Chapter 1

"Annie, I'm sorry. Marina twisted her ankle. Let's postpone the marriage registration."

Bertrand Callum bailed on me with just one phone call from his secretary, Marina Ellison.

The light of hope in my eyes dimmed instantly.

It was happening again.

I couldn't even recall when it started, when anything concerning Marina began to take priority over me.

Even something as important as registering our marriage…I had become the one left behind.

I found a spot to sit and waited for a long time.

Sure enough, Marina updated her social media again.

Her caption read: [Accidentally sprained my ankle. Boss brought me to the hospital.]

The photo only showed a blurred figure from behind.

But I recognized the familiar style of his coat and the faint outline of his limited-edition watch. The man tending to Marina was none other than my fiancé, Bertrand.

Just then, a scheduled notification popped up, reminding me of the trip I'd spent so long planning.

Only then did I realize Bertrand had already turned me down ninety-nine times for Marina.

"I guess… this time, I'll just go alone," I muttered to myself.

Staring at the long list of destinations on the itinerary, I booked a flight and cruise to Acreatic.

Then, without hesitation, I tossed our number ticket for the marriage registration queue into the trash.

Even though I had already decided to leave, I broke down the moment I saw the room I had decorated so carefully.

The wedding photo on the wall captured Bertrand's impatient expression. The wedding dress had been a solo performance, chosen after countless fittings.

Every single piece of furniture in that room, every detail, had been arranged by me, and me alone.

Like someone possessed, I tore through the room, packing everything I could.

But when I came across two plane tickets to Saltorlini, I suddenly froze.

I looked at the flight time and finally broke down in tears.

So that's where he had been on my twenty-seventh birthday. He had gone with Marina…to the one place I had dreamed of visiting the most.

"Annie, how did you know I was planning to take you to Saltorlini?"

Bertrand returned while I was still packing. He didn't even notice that the room had been emptied, that the decorations were gone. He was simply delighted to see me packing.

Like a child showing off a prize, he pulled out two tickets. "See? I already bought the tickets. We're flying tomorrow. Come on, don't be mad at me anymore, okay?"

My heart, which had started to harden, wavered just a little as he coaxed me gently for a while.

Then suddenly, he asked, "By the way, where's that custom pain relief spray I had made for you? Marina needs it."

He was talking about the spray he had specially ordered for me three years ago, when I had cut my hand peeling an apple.

He had personally consulted an overseas expert to have it made.

I still remembered how he held my hand and said, "It'll help with the pain, but I hope you'll never have to use it."

Because of how much it meant to him, I had kept it sealed away with care, always trying not to get hurt.

I never imagined he would ask for it now for another woman.

He still looked at me with the same gentle affection. But my heart had begun to turn cold, inch by inch.

Of course… compared to Marina, who was I now?

Just as I was about to speak, a familiar buzz came from my phone.

I opened it and saw another new update from Marina.

"What's so special about Saltorlini? The Maldewes sounds way more fun."

She flashed a peace sign at the camera, a not-so-subtle jab that made me give up on arguing altogether.

I pointed to the cabinet nearby. "It's in there. Go ahead and take it."

Bertrand bent down to grab it, then rushed out again.

Before leaving, he reminded me, "Oh right, the flight's at three in the afternoon. Don't forget to meet me at the airport."

Meet—not pick up. It was clear who else would be on this trip.

I watched his retreating figure and finally gave up completely.