Chapter 1

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."

"Marcus," I cut him off. "We're announcing our engagement in ten minutes."

"I know!" He grabbed my hand. "Claire, this is an emergency. Lily just lost her husband three months ago, and now she's collapsed. I can't..."

"She has family."

"Her mother's out of town. She can't get here in time!" Marcus's voice grew urgent.

"Claire, I can't just leave her there."

"What about our engagement?"

"We can announce it later! One hour. I promise I'll be back in an hour at most."

"Ladies and gentlemen." The DJ's voice suddenly boomed through the speakers.

"Please make your way to the main stage area. We're about to begin the most important moment of the evening."

Marcus looked at me. His eyes held pleading, anxiety, and something else I didn't want to acknowledge. It was almost like a relief.

"Claire, please. Just one hour, and I'll be back. We can announce it later. No one will mind."

"I mind."

"What?"

"I said I mind." I enunciated each word. "Marcus, there are 200 people here today. My parents, your parents, our friends, and our business partners. Everyone's waiting for us to announce our engagement.

"And you want to leave them, leave me, for your ex-girlfriend."

"She's not my ex-girlfriend!" Marcus's voice rose. "She's my cousin! My aunt's adopted daughter. She's family, Claire."

"Family?" I laughed coldly. "Marcus, you dated her for two years in college. Your aunt didn't officially adopt her until after you broke up. You think I don't know this?"

His face changed. "Even if she was my ex, so what? She just lost her husband and needs help! Claire, when did you become so cold?"

"I'm cold?" I laughed and stepped back, releasing his hand.

"Go ahead. Go be the hero."

Marcus stared at me. His eyes showed shock, anger, and struggle. Meanwhile, his phone kept ringing.

"Claire, I'll come back. We'll talk properly once I'm back."

"Ladies and gentlemen." The DJ's voice came through again.

"Please welcome tonight's guests of honor, Mr. Marcus Harrison and Ms. Claire White."

Marcus turned and left. I simply stood there, feeling every pair of eyes on me. That was when the whispers began.

"Where's the groom going?"

"He got a phone call and just left..."

"At a time like this?"

"Ladies and gentlemen," the DJ repeated, his voice strained with awkwardness. "If everyone could please..."

Everyone stared at me, waiting to watch the spectacle. They were all waiting to see how Claire White, the proud investment banker, would handle being abandoned by her fiance at her own engagement party.

I took a deep breath and walked toward the stage. My heels clicked against the marble floor, the sharp sound hammering at my heart with every step.

The blinding spotlight hit me. Mom stood there with an ashen face as Marcus's mother, Diana Lowe, covered her mouth. Even the board members exchanged glances.

The DJ handed me the microphone, his eyes full of confusion and pity. I took the microphone, looked at the 200 puzzled faces below, and began speaking.