Chapter 1: A Week Before the Wedding

(Vivian's POV)

I glanced at my wristwatch again, trying not to let the disappointment in my heart show.

My untouched cup of coffee sat on the table in front of me, slowly losing its warmth as I sat alone in the corner of the jewellery shop.

He was late...

Again.

This time, he was two hours and ten minutes late... and still counting.

"Ma'am," someone called politely.

I gently turned. It was the shop manager. She looked concerned and overly cautious, probably afraid of upsetting me.

"Shall we go ahead and bring out the limited-edition pieces for you? You can take your time choosing while you wait..."

While I wait...

I had heard those words so many times lately that they were beginning to feel painfully familiar.

I had waited when we went to try on our wedding outfits. I had waited when we went to inspect the wedding venue. I had waited for him at almost every appointment we had made for the wedding.

And now, I was waiting again while I was supposed to be choosing my wedding jewellery.

How much longer was I going to keep waiting for him?

Would I have to wait for him on our wedding day too?

"No..." I said, forcing my voice to remain calm.

Because no matter how long he made me wait, I wasn't going to start without him.

That was what we had promised each other. We would decide together on every item we would need for our wedding because we wanted to be part of the journey and the preparation.

"He'll be here soon, and we'll choose together," I added.

Even though I wasn't sure myself anymore.

A part of me was beginning to fear that maybe he would cancel... again... just like he had done the last time.

The store manager swallowed at my response, surprised that I was still so willing to wait, but she said nothing else.

"Okay, ma'am."

She quietly gave a polite bow and walked away.

I let out a deep breath and picked up my phone, about to call him for what felt like the millionth time.

But just before I could dial his number, the door opened, and he walked in.

Ronald Haverford.

The CEO of the Haverford Group, one of the leading luxury hotel and resort companies in the world.

He had been my boyfriend for five years, and now, he was the man I would be marrying in a week's time.

"Ronald..." I whispered, the tightness in my chest loosening a little.

Before I could think any further, I shot to my feet. My legs were already moving before my mind could catch up.

"What... what kept you so long?" I asked calmly.

Ronald didn't answer immediately. There was no smile on his face, no warmth in his eyes, nothing that showed he was happy to see me or that he was sorry for keeping me waiting. Instead, he glanced down at his wristwatch.

"I have a meeting in an hour, so let's not take too long with this," he said, brushing off my question as if it were nothing.

He had kept me waiting for two hours, and the first thing he said wasn't an apology or even a reason for why he was late, but this?

"Ronald, I've been sitting here for two hours," I said, forcing down the disappointment in my voice. "You could have called if something came up."

"I texted that I would be late, didn't I?" he said casually.

"You texted?" I snapped. "Ronald, if you had texted, I wouldn't have been sitting here for hours."

Ronald's brows furrowed. He reached for his phone, and his frown deepened for just a second, probably realizing that he actually hadn't texted.

But he recovered quickly. He fixed his expression as he tucked his phone back into his pocket.

I let out a bitter scoff. "Let me guess... You forgot to text... again."

He said nothing, but the look on his face already gave me all the answers I needed.

My chest tightened, but I forced myself to stay calm.

"Don't you think you've been quite forgetful lately?" I asked.

"What's the fuss about, Vivian? I'm here now, aren't I?" he replied coldly. His voice was cold enough to make my entire body freeze.

"We can get started with the shopping, or you can stay here and nag all you want. It's your choice," he continued.

"But when it's time for my meeting, I'm leaving," he added coldly.

He would leave?

The way he said it... as if I was the one disturbing him. As if our wedding preparations weren't even important to him anymore.

I stared at the man in front of me, my chest aching as though a knife had been driven right through it.

Where was that man who had gone down on one knee to propose to me? The man who seemed the happiest when I accepted to marry him?

Where was the man who had seemed so excited, counted down the days to our wedding, and kept making promises about how he would treat me right after we got married?

Looking at Ronald now, it felt like I didn't even know the man standing in front of me anymore.

Ronald had never been like this before. He had never been the type to speak to me this way or act in such a nonchalant manner.

He had never been the type to keep me waiting before. Usually, he always arrived thirty minutes before the agreed time.

Then, slowly, everything changed. He started being late every time.

The first time, he was ten minutes late... He said it was because of traffic. The second time, he was sixteen minutes late... He blamed it on work.

Little by little, the time kept increasing, and each time, he had a different excuse, until he stopped making excuses entirely.

He started acting nonchalant toward me and the marriage preparations, as if he hated the whole idea of getting married. As if he regretted proposing to me.

Did he?

The thought hurt more than I could ever imagine. But I shut my eyes, trying to calm the storm rising in my chest.

"Hello, Sis," a voice I knew too well spoke.