Chapter 1

On April Fool's Day, Levi proposed to me over the phone.

The very next day, he took it back, using April Fool's as an excuse.

This is the prank he pulls every April Fool's Day without fail. This is the ninth time.

In past years' April Fool's lies, he's gathered friends to set me up, causing me to lose my entire company. He's also purposely called some thugs pretending to be clients, forcing me to drink until I had a bleeding ulcer, and more...

This year, he made a joke out of what I desire most.

After hanging up, I overheard Levi's friends roaring with laughter in their private room:

"Stella is such a pathetic woman! You've toyed with her so many times, yet she's still so desperately eager to marry you!"

Levi smugly looked at the phone he'd just hung up, lazily taking a sip of his drink:

"What can I say? Although this woman isn't good enough for me, she's truly a rare find as a dutiful wife and mother. If I marry her, no matter how I play around outside, she'll never question it."

"I really like that about her. This way, no one will stop me from being with Vivi, and I'll have a plain Jane to manage the household. What's not to love?"

"So I've decided! After I've had my fun a hundred times, I'll officially marry her!"Levi's brothers burst into laughter:

"Levi really knows how to handle women, making the most of every situation! From now on, when we're playing with women, we should learn from Levi's example!"

I gripped my phone tightly, unable to hold back a bitter laugh at my own expense.

So, the love I once held so sincerely in my heart was worth nothing in Levi's eyes.

Ten years of waiting would wear out even a machine.

Levi.

Those nine times I believed you were my love for you.

Now, I'm taking back my affection.

I lowered my head and dialed the number:

"Mom, Dad, I've made my decision. I'm coming home for the arranged marriage. I won't be staying here anymore."

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1

As I put down the phone, the searing pain in my chest continued to spread.

I couldn't believe that someone who once seemed to love me so much had been deceiving me from the very beginning.

Clearly, in the beginning, he was the one who pursued me, using countless tactics to finally win over the woman known as the "Ice Queen who would never fall in love."

Back then, he held me so tenderly and said:

"Stella, you're the star I fought with all my might to pluck from the sky. How could I not cherish you in the palm of my hand?"Levi emerged from the private room, phone in hand, his ears tinged red as he spoke:

"Wendy, did you see the gift I sent you? It's that mansion. Do you like it? I like you too."

He spoke with such sincerity.

There was none of the playfulness from when he called me on April Fools' Day.

It wasn't a big deal, but it felt like a dull hammer pounding my heart, leaving me breathless with pain.

As I turned the corner of the hallway, Levi saw me. He put on a fake excited smile, but couldn't hide the momentary panic in his eyes:

"Why are you here? Is it because of that joke? Did you... hear anything just now?"

"Hear what?" I feigned ignorance.

He quickly regained his composure, wrapping his arms around me from behind, his hands starting to wander.

Suddenly feeling annoyed, I stopped his restless hands:

"It's not convenient here, and I'm on my period."

A flash of displeasure crossed Levi's face, but he still kissed my forehead, saying in a gentle tone:

"I was just joking with the guys earlier. Don't take it to heart. It's April Fools' Day, why so serious? Being overly sensitive isn't attractive."

The last sentence carried a hint of boredom and warning that even he didn't notice.I smirked with a hint of self-mockery, and softly replied:

"I understand."

Then I wriggled out of his embrace and walked away alone.

Leaving a momentarily bewildered Levi standing there.

He wasn't yet aware of why, at the moment I had just left, he felt an inexplicable sense of unease.

The rain was heavy that day, but I couldn't remember how I made it back to the mansion.