"Have you found out who did this yet?"

Liam Martin's usually handsome, refined face was currently shrouded in a dark, suffocating shadow. He looked cold and lethal-the literal personification of the calm before a devastating storm.

At twenty-four, Liam had spent the last six years clawing his way to the CEO's chair, reclaiming everything that had been stolen from him. He was now the most powerful young tycoon in the city. But looking at the overlapping scars-some old, some horrifyingly fresh-on Sara Jay's body, his pride tasted like ash. He felt a mix of agonizing pity and murderous rage.

Who dared to break her like this? They were dead men walking.

His assistant kept his head bowed low, terrified to meet Liam's eyes. "Brandon is personally leading the investigation. We'll have a name soon."

If Chloe Bishop were here, she would realize her nightmare was manifesting into reality, piece by agonizing piece.

Liam reached out, gingerly taking Sara's hand as if she were made of glass. His gaze lingered on her swollen face. Beyond the heartbreak, there was the sheer shock of having her back. His uncle, Marcus Martin, had told him years ago that she was dead. Yet here she was, breathing, lying right in front of him.

"Sara," he whispered, his voice trembling with a tenderness Chloe had never experienced in all her nine years of knowing him.

Back when the car accident took his parents and half his leg, it was Sara who had stayed by him through the darkest, most suicidal nights of his life. She was the single candle in his pitch-black world. But the light had been snuffed out six months later when Marcus kidnapped her to use as leverage against Liam and Brandon.

For years, Liam's only link to her were occasional, cryptic photos sent by his uncle. Then, at Chloe's birthday gala years ago, she had publicly chosen him as her fiancé. Using the Bishop family's massive influence, Liam rose like a phoenix, eventually stripping Marcus of his power.

In a fit of rage, Marcus had sent Liam a photo of Sara lying in a pool of blood with a knife wound to her chest. He told Liam she was dead. When Marcus was finally sent to prison, he swore to Liam's face that he had killed her.

Liam's heart had died that day. He agreed to the marriage with Chloe mostly because Charles Bishop had pressured him, and he felt he couldn't owe Chloe any more than he already did.

But now? Chloe Bishop was the last thing on his mind. He squeezed Sara's hand. "Sara, I'm never leaving you again. I won't let anyone hurt you ever again."

It was a vow. In his heart, no one could replace her-not even the woman who had spent six years rebuilding his life.

In the study down the hall, his staff exchanged worried glances. Today was the wedding of the century, but the groom hadn't even started getting dressed. Finally, a brave guard knocked on the door.

"Mr. Martin, the schedule... it's time to change and leave to pick up the bride."

Liam didn't move. He sat by the bed like a statue. It was only after a long silence that he finally stood up. "Get my suit."

An hour later, the wedding motorcade pulled up to the Bishop estate. Dozens of luxury supercars lined the street-a display of wealth and power that took the breath away. The Bishop villa was alive with laughter, music, and the smell of expensive flowers.

"They're here! The groom is here!"

The cheers from downstairs reached the balcony. Chloe, stunning in her designer gown, ignored all royal etiquette and rushed to the railing to sneak a peek at the lead car.

"Chloe! Get back in here and sit down!" her mother's voice scolded from inside. "It's bad luck to be seen before the ceremony!"

"Just one look, Mom!" Chloe teased, winking as she peered over the edge.

"No!"

Seeing her mother's stern face, Chloe giggled and retreated back into the room. Her mother tapped her forehead affectionately. "Stay put. Your father and I are going down to greet them. And girls," she looked at the bridesmaids, "when Liam comes up, lock the door. Don't let him in until the clock strikes the auspicious hour, you hear me?"

Chloe's eyes danced with joy. Ever since she saw that boy in white years ago, no other man had ever existed to her. She had waited years; she could wait another thirty minutes.

As the festive fireworks crackled outside, Chloe looked at her reflection and beamed. "Liam... I'm finally becoming your wife."

Down at the gates, Liam stepped out of the Rolls-Royce. In his white tailored tuxedo, he looked like a god. His presence was so commanding that people completely forgot about his slight limp. He began walking toward the house, flanked by his groomsmen, when his phone buzzed.

It was Brandon Jay. The investigation was over.

"Brandon," Liam answered.

"We found the person behind Sara's kidnapping," Brandon's voice was darker than usual, dripping with a lethal edge.

"Who is it?" Liam asked.

Directly in front of him, Charles Bishop and his wife were walking toward him with wide, welcoming smiles. To them, Liam was the perfect son-in-law.

"It's Charles Bishop," Brandon said firmly. "Sara was being held at the old Bishop estate this entire time. Charles was the one who hid her away."

Liam's pupils constricted. The warmth in his eyes died instantly, replaced by a frost so cold it could shatter bone.

"Are you certain?"

"Positive."

Liam lowered his hand, his phone dropping to his side. He looked at the smiling couple approaching him and felt a surge of sickening irony. Any lingering guilt he felt about the plan he'd set in motion vanished.

He had planned to explain things to Chloe personally, but now? He didn't want to say a word. She must have known. She must have watched her father torture Sara while she played the "perfect fiancée."

Chloe... I really underestimated how cruel you could be.

Upstairs, Chloe was blissfully unaware, laughing with her bridesmaids as they took selfies. One of her best friends, Bella, handed her a small, beautifully wrapped box.

"Chloe, this is a special gift from us. Your mom was here earlier so I couldn't give it to you. Open it!"

"What is it? Why so mysterious?" Chloe opened the box and blinked. "What... what on earth is this?"

It was a set of incredibly provocative, sheer black lace lingerie.

Bella gave her a wicked grin. "It's for the wedding night, girl! We want to make sure Liam never wants to leave the bedroom."

Chloe pinched the tiny scrap of black lace between her fingers, her expression filled with pure skepticism. "Are you serious? Is this even wearable?"

Wouldn't just pinning him down be faster and more efficient? she thought.

Bella rolled her eyes at Chloe's lack of romantic vision. "What do you know? Men love this 'peek-a-boo' style. It's called keeping the spark alive in a marriage."

Nora, another bridesmaid, added with a gentle smile, "Just trust us on this one, Chloe. You won't regret it."

"Really?" Chloe looked at the flimsy fabric again. A vivid, heated image flashed through her mind, and a soft blush crept up her neck, staining her porcelain cheeks. Tonight, she would finally be Liam Martin's wife.

Suddenly, a wave of commotion erupted from downstairs.

"I'll go check it out," Bella said, heading toward the balcony.

She returned moments later, her face drained of color and heavy with grim news. "Chloe... Liam is leaving."

In an instant, the blood vanished from Chloe's face. Even her expertly applied wedding makeup couldn't hide her deathly pallor. The nightmare... it's coming true?

"The wedding is off."

Those four words, dropped like a bomb by Liam, shattered the peace of the Bishop estate. It hit the guests with such force that it took several long seconds for anyone to process the reality.

The groom was jilting her! He was running away!

As the realization set in, Charles Bishop sprinted out the front door with desperate speed. He threw himself in front of the lead wedding car-a custom open-top supercar-forcing it to a halt. "Liam! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Because the car was open, every detail of Liam's icy demeanor was visible. He looked at Charles with a gaze of pure, sharp steel. "The wedding is canceled. Every promise I made is null and void."

"What are you saying?" Charles's face turned white as a sheet.

Liam's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "You should have expected this result the moment you decided to kidnap Sara Jay, shouldn't you?"

A flash of panic flickered in Charles's eyes. His greatest fear had come to pass.

Three months ago, a cornered Marcus Martin-driven to desperation by Liam-had brought Sara Jay to Charles, begging for help to flee the city. That was the first time Charles had even known Sara existed.

To be honest, Sara wasn't a breathtaking beauty; she couldn't even begin to compare to Chloe's radiant looks. However, she possessed an aura that made men instinctively want to protect her. She was fragile, pure, and looked like a broken doll.

Fearing that Sara's reappearance would ruin Chloe's relationship with Liam, Charles had hidden Sara away and immediately began pressuring the two to get married. He had planned to confess everything after the ceremony, but Sara had vanished last night. He had spent the morning praying the wedding would go smoothly without any "surprises."

He had failed.

"Liam, listen to me. I can explain everything," Charles pleaded, his voice cracking. "Today is the biggest day of Chloe's life. Don't do something impulsive that will break her heart."

"I said the wedding is over." Liam showed no mercy. He glared at Charles, his rage boiling over. "Move."

For three months! Charles had kept Sara prisoner for three months while Liam lived in a lie, believing she was dead. He had nearly walked into a marriage based on a deception. Did the Bishops really think I was that big of a fool?

Thinking of the scars on Sara's body, Liam's hatred for Charles burned white-hot. If his men hadn't found her last night, she would have been brutalized by thugs. How could he ever forgive this?

"Liam, be reasonable!" Charles shouted, half-angry and half-terrified. "All our friends and family are here. Chloe is waiting for you inside. Do you really want to make her the laughingstock of the whole city?"

"You brought this on yourselves," Liam retorted. "Let me make this clear, Charles. As of today, I have absolutely no connection to the Bishop family."

As of today, I have absolutely no connection to the Bishop family.

Chloe had just run out of the house when those words hit her. She froze in her tracks, staring at the man in the car. Liam saw her, too. They were only a few yards apart. He could see that her face had turned almost transparently pale.

She had always been a head-turner, but in her full bridal glory, she was breathtaking. The pure white gown accentuated her elegance and high-society grace. For a split second, she stunned him all over again.

Liam realized then that if Chloe had never met him, she would have been the most beautiful, happy bride in the world. But now, those bright, sparkling eyes were turning dim because of him. For a fleeting moment, he felt a pang of guilt. He was truly ruining her.

But compared to what Sara had suffered, Chloe was lucky.

Liam pulled his gaze away and looked back at Charles with cold indifference. He reversed the car a few yards, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper. "I'm saying it one last time. Move."

Charles thought of Chloe's happy face only moments ago, then looked at the heartless man before him. His heart bled for his daughter. He knew better than anyone how much Chloe loved Liam.

He stood his ground, shouting back, "Liam, if you're so determined to leave, you'll have to drive over my dead body!"

Liam's face darkened. He locked eyes with Charles for a tense, silent beat-then suddenly slammed on the gas, roaring the car straight toward him.

"NO!"

A scream ripped from Chloe's throat. Just as everyone expected Charles to be sent flying, the car swerved at the last millisecond, brushing past him with a screech of tires.

Charles stumbled, then immediately began chasing the car as it sped away. "Come back! You coward, get back here!"

Chloe wanted to scream for her father to stop. If Liam was cruel enough to leave her at the altar, his heart was already gone. What was the point of dragging back a man who didn't want to stay?

But Chloe couldn't make a sound. She could only watch as they moved further and further away.

At the nearby intersection, the wedding car took a sharp turn. A sedan speeding from the other direction had no time to brake. Charles, caught in the middle of the road while chasing Liam, was directly in its path.

CRASH.

"DAD! NO!"

"NO! CHARLES!"

"Mrs. Bishop! Mrs. Bishop, oh my god... she's bleeding! Someone call an ambulance! Hurry!"

Do you know what color the sky is? To Chloe at that moment, it was a suffocating, ashy gray.

Outside the Operating Room.

Chloe sat on a plastic chair, still wearing her million-dollar designer wedding dress. She was trembling, sitting as still as a lifeless mannequin. The dress, once pure and white, was now stained with dark, wet patches of blood. Against the crimson stains, her skin looked as white as paper.

The blood on the lace and her pale skin looked like blooming, aggressive roses, making her beauty seem fragile yet haunting.

Just moments ago, her father had been rushed into emergency surgery. Her mother, in the shock of the accident, had gone into premature labor and was in another room undergoing an emergency C-section.

The Bishop relatives who had followed them to the hospital were fuming with indignation. But looking at Chloe, sitting there devoid of any life, no one had the heart to speak. Liam Martin... what a curse he turned out to be.

Chloe stared blankly at her blood-stained hands. Her mind was a broken record, playing the crash over and over. Liam had seen it. He had paused for a second after the impact.

But then, he had driven away.

He saw the accident, and he chose to leave them there in the dirt.

Why? What happened? This was supposed to be our happiest day.

They had been so happy. They never fought. Why did everything flip in a single morning?

Chloe thought back to the nightmare. Is it because of Sara Jay? Is she back? What were my father and Liam hiding from me?

Hours passed. Mrs. Bishop suffered a major hemorrhage, but luckily, both mother and the new baby girl survived. Charles also made it through surgery, but due to severe head trauma, he had fallen into a deep coma. The doctors said his recovery depended on when-or if-he woke up.

Once things stabilized, Chloe calmly saw the relatives out and gave the household staff clear instructions. On the surface, she was eerily composed and efficient.

A maid brought her clean clothes to change into. When Chloe finally held the tiny, new life-her baby sister-her vision finally blurred with tears.

After a long time, she put the baby down. Her voice was hoarse. "Nanny, I'm going out for a while. Take care of them."

Her mother, drifting in and out of sleep, suddenly gripped the bedsheet. "After everything... are you still going to look for him?" she whispered with a mix of weakness and resentment.

Chloe forced a tiny, grim smile. "Don't worry, Mom. I just want an answer. I'll be back soon."

As she stepped out of the hospital, a tall, lean man approached her, his face etched with worry. "Chloe."

It was Justin, Liam's best friend.

Chloe looked at him with dull eyes. "Why haven't you gone home?"

"I was worried about you," Justin said softly. "Are you going to the Martin estate?"

Chloe nodded.

"I'll drive you." Chloe didn't refuse.

Inside the car, she pulled out her phone. Since the "incident," Liam hadn't called or texted once. She stared at the screen for a long time before finally dialing his number.

It rang several times. Then, he hung up.

He wouldn't even take her call. Why?

"Justin... do you know why he left today?" Chloe looked at him.

Justin knew exactly who she was talking about, but her eerie calmness made him uneasy. "I'm not sure, Chloe. That's something you need to ask him yourself."

Chloe saw her reflection in the window. She looked like a ghost-bloodless and hollow. She turned away and didn't say another word.

One hour later, at the Martin Estate.

Liam was having dinner with Brandon and Sara Jay. Sara had woken up at noon; she looked frail, her skin unnaturally pale from years of being kept away from the sun.

"Sir, Miss Bishop is here," a maid announced, stepping into the dining room.

Liam acted as if he hadn't heard a thing. He continued placing food onto Sara's plate-dishes she had loved when they were children.

Sara beamed at him like an innocent child, yet her smile carried a delicate, feminine charm that was deeply moving. Liam's eyes were full of doting affection. "Eat more if you like it."

After a moment, the maid spoke again. "Sir, Miss Bishop is still at the door."

Thinking of what Charles had done, Liam's voice turned like ice. "I'm not seeing her."

Before the words could even land, Chloe walked into the room with long, purposeful strides. Behind her, Justin followed, dragging two injured security guards.

At the sight of the strangers, Sara jumped up, her pretty face turning ghostly white like a startled deer.

Chloe froze. Sara Jay. It really is her.

Liam glanced at Chloe, then stood up and pulled the trembling Sara into his arms, whispering comfortingly, "Don't be scared. It's okay. They're just... friends of mine."

"Oh... friends of yours?" Sara looked at Chloe and gave her a friendly, innocent smile. Her eyes were clear and pure.

To Chloe, that smile was like a physical blow to the chest. After six years with Liam, this was the first time she felt a visceral, overwhelming threat from another woman. Sara's beauty was untouched by the world-she was the "white rose" that lived in every man's heart.

The irony was bitter. Chloe, the fiancée, had no idea when she had even returned. Had she been that blind?

"Sorry, Mr. Martin, we couldn't stop them," the two guards muttered, heads bowed in shame.

Liam looked at Justin, then shifted his gaze back to Chloe. After a few seconds of heavy silence, he spoke. "Come with me."

His voice was as calm and smooth as ever, as if the blood on her hands and the chaos at the wedding had never happened.

Chloe didn't move an inch. She pointed a finger at Sara. "You ditched our wedding because of her?"

Perhaps thinking Chloe's gesture was too aggressive toward Sara, Liam's tone grew colder. "We're going upstairs to talk."

"We're talking right here," Chloe insisted.

Liam stared at her for a long time without answering.

"Sara, let's go outside for a bit," Brandon said, leading his sister away. The staff and guards followed suit, leaving the room empty except for Chloe and Liam.

"Did you leave me at the altar for her?" Chloe repeated.

"You really don't know?" Liam's eyes were filled with mockery. "Your father kept her prisoner in the old Bishop house for three months. Those scars on her body? They're thanks to your family. And you're going to tell me you had no idea who she was?"

Dad kidnapped Sara? It was exactly like the nightmare, minus the part where Liam sent men to hurt her.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I've never seen her before." Chloe met his gaze squarely. Even if her father had done something, she was truly in the dark. "But tell me... why would my father kidnap her in the first place?"

She wasn't stupid. If Liam and Sara didn't have a "history," why would her father go to such lengths?

Back then, Liam had told her he only saw Sara as a younger sister. Today, he had traded six years of their life together for that "sister."

Liam studied her face suspiciously. "You really didn't know?"

Chloe let out a dry, raspy laugh. "Liam... it seems that after all these years, we never actually knew each other at all."