Chapter 1

When the emcee stood on stage and asked whether she would marry me, a faint sense of nervousness crept into my heart, and I could not stop myself from looking toward Celia Winters' first love, Shane Quinn, who was sitting in the audience.

The confident smile on his face added a hint of gloom to my heart.

It was not until Celia said "I do" that I finally let out a sigh of relief.

However, she soon said, "I have a song that I want to dedicate to my groom."

Although this song was for me, her gaze was affectionately fixed on Shane in the audience.

I felt bitter.

The emcee handed the stage over to Celia.

When the music started, it felt as if I had fallen into an endless pit of despair.

I recognized this song.

Shane had written the lyrics and composed the music himself. The song was called "Not Marrying the One I Love".

She sang the song for eight minutes, and it made me think of the eight years I had spent with her.

I had had a crush on Celia since college. It had been a full eight years from college to starting work. During that time, she was constantly entangled with her first love, and I tolerated it. She was forced to marry me for her family's company, and I tolerated that as well.

Now, looking at my furious parents in the distance and at Celia and Shane gazing at each other with deep affection, I suddenly wanted to put a stop to it all.

Perhaps sensing that something was off with me, Celia put down the microphone and slowly approached me. "Zane Lindell, forgive me. Shane said that it's the last time. I won't be in contact with him anymore."

She spoke as if they really would not be in contact anymore if I forgave her now.

I knew Shane knew he could not marry Celia, so he wanted to humiliate me this way. At the very least, this wedding would be a nightmare for me for years to come.

Looking at Celia feigning affection, I felt disgusted for the first time. I took a small step back to distance myself from her and casually tossed the ring on the ground. "Since you didn't marry the person you love, marry him now. He's right there in the audience." I held the microphone, my voice echoing throughout the place.

The people around us murmured among themselves, and Celia's face showed a fleeting moment of embarrassment. "Zane, stop it. It’s our wedding today."

"You’re realizing that now? I don't want to marry you anymore. You're free. Go marry whoever you want."

After saying that, I looked at Shane. "Shane, congratulations, you’ve won. I don't want this woman anymore. I wish you a happy marriage and many children."

Of course, I did it on purpose.

Shane was a somewhat well-known music producer in the industry; he used his status to squeeze into our circle. Now, I wanted to kick them both out.

I casually threw the microphone on the ground, took off my wedding coat, and turned around to leave. I also pulled my parents away before leaving.

My parents did not scold me on the drive home. My mother patted my back slightly, silently comforting me.

Having a crush on Celia for eight years was just too painful.

We belonged to the same circle and attended the same university. Celia would never have gone through with this arranged marriage were it not for the Winters family's financial crisis.

I admitted I was a bit despicable, but I genuinely thought I had won Celia's heart after two years of dating. Even if she was willing to ignore me every time for Shane, I was still willing to wait for her.

My family did not want to get involved with the Winters family. After all, they were not good enough to marry into our family. However, my parents indulged me because I was willing.

If I still chose to forgive her today, I would not be the only one humiliated.