Chapter 4

After walking away from everything, I boarded a train bound for my hometown.

I'd barely reached the security checkpoint when an officer stepped in front of me.

"Excuse me, ma'am," she said. "You're listed as a suspect in an open residential burglary case. You're not permitted to leave."

I stared at her in disbelief. "Are you sure?"

Her expression hardened. "You can explain that to the officers at the precinct."

Two police officers approached, handcuffed me, and escorted me to the precinct.

To my shock, Levi and Lucy were already waiting inside.

They had reported me for residential burglary, and now they presented a signed liability release before dropping the charges.

I was released, but Levi insisted on taking me back to his apartment.

Once we arrived, he directed me to sit at the dining table before heading into the kitchen to make a quick dish. Lucy sat directly across from me, watching me in silence.

The moment the range hood roared to life, a triumphant, mocking smirk spread across her face.

"Emilie, just break up with Levi already."

For years, I'd believed Lucy was too deeply scarred by her past relationship to ever care about dating again. I'd sympathized with her and even recommended her to Levi for a position as his assistant.

Only after watching her repeatedly edge me out of my own relationship did I finally recognize what had been happening.

She hadn't been avoiding romance. She'd been waiting for her chance with Levi.

I met her gaze. "Ever since I recommended you to Levi as his assistant, you've been plotting to steal him."

She didn't even bother denying it. "You've had ten years of good luck in love. Now it's my turn to marry a good man."

She reached across the table and grabbed my hand. A second later, however, she suddenly yanked her arm back with a sharp scream, knocking her chair over as she tumbled to the floor.

Levi rushed out of the kitchen, carrying two plates of pasta. The moment he saw Lucy on the floor with tears glistening in her eyes, he set the plates aside and glared at me.

I opened my hand, revealing a silver band in my palm.

Levi immediately turned his attention back to Lucy, taking her hand and carefully inspecting her fingers. "It's all right. It's just a minor scrape."

When he turned back to me, his eyes were filled with disgust.

"Stealing her wedding ring won't make you the bride. I brought you back so you could take responsibility for your mistakes, not so you could throw a scene and compete with Lucy over a wedding."

He still believed I was acting out of petty jealousy. Lucy sniffled and wiped away her tears before putting on a magnanimous expression.

"Forget it, Levi. If Emilie wants the ring so badly, just let her have it."

I looked at the silver band in my palm, then tossed it onto the table. It spun briefly before coming to a stop against the rim of a plate.

A simple silver engagement ring. A home-cooked pasta dinner.

Once, those modest things had represented my entire vision of a future with Levi.

"Keep your ring," I said quietly. "I hope you two have a long and happy life together."

For an instant, something resembling raw sorrow flashed across Levi's face, as though my words had struck a nerve. But the expression disappeared almost as soon as it surfaced.

He had always prided himself on being ruled by logic, and he quickly buried whatever emotion threatened to show.

"Rumors are spreading around the firm that I'm playing two women against each other," he said, his tone turning cold and clinical. "The most efficient way to put an end to them is for you to attend our wedding."

I burst into laughter—a harsh, hollow sound that shook me to my core.

"And what if I refuse?"

His gaze dropped to the ring lying on the table.

"Then that ring remains a stolen property. Given that you've already been accused of burglary, you won't be granted bail if this becomes another criminal case. You'd better prepare yourself for prison."

He placed the signed release document beside the ring, making his threat unmistakable. In that moment, every sweet memory from our ten years together crumbled beneath the weight of reality.

I looked him straight in the eye. "Fine. I'll attend the wedding. But afterward, we owe each other nothing."

A flicker of panic crossed Levi's face, though he quickly concealed it behind a confident smile. "The day after the wedding, I'll take you to City Hall to get our marriage license. We can wait in line together."

I almost laughed again, not buying it for a second.

On the day of the wedding, Lucy sat in the bridal suite wearing a stunning white dress. While I was preparing to go through with the ceremony, she sent me a viral video of my arrest at the train station.

"Emilie, you're famous now! With a criminal record like this attached to your name, you'll never be able to show your face in Skyonaiburg again."

I watched the video, then scrolled through the comments. Once I saw how widely it had spread, I let out a cold laugh and turned to Lucy. "Does destroying my life finally make you feel secure enough to play Mrs. Meyer?"

She draped her veil over her face, smiling like a thief who had gotten away with the ultimate prize. "My dear, make sure you're ready to catch my bouquet later."

When the time came, I stepped forward and handed the wedding bands to Levi. For a moment, his face went blank, as though he had only just realized what he was doing.

Nevertheless, he took the ring and slowly slid it onto Lucy's finger.

I watched him finish the gesture without a word. Then, without a trace of regret or hesitation, I turned around and walked out of his life for good.

...

The following morning, Levi woke up with a splitting headache from his hangover.

Lucy had prepared a hot bowl of oatmeal for him and urged him to eat before heading out.

"I don't have time for breakfast. Emilie is waiting for me."

Lucy casually stirred her spoon in the bowl, her voice calm and indifferent.

"Don't bother going. Emilie has already left."

"Left for where? Back to her hometown? She certainly knows how to create unnecessary trouble for me. I'll go pick her up."

Ignoring Lucy's protests, he hurried out of the apartment.

But when he reached my old place and knocked on the worn wooden door, a stranger answered.

"Who are you looking for? No Miss Hammond lives here."