Chapter 1

Rupert's First-Person POV

After stepping out of the hospital, I headed straight for the cinema, where the manager, Maxwell Rhodes, was already waiting at the entrance.

"My apologies, Mr. Rupert Dean. This videotape was stored by Ms. Hale three years ago, just before her car crash.

"After the crash, the tape somehow went missing. It was a mistake on our part…"

I waved him off to signal that I didn't mind and followed him into the screening room. As soon as I took my seat, the lights in the room dimmed into total darkness before a familiar figure appeared on the giant screen.

"Rue, today's our fifth wedding anniversary."

Her gentle eyes seemed to look straight at me through the screen.

"I'm not usually shy, but when it comes to you, I just can't put my feelings into words."

The woman on the screen, even through the lens of the camera, blushed so hard that her ears were red.

"We met early, but fell in love much later…

"Please forgive how slow I was, and please accept my belated confession of love…"

…

When the video ended, I sat frozen in silence.

So, this was it. The surprise she'd prepared three years ago was a confession.

On the day before our anniversary back then, Maisie Hale had cleared her schedule to take me camping. The next day, as we drove down the mountain, she told me she had a surprise ready for me.

But before we could reach the foot of the mountain, an oncoming car swerved into our lane, forcing us off the cliff.

In those few seconds, she unbuckled her seatbelt and threw her body over mine to shield me. In the end, I walked away unscathed, while she nearly died and spent a long time hovering at death's door.

The frame froze on her face, and I stared at it greedily. "Silly, of course I know you love me."

After all, I'd loved her long before she ever started loving me.

The lights in the room flickered on, pulling me out of the past. As I left the cinema and ran into Maisie's best friend, Chloe Shaw, my good mood instantly vanished.

"Mr. Dean," she greeted me and stepped forward.

I gave a curt nod and turned to leave, but she called out behind me, "Mr. Dean, if you truly want what's best for Maisie, step aside for her and Daniel."

I'd grown sick of hearing those words for three years.

Who was she to tell me to step aside? What right did anyone have to judge our relationship?

Thankfully, Maxwell rushed out from the screening room and broke the tension. "Here's the original tape, Mr. Dean. It's better that you keep it."

I took the bag and walked away, missing whatever Chloe said to Maxwell behind me.

It was evening by the time I got home. Maisie was waiting for me in the living room.

I knew that she was about to hand me the divorce papers again.

The words of refusal were at the tip of my tongue out of habit, but I suddenly faltered. The woman in the tape and the woman standing before me began to overlap in my mind.

As I looked up to stare into her eyes, I couldn't help but ask, "Maisie, will you be happy if I sign these divorce papers?"