Chapter 4

Our wedding was set to take place aboard a luxury cruise ship at sea.

Harper wrapped her arms around my waist, clearly pleased with herself. "I know how much you love the ocean, so I chose this. You won't be mad, will you?"

I smiled and shook my head. "I'm happy."

While I waited in the dressing room in my suit for her to finish getting ready, Dylan couldn't sit still. He messaged me again.

[Mr. Parsons, what do you think will happen if I show up at the wedding later? Will Harper still choose you?]

[Why don't I tell you something? Last night, Harper and I spent the night together in the very room where you two are supposed to spend your wedding night.]

[She doesn't love you at all. What's the point of clinging to the title of her husband? Why don't you just give it to me?]

His messages were arrogant, and they openly revealed his ambition and desire.

I didn't blame him. I knew he could only provoke me so brazenly because Harper had encouraged and indulged him.

I looked at Harper, who sat not far away and tapped away at her phone. Every now and then, she frowned at the screen before breaking into a sweet smile.

For the first time, I replied to him.

[Just as you wish.]

The moment I sent the message, Harper walked in.

Her eyes lit up when she saw me already dressed and ready. "Adrian, you look so handsome."

She sat beside me and pressed her lips together in a shy smile. She looked just like a girl blushing in front of the man she loved.

I took the gift box I'd prepared long ago from my bag and placed it in her hands.

She was about to open it when I gently stopped her. "It's your wedding gift. I'll have someone deliver it to you after the wedding."

She nodded, her eyes bright with nervous anticipation for the ceremony ahead.

Just as the makeup artist was about to fill in her eyebrows, I stopped her.

I took the eyebrow pencil from the makeup artist and stepped behind Harper. "Harper, let me do your eyebrows."

She froze for a moment before smiling and nodding.

When we first started dating, Harper once told me about an old romantic tradition she'd read about in which a husband did his wife's makeup as a quiet expression of love.

After that, she became obsessed with having me do her eyebrows. To her, it was proof of how much I loved her.

Even so, she hadn't asked me to do them in two years.

I met her eyes in the mirror. "Harper, do you remember what you promised me when we first got together?"

My question made her expression stiffen.

"I hate being lied to more than anything. If I ever find out you've lied to me, I'll make sure you can never find me again."

I clearly saw guilt flash through Harper's eyes.

I watched her grow flustered, then smiled faintly.

"What is it?" I asked deliberately.

"Adrian, I would never lie to you... I love you so much. How could I ever lie to you?"

I didn't answer. I simply continued filling in her eyebrows until they were perfect.

…

The wedding ceremony began.

Harper clung nervously to my arm, but her gaze kept drifting toward the entrance.

I noticed every small movement, and my heart sank completely.

She hadn't even cherished her final day with me. Instead, she indulged Dylan and allowed him to replace our wedding presentation with a private video of the two of them together.

Harper panicked and immediately ordered someone to shut it off.

"Adrian, let me explain!" She gripped my hand so tightly that it seemed she was terrified I might slip away.

Only after the video was shut off did I quietly look at her. Then I slowly curled my lips into a smile.

The moment she saw it, panic deepened across her face.

She swallowed hard. She sensed that something was about to disappear from her life.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, I pulled my hand free and turned away.

Without hesitation, I ran out of the venue.

Harper was only a step behind me when I leapt into the ocean.

Harper's eyes widened as she saw Adrian jump.

She lunged after him, but her fingers couldn't even catch the edge of his suit.

Before I plunged beneath the surface, I smiled and let one final tear fall. "Harper, in this life, I'll never see you again."