Chapter 1

Right before our wedding, my fiancé, Dylan, suddenly developed intermittent amnesia.

He kept forgetting that he had already broken up with his ex-girlfriend.

At our first wedding ceremony, he abruptly clutched his head, his eyes turning cold. "Who are you? Why would I marry you? I'm going to marry Taryn."

With that, he turned and bolted, leaving me alone at the venue to face everyone's mockery.

That night, he knelt before me. "Luna, please give me another chance. I swear I'll take my medication on time. It won't happen again."

Thinking of our three years together, I forgave him.

At our second wedding, during the toasts, he suddenly smashed his glass, scowling at me. "Why is it you again? Are you really that desperate for a man? Why won't you leave me alone?"

The next second, he kicked over the banquet table and slammed the door behind him.

I could barely keep my feet, while my parents shook with pure rage.

That night, he knelt before me and my parents, slamming his forehead against the floor until blood trickled down.

He even bought out every giant digital billboard downtown, flashing across the city: "Luna Vance, please forgive me."

Softhearted once more, I compromised.

At our third wedding, I watched his every micro-expression like a hawk.

Sure enough, that familiar coldness flickered through his eyes again.

I immediately ordered the bodyguards to take him to the lounge and make him take his medication.

After soothing the guests, I walked up to the lounge door, only to hear his friend's voice inside. "Don't take this act too far. You can't afford to cross the Vance family."

Dylan's voice sounded hollow and melancholic. "I have to give Taryn three chances to change her mind. As long as she agrees to run away with me, I'll go with her. If she doesn't, I'll accept my fate and marry Luna."

In utter disbelief, I stumbled back a step.

Three whole years of devotion, and I was just an expendable backup?

After a long pause, I pulled out my phone. "Pull all investments from the Miller family. This wedding is off."

The voices inside kept drifting out.

"Luna is head over heels for me. When the time comes, I'll just sweet-talk her and hold another wedding."

"Once my company goes public, I won't need the Vance family anyway. I'll live an even better life."

My whole body shuddered, my fingernails digging deep into my palms.

Every dime of seed money for Dylan's startup had come from me humbling myself and begging my family for backing.

On countless late nights, I had sat beside him refining pitch decks until my eyes were completely bloodshot.

And in the end, I was merely a pawn he could use and discard at will.

I took a deep breath, forcing down the tears threatening to spill, and walked back onto the stage. "Everyone, today's wedding is officially canceled."

Instantly, whispers broke out below the stage.

"Canceled again? The Vance heiress got dumped three times by the exact same guy?"

"Isn't she practically throwing herself at him? If I were her, I'd die of embarrassment."

Those words pierced my battered heart like needles.

I gripped the microphone, about to speak, when suddenly, the lounge door was kicked wide open with a loud crash.

Dylan stormed out, shouting, "Taryn, where are you?"

A second later, he slammed into the champagne tower. Glass shattered everywhere, spilling booze across the floor.

Watching his pathetic performance, my patience completely snapped.

I strode forward and slapped him hard across the face.

The room went instantly dead silent.

Dylan's head jerked to the side. Clutching his cheek, he froze in shock.

Right then, a soft voice floated from the entrance. "Luna, please calm down. There's no need to go around hitting people."

Taryn strolled up to me, a sweet smile playing on her lips. "I honestly didn't plan on coming, but I was worried that if I didn't show up, you'd never get married."

My gaze turned ice-cold.

Taryn looked at Dylan, her brow slightly furrowing. "Dylan, we're over. Just forget about me."

Dylan's eyes welled with tears as he grabbed her wrist. "No, we're not over!"

He spun around to glare at me, his eyes overflowing with disgust. "How much longer are you going to force me into this? Why are you so pathetic and vile?"

Pathetic? Vile?

Trembling all over, I stared back at him in sheer disbelief.

A smug spark flashed in Taryn's eyes. She put on a show of offering advice. "Luna, if it's not meant to be, just let go. At least walk away with some dignity."

She turned her gaze to my parents, who were shaking with fury, and offered a mocking sneer. "Mr. and Mrs. Vance, having a daughter like this, aren't you embarrassed?"

A cold glint flashed in my eyes. I raised my hand and slapped Taryn squarely across the face.

"Say one more word, and I'll tear your mouth apart."

Taryn let out a sharp cry, clutching her cheek as tears instantly flooded her eyes.

"Luna, are you insane?!"

Dylan shoved me violently. Caught completely off guard, I stumbled into the edge of a banquet table, the sharp pain turning my vision momentarily dark.

Bodyguards immediately rushed in, encircling Dylan and Taryn.

Seeing this, Taryn immediately put on a victim act. "I was only trying to give you good advice. If you won't listen, I have nothing left to say."

With that, she turned and hurried away.

And Dylan, without giving me a single glance, chased after her without hesitation.

The vast wedding hall was a chaotic wreck.

Everyone's mocking, amused stares landed squarely on me and my parents.

I stood there, nails digging so hard into my palms that they bled, but the physical sting couldn't match a fraction of the agony tearing through my chest.

Suddenly, a panicked scream burst from my mother behind me. "Ah!"

I spun around to see my father with his eyes shut tight, collapsing backward.