Chapter 1

At our engagement party, the million-dollar jade bracelet Draven bought couldn't fit on my wrist.

Scarlett, the "little sister" he tutored years ago, snatched the bracelet away and said, "Wasn't this made to fit my wrist? Draven, why don't you buy her another one? I really like this."

Draven didn't mind her behavior at all, looking at her with doting eyes.

Under the spotlight, I, the bride-to-be, felt my eyes welling up with tears.

Scarlett smirked provocatively, "Meadow, Draven has always spoiled me. You don't mind, do you?"

Draven chimed in, "Stop acting. In front of all these people, are you trying to make me lose face?"

I smiled graciously, "The bracelet suits you better. Why don't you take my place as the bride today?"

After all, I don't want this fiancé anymore either.

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Scarlett grinned smugly, clearly pleased with herself.

Draven, however, seemed momentarily stunned, as if he wasn't used to my reaction.

His friend quickly tried to smooth things over, and the atmosphere gradually lightened up again.

In truth, this wasn't the first time Scarlett had snatched away a gift he'd meant for me, nor was it the first time he'd cast me aside for her.

I'd lost count of how many times this had happened. At that moment, with all eyes on us, I just felt utterly exhausted.

Suddenly, Scarlett let out a weak cry, her body swaying as if she might collapse. "Draven, honey, I'm feeling faint. Could you take me home?"

I couldn't help but chuckle, "My, Scarlett, you sure have impeccable timing for these spells."

Hearing my tone, Draven's patience wore thin.

"Cut the sarcasm. You know about Scarlett's condition."

Scarlett, meanwhile, clung to him pitifully. "Don't blame Meadow. It's all my fault for causing you trouble. I'm just so unlucky."

Draven was overcome with concern and prepared to leave with her.

I quickly stepped in to block them. "Draven, this is our engagement party. All our friends are still here."He let out a sound, struggling to suppress his anger, "Can't you see Scarlett is about to faint? You're deliberately provoking her to apologize to you. Is your heart really that narrow? Are you trying to force a marriage this way?"

These words instantly plunged me into an icy abyss.

This engagement party was only agreed upon after repeated requests from me.

He said that since we were going public with our relationship on his side, there was no need to invite my family. As a result, almost everyone present was his family and friends.

For years, from his assistant to his girlfriend, I had always been treated as a clinging vine, dependent on him.

I hoped that before I became his wife, he would tell everyone that Meadow was his official girlfriend and the business partner who had accompanied him all the way.

However, I still didn't get to see that moment. Once again, Scarlett destroyed a pivotal moment in my life.

At this point, did I need to continue? My heart already knew the answer.

I still remember that industry exchange conference where, as a fledgling entrepreneur, he passionately pitched his startup plan to my father.

And I, standing not far away, was instantly captivated by his demeanor.

Despite my inner pride, I willingly lost myself in those eyes full of emotion.I stubbornly persuaded my father to invest in his company, and I accompanied him step by step as his assistant.

I knew from the start that he had a "little sister" from when he was a college tutor.

And this so-called sister, naturally, kept intervening in our world time and time again.

When I was helping him entertain difficult clients, Scarlett would call with a coquettish voice, and he'd immediately abandon me and leave.

In the middle of the night, while we were sound asleep, Scarlett would call him out to search for her family's cat.

Even when I had a high fever of 106°F, he could rush out on a rainy night just because she said she wanted some dessert.

Whenever I expressed my dissatisfaction, he would immediately and self-righteously accuse me of being narrow-minded.

He'd say that if it weren't for taking on her tutoring job in college, he probably wouldn't have had money even for food.

Moreover, her parents were divorced and both living abroad, entrusting her care to him.

She had poor health, and living alone made her vulnerable to bad people, so he felt obligated to take extra care of her.

Thus, a shadow always loomed over our world as a couple.

And I, his fiancée who had accompanied him to entrepreneurial success but developed migraines, insomnia, and anxiety, became synonymous with being overly sensitive and jealous.

At this moment, I was as pathetic as a joke.