“Postpone the wedding? Just like that?”

“Did something happen?”

Jude lit a cigarette, the smoke curling around his pensive face. “There was an unexpected situation. I need to head to Paris for an art exhibition, and I won't be back for a while.”

I didn't press. I'd never meddled in Jude's business. Besides, a slight delay to the wedding wouldn't hurt. But Paris... What a fascinating city it must be.

The day after Jude left for Paris, I did the same, booking a ticket to follow him. People often thought I had it easy—that tying myself to Jude, a prominent figure in high society, guaranteed me a life of luxury and ease. But I never intended to rely on anyone.

I've always poured myself into my love of finance, achieving modest but meaningful success through my own efforts. Not long ago, a leading company in Paris extended a tempting job offer to me. Accepting it would have meant uprooting my life to another country for years. With our wedding on the horizon, the thought of being separated from Jude for that long didn't sit right with me. After a lot of back-and-forth, I politely turned it down.

But now, with nothing urgent tying me down, I decided to seize the opportunity—visit the company in Paris, broaden my horizons, and maybe even surprise Jude by showing up.