Chapter 1

"Are you sure you want to do this, Quinn?"

Quinn Sullivan suppressed the conflicting emotions in her gaze and nodded.

She opened her phone and deleted her name from the electronic wedding invitation she had prepared, replacing it with Jasmine Shaw's.

Upon seeing that, her best friend, Stella Harper, glanced at her worriedly.

Once Quinn was done amending the invitation, she sent it to Stella.

"Have someone send this out the day before the wedding, and replace all the photos and videos with ones of Nicholas and Jasmine. I'll be leaving Heathridge on the day of the wedding," she said.

Once Stella left, Quinn spent some time looking out the window, unmoving from her spot.

She and Nicholas York had just held their engagement party eight hours ago. Amidst the well-wishes of many guests, she had thought that her long-awaited wedding with Nicholas would come quickly.

However, three hours ago, Quinn found that he had gotten into his car with a female celebrity from his company after the engagement party. She witnessed it through her phone, which had been left in his car.

Nicholas said, "I despised you so much when you broke up with me for money back then, Jasmine. But I promised you that I would save my wedding night for you.

"Just this once today, okay? I don't want to spend my first night with any woman who's not you."

His voice carried a slight hint of drunkenness, yet every word came from his heart. He even sounded as if he was about to cry.

Their actions grew more intimate in the car as Jasmine held Nicholas in her arms. She then started kissing his neck.

"I didn't leave you for the money back then, Nicholas. It was because I felt I wasn't good enough for you. I would've never let you go if I knew you'd end up marrying someone like Quinn," she said.

Nicholas was taken aback, but he soon happily pulled Jasmine into his embrace. "You're the only one for me even if I marry her, Jasmine."

Soon, Quinn could only hear their heavy breathing.

She chuckled bitterly as she took off the engagement ring from her finger.

The ring was a creation by Carlos Hued, her favorite designer.

Nicholas had spent more than six months abroad trying to convince Carlos to craft these one-of-a-kind engagement rings—all just to make Quinn happy.

She couldn't understand how someone who had always confessed his love for her could so quickly become involved with someone else.

Quinn spared one last glance at the wedding ring before tossing it into the trash can. She no longer wanted the ring—and she no longer wanted Nicholas the same.

Since he loved Jasmine so much, Quinn would do him a favor and make the wedding, a month from now, his and Jasmine's.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of knocking.

Linda Boston, a household staff member, entered with a glass of hot milk in her hand. "Mr. York called earlier and instructed us to get you a glass of hot milk, Ms. Sullivan. He also mentioned that he has a surprise for you when he gets back, so he asked you not to sleep just yet."

Quinn gestured for Linda to place the glass on the table before dismissing her. The milk was still steaming, just like every night before.

Ever since Nicholas knew she had trouble sleeping at night, he would personally warm up a glass of milk for her daily. He would smile happily whenever she finished the milk.

At the height of his career, he would announce their relationship to the public, telling everyone how much he loved Quinn. He would turn down important deals time and again for her, even if it meant paying huge penalties.

But what moved her the most was the fact that Nicholas, someone who had never set foot in the kitchen, could warm up milk for her every day for years without fail.

The tip of Quinn's fingers touched the glass. It was hot, yet all she felt was the numbing coldness in her heart.

It turned out that grand gestures might not always mean true love. She had never been able to accept betrayal.

Quinn wondered what Nicholas' expression would be when he saw the bride at the wedding in a month's time.

As soon as the clock struck 12, she received a call from Nicholas. He shouted excitedly, "Look out of the window, Quinn!"

Quinn instinctively looked out the floor-to-ceiling window. The sky was lit up by countless fireworks, only stopping half an hour later.

The door burst open, and Nicholas ran over to wrap his arms around her waist. He smiled softly as he asked, "Do you like the gift I prepared for you?"

His love for her always seemed so high-profile, as if he wanted everyone to know about it. Unfortunately, it was all fake.

Nicholas leaned his head onto Quinn's shoulders and nuzzled affectionately.

"It's like I'm dreaming now, Quinn. We really got engaged—this day finally came!" His words were filled with happiness.

She might have thought everything that happened in the car was just her imagination if it weren't for the faint jasmine scent on him.

Quinn got up and pushed away Nicholas' hand. As she looked at him, she happened to notice the necklace on his neck.

He had been wearing it ever since they first met. On the inside of the necklace, a white flower was engraved.

Quinn used to be curious about it, but Nicholas explained that white was his favorite color, and the flower design was something he picked at random.

It was only now that she realized the white flower symbolized Jasmine.