Chapter 1

There was one week left until our wedding.

My fiancé, Henry Jones, asked me to rearrange the date—because on our wedding day, he needed to take his sister-in-law Ann to the hospital for a prenatal appointment.

The second I said we should break up, the air in the private room froze for a few beats—then the laughter exploded, loud enough to deafen my ears.

“Seriously? She’s that desperate? Forcing Henry to marry her?”

A flash of smugness crossed Ann’s eyes, but she sighed like she was worried for me.

“Henry, don’t blame her. She’s almost thirty. If she doesn’t get married soon, she’ll be too old—of course she’s anxious.”

“And I… I have my prenatal checkup this Friday. That OB was hard to book.”

She bit her lip, voice trembling on purpose.

“If Rory is really that anxious, then… then we should satisfy her first. I can reschedule my appointment.”

As she spoke, her eyes turned red, as if she’d been wronged.

A man in a bright yellow jacket immediately laughed and chimed in:

“Exactly. Henry, everyone knows she’s been waiting for you for years. Of course, she gotta lock you down while she can. Otherwise, what if you run off? What’s she supposed to do then?”

Henry’s brows knit. He finally lifted his eyes to me.

Under the dim light, his sharply defined face—the face that once made my heart race—was now stamped with unmistakable impatience and blame.

“You know this pregnancy hasn’t been easy on Ann.” His tone was flat, like a verdict. “You also know this is the only child my late brother Ethan will ever have. As her future sister-in-law, why do you insist on fighting her for this day?”

My heart clenched so hard it hurt. Sourness spread through my chest like poison.

Of course, I knew.

Last week, when he was at the coast negotiating a deal, there was a traitor in the Jones family—someone leaked Henry’s location.

Ethan stood in front of him and told Henry to run. Ethan stayed behind and got taken. In a fit of rage, the enemy killed him.

I gripped the hem of my clothes, my voice so weak it was almost swallowed by the room.

“Do you even remember what Friday is?”

Henry clearly paused.

After a moment of silence, his voice softened a little—but the stubborn certainty remained, leaving no room to argue.

“I know it’s your birthday. I know you want to fulfill your mother’s last wish so she can rest in peace.”

He took a slow breath, as if forcing himself to stay calm.

“But Rory… people need to be flexible. Why does it have to be on your birthday? One day earlier or later—what’s the difference?”

I opened my mouth—then the words jammed in my throat.

What could I say?

Was I supposed to tell him Ann was carrying a baby that wasn’t Ethan’s, and that she only married Ethan for revenge?

Or remind him that five years ago, beside my mother’s hospital bed, he’d held my hand with red, tearful eyes and made a promise?

“Ma’am, don’t worry. I swear—before Rory turns thirty, I’ll make her my wife. The Donna of the Jones family.”

Maybe he’d already forgotten those vows.

But I’d clung to them like a lifeline. I never dared loosen my grip.

In the end, all my arguments and struggle turned into a silent tide—crashing into my heart, then retreating helplessly.

He wouldn’t believe me anyway.

He never had.

So, I only answered softly:

“Fine.”

At my response, the tightness between Henry’s brows finally eased. Relief flickered across his face.

“I knew it,” he said, voice gentler now. “My Rory is always so sensible.”

Then he coaxed me, warm and sweet, as if I were a child throwing a tantrum:

“Good. Don’t sulk. Once Ann finishes her checkup, I’ll take you to get married right away, okay?”