Chapter 2

Early autumn in New York brought a chilly breeze.

I pushed open the glass doors of HAPPY Bridal Boutique. The store manager immediately rushed over, her face practically glowing with a welcoming smile.

"Miss Nathaniel! You’re here! The designer made some minor adjustments to the sketches you liked based on your measurements. Please, follow me to the VIP lounge."

I nodded and followed her inside.

Actually, Christopher had no idea I was in New York today.

We had been together for seven years. From college to our careers, it was seven years of flying back and forth between coasts.

While he was grinding in New York, I was back in Los Angeles helping my family run our venture capital firm.

Over these seven years, I watched him go from a broke student who hesitated to buy a Starbucks latte to a VP at a prestigious investment bank.

Of course, none of that would have happened without me pulling strings behind the scenes, securing deals for him, and cleaning up his messes.

But I never told him. His pride was too fragile, almost painfully sensitive.

Last month, he finally got promoted.

He choked up over FaceTime, saying, "Chloe, I finally made it. I finally feel like I’m worthy of standing by your side."

"When I get my year-end bonus, let’s get married, okay?"

At that moment, I cried like a total fool.

So, I secretly booked a flight to New York today, wanting to get my dress secured first. I wanted to give him the ultimate surprise.

While I was sitting on the leather sofa flipping through the catalog, a loud argument broke out in the main lobby.

"Is this how you run a business? I told you, my wedding is early next month! I need to secure this dress today!"

"Can’t I just pay extra?"

A young, high-pitched, and slightly spoiled female voice echoed through the lounge.

The store manager looked embarrassed and gave me an apologetic smile. "Miss Nathaniel, please excuse me for a moment. I’ll go handle this."

I had nothing else to do, so I followed her out.

In the lobby, a young woman wearing a Chanel dress from the latest fall collection was sitting on the sofa, puffing with anger.

She was gorgeous, with a sweet face and baby-soft features.

What caught my eye was her slightly round belly. She looked about four or five months pregnant.

The manager was desperately trying to explain, "Miss Aurora, it’s really not about the money."

"The gown you want is a hand-made haute couture piece by our chief designer. From measuring to the final embroidery, it takes at least three months."

"Next month is simply impossible."

"I don't care!" Aurora touched her belly, her eyes welling with tears. "My baby can't wait!"

"My husband said I must wear the most beautiful gown and have the grandest wedding."

"Are you guys looking down on me?"

Aurora got so worked up that her face suddenly went pale. She swayed, nearly tumbling off the sofa.

"Miss Aurora!" The manager panicked.

Quick on my feet, I lunged forward and caught her.

I reached into my bag, pulled out an imported fruit candy I always kept on me, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth.

"Low blood sugar?" I asked gently, helping her lean back onto the sofa.

Aurora sucked on the candy. After a long minute, the color slowly returned to her face.

She looked at me with teary eyes, like a startled little deer.

"Thank you so much. Everything went black for a second. I thought something was going to happen to my baby."

"You shouldn't get this stressed while pregnant." I handed her a tissue and turned to the manager.

"Betty, didn't the Milan headquarters just send over a ready-to-wear runway piece last month?"

"The measurements should be close to this lady's. With some minor alterations, we can have it ready in two weeks, right?"

The manager blinked, then nodded respectfully. "Yes, Miss Nathaniel. But that was reserved as your backup option..."

"It’s fine. I’m not in a rush. Let her have it," I said with a faint smile.

Hearing this, Aurora’s eyes lit up instantly. She grabbed my hand. "Really? You’re letting me have your dress?"

"Oh my god, you are literally my savior!"

Her name was Aurora, a fairly popular beauty influencer on Instagram.

Because I had done her a huge favor, she insisted on taking me to the Rosewood Hotel next door for high tea to thank me.

Seeing that she was heavily pregnant and alone, I agreed.

Stirring her black tea, the happiness radiating from Aurora’s face was almost suffocating.

"You have no idea. I originally wanted to have the wedding after the baby was born."

"But my husband refused. He said he couldn't let me feel neglected. He insisted that our baby must witness our love from inside my belly."

She rested her chin on her hands, smiling as if she were drowning in honey.

I smiled along. "Your husband must love you very much."

"Of course he does!" Aurora raised her chin proudly.

"Even though he came from some poor rural town and couldn't even afford tuition back then."

"He’s incredibly ambitious. He’s already an investment bank VP! And he is absolutely gorgeous!"

The hand holding my teacup froze.

Born in a poor town. Investment bank VP.

Putting those details together made something click in my mind.

But I brushed it off. New York was huge, after all. There were plenty of investment banks and young, successful men.

Aurora continued to brag endlessly. "And he is so generous to me. He gave me his credit card and lets me spend tens of thousands every month."

"Not long ago, he bought a three-hundred-square-meter luxury penthouse in Manhattan with cash. Even though only his name is on the deed right now, he said he’d add mine once we get married."

Hearing the words "Manhattan penthouse" and "cash," my heart skipped a beat.

A luxury penthouse in Manhattan cost tens of millions.

How could a newly promoted VP afford that in cash, no matter how much he made?

Unless...

A wild, utterly absurd thought began to take root in my mind like a thorny vine, wrapping tightly around my chest.

"What... what is your husband’s last name?"

I forced my voice to sound calm, but only I knew that my fingertips were trembling.

Unaware, Aurora smiled and pulled a gold-embossed wedding invitation from her bag, sliding it over to me.

"Christopher Vance. You have to come visit me when you’re in New York!"

Christopher Vance. The name felt like a dagger piercing straight through my eyes.

I stared at the name I knew all too well. My mind went completely blank.

A deafening buzz filled my ears, making me dizzy.