Chapter 1 It's Not Him

Zack paused midway through pouring the detergent. He did not even realise he had poured far more than usual. He was staring at me in disbelief.

"Are you mad? We just got engaged yesterday! If we break up now, everyone's going to laugh at us and our families!"

I nodded coolly. "Yes, I am mad."

The engagement party was yesterday, and I had waited for seven whole years. I spent more than six months planning for the party, and I handed in my proposal to the planning company.

But when I arrived at the venue, I realised that not a single corner had been done the way I wanted. I loved peonies, but the entire place was filled with jasmines. I loved pink, but the whole place was decorated in gold.

Even the photo at the entrance was the one I had the most complaints about. I wanted to ask the person in charge for an explanation, but Zack frowned and stopped me. "I told them to do this."

That destroyed me, and I demanded to know why. I told him more times than I could count about how much this event meant to me.

He clicked his tongue. "Can you stop being so selfish? This event is for both of us. Are you saying I can't change it to something I like?"

I froze and fell silent for a long while. When the event came to an end, Zack's childhood friend showed up in front of me, bashful and holding a glass of wine.

"Thanks for helping out, Jessica. I was so worried about my engagement party with Felix."

My blood went cold. Zack looked at Jessie Shaw tenderly and patted her head. "It's alright. You can use our wedding to see if you'll like the real deal."

So it was not him. He was not the one who loved jasmines and gold.

A small smile forced itself on my lips. "I'll talk to your parents and move out as soon as I can."

Zack wore the new earphones and ignored me. I looked at the cat in the corner. "I bought Mango, so I'm taking the cat."

Zack still said nothing. I clenched my fists. "I'll leave the accessories your parents bought with you. You'll have to take back the house you lent Jessie."

A few years ago, I managed to save up for a house after working hard enough. After I started dating Zack, he talked to me and rented out the house to Jessie for cheap. He said it was tough for a girl to work in Imperia alone.

I said rent it for cheap, but I had never received a single cent. Zack had forbidden me from taking money from her and called me petty for even bringing it up.

This time, he finally took out his earphones and gave me a sardonic sneer. "Do you even need the money? I've spent a lot more on you than the rent could ever match. Must you threaten me with Jessie every time we fight? She's young. It's tough for her to survive in Imperia alone. You're overreacting."

I hung my head low and bit my lip. My eyes stung. I doubt he remembered that I was six months younger than Jessie.