My Fiancé Left Me for a Widow

I didn't know until the engagement party that in Marcus Harrison's heart, a former girlfriend who "needed him" mattered more than his fiancee.In the ballroom of the Royal Hotel, servers carefully stacked glasses onto the champagne tower. In ten more minutes, we would announce our engagement in front of 200 guests.My mom and her friends occupied the lounge area on the left, comparing whose daughter married better. The board members from Marcus's family business sipped whiskey on the right, discussing the prospects of merging our two companies after the wedding.The DJ tested the sound system while the lighting technician adjusted the spotlights. Everything was perfect, up until Marcus's phone rang.I watched his expression change. I knew that look too well. His brow furrowed, his lower lip tightened, and his eyes flickered.He said, "I... I need to step out for a moment.""Where are you going?""Lily's at the airport. She collapsed, and the paramedics said it's serious.""Marc

Marcus gently patted her back. "Lily, this isn't your fault."Then he looked at me with pleading eyes. "Look, Claire, Lily really didn't mean for this to happen. Last night was genuinely an accident."I leaned back in my chair, watching the scene unfold. My voice was calm as I said, "Ms. Bardot, you don't need to apologize."Lily looked up. There was a flicker of hope in her eyes. "You... You forgive me?""There's nothing to forgive because you didn't do anything wrong. You were sick, needed help, and called someone you knew. That's perfectly normal."Lily's eyes brightened further. "Ms. White, you—""But Marcus made a mistake," I said as I turned to him. "He chose to leave during our engagement ceremony, in front of 200 guests. That was his choice.""But..." Lily's voice grew weaker. "Marcus was only trying to help me.""I know. I don't blame you. But I also can't accept a man who abandons me at our own engagement party.""So you're calling off the engagement?" Marcus's voice

I closed Instagram and leaned back in my chair. Outside, the night was dark, but the city lights blazed bright.The city kept turning, but my life felt like someone had hit pause on it. I opened my contacts and scrolled through the screen. Names of my colleagues, clients, and friends flashed by.Finally, I stopped on one name. I stared at it, and my heart suddenly raced. I hesitated for a long, long time before I dialed the number I hadn't called in years."Claire?" That familiar voice came through, surprised, with a hint of nervous tension."Tomorrow night, 7:00 pm," I said. "Meet me at the restaurant by the sea.""Okay." He didn't ask why and just said, "I'll be there on time.""And," I paused. "Dress formally.""Okay."…The next evening, I carefully applied my makeup and changed into a deep blue cocktail dress. I arrived at the fine-dining restaurant by the sea half an hour early.Ever since college, I would come here whenever I went through a breakup. I sat by the window

Walking out of the boutique, I couldn't help but laugh. "You were ruthless just now.""Not ruthless enough," Ethan said. "She thinks all men are as easy to fool as Marcus."I suddenly asked, "What do you think she'll do next?""Come after you," Ethan said without hesitation. "Women like that can't stand being ignored."He was right.A week later, I was in my office handling documents when Emily suddenly knocked and came in, her expression troubled."Claire, you should probably see this." She handed me a tablet.On the screen was a trending post on a popular gossip forum. "Exposing a Certain Investment Banker's Rise to the Top."The post contained paparazzi photos of Ethan and me on dates, old pictures of Marcus and me together, and a flood of so-called revelations."This woman came from an ordinary family and used Marcus to climb into high society."Marcus treated her so well, but she broke up with him over something trivial and immediately latched onto the wealthier Ethan Ro

Three days later, I received the private investigator's report on Lily. The more I read, the worse my expression became.Meanwhile, the Harrison family was in trouble. After the public opinion storm, the Harrison family business plummeted. Diana was so upset that she ended up hospitalized."Marcus," she said weakly, "I reached out to the Rollins family.""The Rollins family?" Marcus paused."Yes, the senator's family," Diana said. "They have a daughter, Annie. She's 26 years old and graduated from a prestigious university."She's gentle and virtuous. Most importantly, their political influence can help us get through this crisis.""Mom, you want me to..." Marcus's expression changed."Marry her," Diana said bluntly. "It's our only way out. The Rollins family is willing to help us, but the condition is a marriage alliance.""Mom, I don't agree," Marcus said. "The only one in my heart is Claire.""Marcus, wake up!" Diana's voice suddenly turned harsh. "Claire is already with Eth