Chapter 1

A mere seven days before the nuptials, heavy snowfall rendered the roads impassable. Luckily, I had preemptively filled the house with provisions.

Clyde welcomed his old flame and began cohabiting with her.

He cunningly persuaded me to reside at a companion's vacation home, which was devoid of sustenance and refreshments.

He and his former sweetheart ostentatiously displayed their sumptuous meals on Instagram Stories each day.

I endured hunger in the lodge, bereft of food, water, and electrical power.

Once the roads were cleared, he dispatched urgent messages during the wedding preparations.

I had already retreated to my family's residence. I sent him a communication stating, "I'll allow you two to be together."

——

Betty Winn shared an Instagram Stories post about Clyde York's former girlfriend.

"It's snowing, and savoring hot pot is incredibly enjoyable. I'm grateful to be in love with him."

Beneath was an image of two hands entwined. I immediately identified the masculine hand—it belonged to my betrothed, Clyde. The band on his finger was one I had selected.

Subsequently, Clyde approved of Betty's Instagram Stories.

Noticing Clyde's internet connectivity, my numb fingers dialed his number once more.

Clyde finally responded to the call.

I hastily explained, "Clyde, my vehicle is out of fuel and my phone is nearly drained. Could you come and retrieve me? It's frigid here and there's nothing to consume."

Observing my phone's 1% battery, I silently hoped it would persist a bit longer.

However, laughter emanated from the other end.

Then Clyde's closest friend, Nick Hanson, spoke loudly.

"Angela, we wagered with Clyde. If you can endure in my vacation home without food, water, or electricity until the wedding day, it signifies your genuine love for Clyde."

"All of our associates from Clyde's in-laws will address you as sister-in-law in the future. We'll ensure to counsel Clyde to compose himself and cease considering our idol, his first love, Betty."

I was dumbfounded. Snow had been falling heavily for a month, and the roads were perilous. Most of the city was inaccessible.

There was no water, no electricity, no sustenance or beverages. How could we persevere until the wedding a week later?

Clyde claimed he needed his blood pressure medication but had forgotten it at Nick's vacation home. So, he requested I drive there to retrieve it. I risked my life, traveling so far to obtain the medicine.

Upon reaching the vacation home, I discovered it empty, without water or electricity. It became apparent he had merely been testing my devotion.

But I had been pursuing Clyde for a decade. I wasn't just Angela Duncan; I was his secretary. I had cared for him for ten years. Wasn't that sufficient proof of my love?

I simply desired Nick to return the phone to Clyde.

Clyde seized the phone.

"We didn't wager on anything. Angela, I simply want to spend a week with Betty before getting married."

"After marriage, you'll enter a nightmarish confinement, and you can no longer associate with Betty. I can't allow people to label Betty as an interloper."

Hearing this, my heart felt colder than the minus ten degree weather.

Is marrying me akin to entering hell? I nearly wept as I inquired.

"Clyde, so you deliberately deceived me to come here? And you intentionally terminated the water and electricity merely because you don't want me to interfere?"

Clyde, conversely, paused before speaking.

"Angela, can you assist me and Betty for a week? Remain there for seven days, and afterward, I will honor the marriage agreement settled by our elders and wed you."

"For just this week, I want to belong to Betty. Don't contact me again; I'll block all your contact information for the next few days and then unblock it after the marriage."

After uttering those words, he ended the call without waiting for my response.

I dialed his number again, but it was no longer reachable. He had indeed blocked me.