Chapter 3

Noticing Liz’s gaze, Xena quickly reached up to cover the bracelet on her wrist. Panic flickered in her eyes as she instinctively shifted closer to Zac.

Zac pulled her behind him and looked down at Liz with impatience. “Why are you staring at Xena?”

Liz’s eyes were tinged with red. “Zac Lincoln, why did you give her the exact same bracelet? You told me it was one-of-a-kind, made just for me.”

“Xena saw you wearing it and said she liked it,” he replied casually. “What, was I supposed to make you give yours to her? It’s just a bracelet, Liz. Since when did you become so petty?”

His tone was dismissive, as if this were some trivial matter.

Liz stared at him in disbelief. “But when you gave it to me back then, you said—”

Zac cut her off with a frown. “Why do you always cling to the past? You said it yourself—that was back then.”

He had always hated it when Liz brought up the past. It reminded him of the version of himself that had failed over and over again while trying to start his business. Liz had been there for all of it—every breakdown, every moment of despair. Now that he had finally made it, he didn’t want to look back. And over time, he had grown tired of her too.

Liz looked at him, her eyes full of sorrow, like fragile glass on the verge of shattering.

“So the promises you made don’t mean anything now? They can be broken just like that?”

Zac gave her a cold look. “I promised to marry you, and I’m keeping that promise. You want to get married, and I agreed. What else do you want from me?

“Liz, the only thing I’ve done wrong is not loving you anymore. Am I not allowed to choose who I love?”

Liz blinked, and a single tear slipped down her cheek.

So this was what happened when a man fell out of love. All the promises he once made crumbled like a sandcastle, disappearing with the wind.

He could stop loving her just like that. But what about her? What was she supposed to do?

How was she supposed to convince herself to forget the moments when they were in love? How was she supposed to accept his change of heart? How could she let go of him and let go of everything they used to be?

Zac noticed her silence, her lips pale and pressed together. Without another word, he wrapped his arm around Xena and walked away. His figure quickly disappeared around the corner.

Liz stood in place for a long time, eyes burning. She took her time pulling herself together before turning back toward the private dining room.

The dinner didn’t end until late that night.

Only after the last of her coworkers had left the restaurant did Liz drive home.

When she opened the front door, the apartment was completely dark. As expected, Zac wasn’t home.

The image of him kissing Xena by the sink flashed through her mind again, and a dull, familiar ache settled in her chest.

She closed her eyes and forced the tears back.

Walking over to her vanity, she opened the jewelry box and took out the gold bracelet with the tulip design.

There was a time when seeing it would make her smile. Now, just looking at it sent a wave of pain through her.

If it was no longer something special, there was no reason to keep it.

A bitter smile touched her lips as she let it fall from her hand.

The bracelet dropped into the trash can with a soft clink, landing with a finality that echoed the moment her heart skipped when she first saw it on Xena’s wrist.

In the days that followed, Zac never came home.

Each day, Liz sent him one message, reminding him about the wedding dress fitting on Saturday.

He never responded.

On Saturday morning, Liz got out of bed, got ready, and sat in front of her vanity applying makeup, just like any other day. That was when a message from Zac finally came through.

“I’m at the bridal boutique.”

When Liz arrived and saw Xena tucked into Zac’s side, clinging to his arm like they were already a couple, her expression turned cold.

“Zac Lincoln, today is our wedding dress fitting. Why did you bring her here?”

Zac looked completely unfazed, as if there was nothing inappropriate about the situation. “After this, I have a business meeting with her. Are you seriously making a fuss over something so small?”

“Small? You really think this is just a small thing?”

He had brought his mistress to their wedding fitting like it was nothing. Was he planning to bring Xena to the ceremony too?

Xena quickly let go of his arm, looking flustered. “Mr. Lincoln, I told you I shouldn’t have come. Maybe I should head back to the office. I can wait until you’re done—”

“There’s no need,” Zac cut her off coldly.

He turned to Liz, his voice sharp. “Are you trying on the dress or not? I’m busy. I don’t have time to stand around here all day.”

Liz knew that tone. When Zac’s eyes dropped like that, it meant he was past the point of patience.

If she said no now, he would walk out without a second thought.

Without another word, Liz walked through the door and into the bridal boutique.

The boutique associate greeted her right away with a bright, professional smile.

When she noticed Zac following close behind, with Xena still clinging to his arm, there was a brief flicker of surprise in her eyes. But her smile never faltered.

“Good morning, Mr. Lincoln, Miss Smith. The custom gown you ordered has just arrived. Let me show you to the fitting area.”

Liz had studied fashion design for a short time, and the sketch for this gown had taken her six months to complete under the guidance of a well-known local designer. She had poured everything into it.

But all the excitement and anticipation she once felt had vanished the moment she saw Xena. Now, she was just here to get it over with.

She gave a quiet nod. “Alright.”

She followed the associate to the bridal section, where her gown was displayed in the center of the showroom.

It was a strapless design. The bodice was made of sheer tulle, embroidered with her favorite flower—tulips—stitched so delicately in French lace that they looked like they were blooming straight out of the fabric.

A slim band of tiny pearls, fine as stardust, circled the waist and shimmered softly under the lights. The front of the skirt was crafted from smooth satin, while the train behind it flowed in three layered tiers of satin and lace. It was elegant, lightweight, and structured just enough to hold its shape. Liz couldn’t take her eyes off it.

“This came in first thing this morning,” the associate said warmly. “A few other clients asked if they could try it on, but we’ve kept it reserved just for you. I know you’re going to look incredible in it.”

Xena had also spotted the gown. Her eyes lit up with admiration and envy. In her sweet, high-pitched tone, she chimed in, “It’s stunning. I heard Miss Smith designed it herself. You’re really talented. Isn’t she, Mr. Lincoln?”

Her syrupy voice made Liz feel like she had swallowed something rotten.

She turned, ready to respond, but froze when she saw Zac looking at Xena with a soft expression. He reached out and gently patted her on the head.

“You’re not bad either. That’s why I made you my secretary.”

Xena gave him a playful look. “You’re always teasing me.”

In that moment, Liz suddenly had nothing left to say.

What was the point?

If Xena had the nerve to show up here and flaunt herself, it was only because Zac had made her feel she could.

The boutique associate clearly wasn’t sure how to handle the awkward moment. She spoke gently, her tone cautious. “Miss Smith… would you still like to try on the dress?”

Liz turned back to her, her expression calm and steady. “Yes.”

The associate carefully removed the gown from the display and led Liz into the fitting room.

Because the dress had a lace-up corset in the back, it took more than ten minutes to get everything properly adjusted.

Liz was already beautiful—fair-skinned, with elegant features and a natural grace that made people take notice. She had the kind of quiet beauty that drew people in without trying. It was that very presence that had once made Zac fall for her at first sight.

Now, standing in the gown, she looked even more breathtaking.

As the associate knelt down to straighten the hem, she looked up and smiled. “Miss Smith, if I weren’t a woman myself, I think I’d fall in love with you right now.”

Liz lowered her eyes and offered a faint, polite smile. “Thank you.”

The associate could tell she wasn’t in the mood to talk. With a quiet sigh, she stepped aside and said nothing more.

When the curtain was finally drawn back, Zac was still staring down at his phone, replying to work messages. Xena was nowhere to be seen.

One of the staff gently called his attention. “Mr. Lincoln, Miss Smith is ready.”

Zac glanced up without much interest. His eyes swept over Liz, then drifted away again.

“It’s fine. Nothing special.”

He meant it. He really didn’t feel anything. These days, even if Liz were standing in front of him with nothing on, it wouldn’t stir a reaction.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Liz’s heart.

She remembered a moment from their first year together, when they had talked about getting married. He had once told her that no matter what she wore, she would be the most beautiful bride he had ever seen. He said that when he saw her in her gown, he would probably cry—just from the joy of knowing he was finally marrying her.

It had been such a small promise. He had probably forgotten all about it.

Eight years was a long time. Long enough for someone to fall for someone new. Long enough to completely erase another person from their life.

Sensing the heavy silence, the associate was about to say something to ease the mood when the curtain to the fitting room across the boutique suddenly opened.

Xena stepped out in a different wedding gown. She wore a bright smile, her expression composed and confident as she looked directly at Zac.

“Mr. Lincoln, I didn’t think the dress you picked would fit me so well. What do you think?”