Chapter 1

The computer beeped a few times.

Ryder Lineker opened his email and clicked on the latest message from his professor, James Irwin.

James: [Ryder, we are currently facing a talent shortage at the university, and you are one of the most promising students I've ever had. I am once again inviting you to return for further studies and to consider a faculty position.

[I sincerely hope you'll give my offer serious consideration. I look forward to your positive response.]

Similar emails had already piled up in Ryder's inbox.

Ryder glanced toward the bedroom door.

The hallway was pitch-black—Laura Moon still hadn't come home.

His phone buzzed. It was a message from Laura.

Laura: [Sweetheart, I'm working on designing our wedding venue. I'll probably be busy late into the night. You should go to bed first.]

Ryder scrolled through his social media feed.

As expected, Laura's assistant, Seth Yarde, had posted an update.

Seth: [Thanks to Laura for expanding my horizons! This wedding venue is so luxurious—I'm really jealous!]

Ryder clicked on the photo Seth had posted.

In the corner of the picture, there was a pair of slender, fair hands wearing a sparkling ring. From the angle, the hand rested lightly on Seth's.

Ryder looked down at his own ring—their engagement ring.

He let out a bitter laugh and, as usual, gave Seth's post a like.

Laura wouldn't see it anyway. After all, Seth's posts were always set to be visible only to Ryder.

Ryder glanced at the calendar. There was just over a month until their wedding.

His gaze returned to the email on his computer. He stared at it for a long time before finally picking up his phone and calling his professor.

"Thank you, Professor Irwin. I've thought it over. Please give me some time to wrap things up here.

"I'll return in a month to continue my studies, and if the opportunity arises, I'll consider taking a faculty position," he said.

James was thrilled. He had high hopes for Ryder, though after so many unanswered emails, he had nearly given up. This unexpected phone call was a pleasant surprise.

After hanging up, Ryder began sorting out his affairs.

Packing his luggage wasn't urgent, but handing off his domestic projects required immediate attention.

While he was neck-deep in work, his phone rang. It was Laura.

"Hello, Ryder," Laura said.

"Uh… What's up?" Ryder asked.

Startled by the sudden ringtone, he nearly sent an email to the wrong recipient.

"What are you doing? You sound like you've been spooked," Laura said.

"It's nothing. Fuzzy just jumped off her cat tree," Ryder replied.

Fuzzy was a stray cat the two of them had adopted. Now three years old, it loved climbing and jumping around the house.

Back when Fuzzy was just a tiny kitten, they had found her barely clinging to life in a trash-filled corner of the park. Covered in filth, Ryder had stubbornly carried her home.

One time, there was a gas leak in their apartment. Fuzzy had meowed relentlessly by his side until he briefly regained consciousness and managed to call Laura. Both he and the cat were saved.

Since then, Fuzzy had become more precious to Ryder than his own life.

On the other end of the line, Laura chuckled. "No wonder. In this house, Fuzzy gets more of your attention than I do."

"That's not true. Anyway, why did you call me?" Ryder asked.

"Did you see the message I sent earlier? You didn't reply, so I was worried," Laura explained.

"Oh, that. Yeah, I saw it, but I was a little sleepy and forgot to reply…" Ryder said.

His voice trailed off as he suddenly heard an inappropriate sound in the background. "Laura, look at this suit I'm wearing! Doesn't it match your wedding dress perfectly?"

The man hadn't bothered lowering his voice, so Ryder heard it loud and clear.

There was a brief but unmistakable panic in Laura's tone. "Uh, Ryder, the venue designer is calling me over. I have to go. Get some rest, okay?"

Before he could respond, she had already hung up.

Ryder stared at his phone for a long time. Then he let out a bitter laugh and turned back to his work.

-

Close to midnight, Laura sent over the venue designs and wedding outfits.

Ryder opened the attachments.

The wedding dress was stunning, and the suit looked sharp. It was clear she had put a lot of thought into it.

But her heart—it had already been divided into pieces, scattered who knew where.

At the same time, Seth updated his feed again, once more setting it to be visible only to Ryder.

Seth: [I wish I could be the one standing by your side.]

The accompanying photo showed Seth in a suit, standing next to Laura.

Even though their faces had been blurred, Ryder recognized them instantly.

The suit Seth was wearing was nearly identical to the one Laura had just sent him.

A wave of nausea washed over Ryder for no reason at all.