Chapter 1

Shane Stafford quickly took off the suit he was trying on and grabbed his phone to book the next flight to Maldivea.

“We’ll postpone the wedding for a few more days. Talk to your parents and explain it to them.”

They had been together for six years, but Bethany Cole had lost count of how many times Shane had left her because of Yelena White.

A moment ago, she had been filled with happiness thinking about the wedding, but the joy in her eyes faded quickly.

Because of Yelena, the wedding had been postponed repeatedly. Bethany had become a joke among her family and friends.

The frustration boiled in her chest until she could hardly breathe. Tears filled her eyes, even though she tried to hold them back.

After booking the tickets, Shane turned around and saw the tears in Bethany’s eyes. His heart sank, and he spoke with a trace of guilt in his voice.

“You know Yelena is sick. If we don’t go along with her wishes, she’ll hurt herself. I can’t just leave her alone.”

Before Bethany could say anything, Shane’s phone rang.

It was Yelena calling to urge him to hurry over.

Shane spoke gently to calm her down. He told her the tickets were booked and that he would come to pick her up soon. He told her to start packing her things.

When he hung up and looked at Bethany again, the guilt in his eyes was gone.

“I have to go now, or I’ll miss the flight. You can finish trying on the dress and take a cab home.”

Bethany’s hands clenched tighter as she watched Shane stride off.

Back in college, Shane had been known in his department for being proud and distant. Many women chased after him.

Bethany pursued him for two years before she finally won his heart.

She cherished the relationship she had worked so hard for. She was always gentle and understanding toward him and never lost her temper like other women.

But no matter how much she tried, Shane was always distant.

They were a couple, yet there was always a distance between them.

She thought that was just the way Shane was. But when she saw how anxious he became after Yelena got hurt, she realized he was not an aloof man at all.

Everyone knew Yelena had feelings for Shane, but because of their family ties, Shane’s father would never approve of them being together.

Yelena used her illness as an excuse to come between them. And every time, Shane would just speak to her softly and appease her.

Sometimes, Bethany felt like she was nothing more than a part of their twisted game. The thought made her sick.

She had thought about leaving many times over the past six years. But whenever she tried to walk away, Shane would give in and beg her to stay.

It had happened so many times that her heart was filled with despair. All the warmth and hope were gone. All that was left was loneliness.

She had not always been like this. She used to be cheerful and full of life.

She had become easily upset and irritable recently. She spent her days bitter and full of self-pity.

Her constant compromise had made her lose who she used to be. The woman in the mirror looked unfamiliar and pitiful.

She did not want to keep wasting her time on Shane. If he did not care about their relationship, then she could replace the groom before the wedding even began.