Chapter 2

"Mr. and Mrs. Nott, don't be so harsh with Milo," Poppy said. "What do you mean by that? He is my fiance, and no one can take his place."

I watched as Poppy slowly walked toward me and felt a surge of emotion. She was still on my side, just as she had been since we were kids.

Poppy took my hand and whispered in my ear, "Milo, I'm just playing along with him for now. I'll take you skiing soon, just like you've always wanted."

Trevor, who had trailed right behind her, smirked when he heard this.

A bitter smile crept onto my face.

We grew up together, so how could she have forgotten that I'd suffered a concussion from a fall while practicing skiing as a child? Ever since then, I'd been traumatized and afraid of skiing. The one who had been pestering her to go skiing was Trevor.

So, I was his stand-in after all. Nothing had ever changed.

Trevor casually placed his arm on my shoulder. "Sure, we can all go together."

My parents tugged on Poppy's sleeve. "Poppy, don't waste your time over someone irrelevant."

Poppy pulled free of their grasp and whispered, "Don't overthink it. He dumped me five years ago, so I can't let this slide. I'll use these five days to get back at him. Once this is over, I'll marry you, and we can live our lives in peace."

I nodded and watched them walk away.

Just then, I received a message from my boss, Alex Ruffalo.

"Milo, the corporate headquarters in Mardor is very impressed with you. They want to transfer you there. If you're okay with it, you'll leave in five days."

I looked up at the stage. Poppy was standing beside Trevor with her arm linked through his, posing for photos with both sets of parents.

They were the picture-perfect family, while I had always been nothing more than an outsider.

I choked back the bitterness in my throat and replied, "No problem. I'll head back to the office now and hand over my work."

My instant reply caught Alex off-guard. He asked curiously, "Aren't you getting married today? There's no need to rush. Talk to your wife about this. You can just come over tomorrow."

After losing her sight in the car accident and being abandoned by Trevor at her lowest point, Poppy developed a severe mental illness.

When I first began caring for her, she scratched me so badly every day that I was covered in wounds. But over time, she got used to my presence and couldn't fall asleep at night unless she was holding my hand.

Had the transfer come along earlier, I would have certainly worried about Poppy's mental state and sacrificed my career to stay and look after her.

But now, she stood beside Trevor, smiling brightly. It seemed like her mental state had been fully restored to what it had been before her diagnosis.

Since the one Poppy truly loved was back, it was time for a stand-in like me to leave.

I replied to Alex, "No, I'm not getting married anymore."

Trevor slipped the ring onto Poppy's finger, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

I left without anyone noticing.

…

After handing over my work at the company, I stepped out of the office building and saw Poppy.

Instead of being at the wedding venue, she was waiting for me, leaning against a luxury car. When she spotted me, she waved.

My colleagues shot me teasing glances before walking away.

I was perplexed by what was happening but decided to approach her anyway.

"Milo, why did you suddenly leave? I bet you haven't eaten yet. I'll take you…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Trevor got out of the driver's seat and interrupted her impatiently. "Poppy, why are you wasting your breath on him?"

Then, he turned to me. "Milo, you've worn the Steele family's heirloom pendant for five years. It's time to give it back to me."

Poppy gave him a slight shove, telling him to watch his tone. Then she whispered to me, "Don't listen to his nonsense. I will only recognize you as my fiance. But Trevor wants to wear that pendant to today's family dinner. Could you lend it to him? He'll return it tomorrow."