you gave me!"

"They say people who witness the first snow together will stay together until their hair turns white. So for the rest of our lives, please take good care of me!"

I heard every single word but couldn't understand what any of it meant.

When did my boyfriend become my best friend's fiancé?

Why did the staff member say they'd been in a relationship for five years?

My mind went blank, the neon lights blurring before my eyes.

The next second, Zachary's lips curved into a smile as he suddenly dropped to one knee before her.

My gaze followed his movement, landing on the proposal ring inside the red velvet box.

"Ah!"

Melanie cried out, covering her mouth with both hands, tears welling in her eyes.

Zachary held up the ring reverently. "Melanie, I love you. So, so much. Will you marry me?"

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you from this first snow day, until our hair turns white, never to part."

The shop staff crowded around, recording this touching proposal with their phones.

When I saw Zachary solemnly slide the ring onto Melanie's ring finger, my heart felt like it was being stabbed by thousands of needles, torn to bloody shreds.

Scalding tears rolled down one by one into my mouth.

Inside, they seemed to be starring in a romantic, blissful drama.

The surprise I'd traveled thousands of miles to deliver had become a devastating shock.

So Zachary's first snow promise could be meant for another woman.

So Melanie, who'd always been so good to me, could so shamelessly steal my boyfriend behind my back.

My fingers dug fiercely into the wall.

I wanted so badly to burst in and confront them both, to tear away every shred of their dignity.

But my legs felt like lead—I couldn't move forward a single step.

Zachary held Melanie in his arms and asked the staff member lazily, "Do you have any other wedding dress styles?"

"Yes, we can show you pictures and rush-make one for you."

"No need to look. Just pick any two and send them to me."

Two minutes later, I received a message from Zachary.

He sent three wedding dress pictures.

[Baby, work has been exhausting, but looking at these wedding dress pictures and imagining you wearing them recharges my batteries.]

[Take a look and see which one you like. I'll take you to buy it someday.]