Chapter 2

Mary made a show of running off, sniffling. She only managed to take a few steps before Zachary pulled her back.

Gently, he coaxed, "She didn't mean it like that, Mary. The company's been doing better and better ever since we hired you. How could you bring bad luck when you're my lucky charm?"

Mary's voice trembled with tears. "But… Victoria doesn't seem to like me. She's upset that I wore her wedding dress, but I was really careful with it. I only tried it on for a photo—"

Heartbroken, Zachary pulled some pieces of candy out of his bag and offered them to her. "Don't cry, Mary. She's just being unreasonable. You'll feel better after having something sweet. I brought this imported candy just for you."

My heart sank as I watched him take out the candy and hand it over so naturally.

Back when we were young and in love, I used to get dizzy from low blood sugar all the time. Sometimes, I'd just collapse out of nowhere while walking down the street.

Zachary was terrified after experiencing it once. From then on, he always carried candy with him, just in case.

But later, his life got better as his company grew.

The candy was no longer meant for me. Now, it belonged to Zachary's secretary, Mary.

Self-mockery tinted my gaze as I watched how affectionate they were.

Just then, a couple arguing nearby glanced over. "Look how sweet they're being. You can tell they've been together for a long time. Hey, can I ask how you trained your boyfriend to be so thoughtful and gentle? He's even carrying candy around just for you!"

Mary and Zachary both froze for a moment, then looked up at me, flustered.

Mary forced an awkward smile. "You've misunderstood. We're not a couple."

She pointed at me and continued, "Victoria is my boss' fiancee—"

The couple's expressions immediately changed. They nodded awkwardly and hurried off.

Even strangers could tell they looked far more like an affectionate couple.

I felt there was no point in dragging this out any longer. I cut straight to the point. "The wedding dress is ruined. I don't want it anymore. Just pay me for it, Zachary. We're calling off the engagement."

"Call it off? Who do you think you're threatening, Victoria?" Zachary looked up coldly and scoffed.

He continued, "Mary was kind enough to bring your wedding dress all the way here to you. Despite this heat, she didn't even stop to take a sip of water and just rushed over because she was worried you'd be anxious. And you're still nitpicking? Do you really think you're some high-maintenance wealthy heiress?"

Zachary's gaze was full of mockery as he gave me a once-over. "Do you really think you have that kind of luck? Haven't you been with me all these years just waiting for me to make it big so you could marry rich and live your life as some rich housewife? You'd really give that up?"

A smug smile crossed Mary's expression for a split second. But the next moment, she burst into tears.

She shouted, "Please don't call off the engagement because of me, Zach! I don't want to be the reason for all this! Since Victoria—your future wife—doesn't like me, I'll just resign and leave the company. I'm sorry, Zach. I won't be able to help you anymore—"

Sobbing, Mary bit her finger hard enough to draw blood, about to write a resignation letter on the ground.

"How could you resign?" Zachary pulled her into his arms, concerned. "This has nothing to do with you. Just let her throw a tantrum if she wants. Didn't you say you wanted some barbecue? I'll take you to have some right now."

Before leaving, he pulled out several bills and flung them in my face. "Didn't you want me to pay for the wedding dress? Take the money and get lost."

I watched as they got into a luxury car and drove off. I bent down, picked up the cash, and chuckled coldly.

I thought to myself, "What you owe me is far more than just this 200-million-dollar wedding dress, Zachary. Since you've chosen this path, I'll make you pay back everything you've taken."

Andrew Ford, Zachary's assistant, stood there awkwardly, holding the wedding dress. "What should we do with this wedding dress, Ms. Stone?"

I didn't even glance at it. "Throw it away."

I didn't like keeping secondhand goods. No matter how expensive it was, I wouldn't want anything someone else had used before.

It was the same for people.

…

I made plans to grab drinks with my best friend, Sherry Lancelot.

After we had three glasses, my phone suddenly buzzed twice.

Mary had sent me a video, along with a few texts. "Victoria, haven't you always wanted to know what was on that wedding dress? I'll tell you.

"Zach was the one who agreed to let me wear it. He said he had to marry you after all those years you spent with him, but he was willing to let me wear your wedding dress and be his bride just once.

She continued, "You'd never guess this, but the photographer in that private studio was Zach himself. He got carried away and couldn't hold back, so he made love with me while I was still wearing it."