After eight years of love, Liz Smith went from being the woman Zac Lincoln once saw as the love he could never forget, to someone he couldn’t wait to get rid of.

She had spent three years trying to hold on, giving everything she had. But once her last bit of affection ran dry, she finally gave up and walked away.

On the day they broke up, Zac sneered coldly and said, “Liz, I’ll be waiting for you to come crawling back, begging me to take you back.”

But what came instead wasn’t a plea—it was news that she was getting married.

Furious, he called her. “Are you done with your little game?”

A deep male voice answered from the other end. “Mr. Lincoln, my fiancée is in the shower. She can’t come to the phone right now.”

Zac let out a bitter laugh and hung up. He convinced himself it was just another one of Liz’s tricks—playing hard to get.

It wasn’t until her wedding day, when he saw her in a white gown, holding a bouquet, walking down the aisle toward another man, that reality finally hit him.

Liz had truly let him go.

Like a madman, he pushed through the crowd and rushed to her. “Liz, I know I was wrong. Please don’t marry someone else. Please.”

Liz lifted her dress and walked right past him. “Didn’t you say you and Xena were perfect for each other? Why are you kneeling at my wedding now, Mr. Lincoln?”

“Miss Smith, are you sure you want to cancel your wedding venue reservation?”

Liz Smith’s fingertips tightened slightly around her phone. Her voice was calm and unreadable. “Yes, I’m sure.”

“All right, understood. I’ll go ahead and process the cancellation.”

“Thank you.”

After hanging up, Liz took off the engagement ring on her left hand and set it gently on the table. Then she stood up, grabbed her suitcase, and walked out.

*

Half a month earlier, it was early evening when Liz walked out of the courthouse after finishing a case. The first thing she did was check her phone.

She opened her messaging app. At the top, the pinned conversation was filled with dozens of messages she had sent but none of them were answered.

Ever since she and Zac Lincoln had argued over the wedding invitation design last month, he had flown overseas for a business trip the very next day. No matter how many messages she sent or how many times she tried to make peace, he completely ignored her for the entire month.

In this relationship, Liz had already lowered herself as much as she possibly could, but no matter how hard she tried, she still couldn’t win Zac back.

Her best friend, Jane Stone, had finally had enough. She mocked Liz for handling countless divorce cases every year and dealing with every kind of scumbag, yet still falling head over heels for Zac and refusing to see him for who he really was.

But Liz wasn’t blind. She saw everything clearly. She just couldn’t let go.

She couldn’t let go of what they once had—the deep love, the bond they used to share. She couldn’t accept how things had become cold and strained between them, like two strangers who couldn’t stand each other.

And she couldn’t let go of Zac.

After eight years together, she no longer remembered what her life had been like before him. She didn’t know how to live without him.

She typed a few words into the message box, about to ask when he would be back. But just then, a notification appeared on her screen.

Zac had posted a new update on social media.

It was a simple photo of the ocean, but Liz recognized it immediately. It was the Maldives—the place she had mentioned countless times, the one she had always dreamed of visiting with him.

Her fingers paused. She was about to switch back to the chat when a message from Jane appeared.

Out of habit, she clicked it. It was a screenshot of someone else’s post—Xena Spencer’s.

It was the exact same photo of the ocean. But this one had a caption.

“I casually complained that I was tired of traveling for work, and he surprised me with a Maldives getaway!”

Zac knew exactly what the Maldives meant to her.

It was the place she had begged to go, countless times. He always said he was too busy.

But now he had taken another woman there.

Her eyes stung. A tear slipped down before she could stop it.

The chill in the evening air suddenly felt like it had reached her bones.

Then Jane called.

“That bitch Xena is seriously unbelievable. She knows you and Zac are about to get married, and she still posted that photo just to get under your skin?

“And Zac? What the hell is wrong with him? He could’ve taken her anywhere, but he chose the one place he knew you had always dreamed of going with him? Eight years, and this is how he treats you?

“They’ve been this shameless for three years. You’ve already been putting up with this crap for three years. Are you really going to marry him and live like this for the rest of your life?”

Liz felt her chest tighten, heavy with bitterness.

She understood every word Jane was saying.

But after eight years together, and with the wedding just a month away, she couldn’t bring herself to let go. Not yet.

She wanted to try one last time. If it still didn’t work, then she would accept it and walk away for good.

“Jane, the wedding dress fitting and bridesmaid try-ons are this Saturday. Don’t forget to come.”

There was a long pause on the other end. Then Jane cursed and hung up without another word.

If they kept talking, she was afraid Liz would drive her insane.

Everyone could see that Zac had already moved on. But Liz just wouldn’t let go. She was convinced that if she held on long enough, he would eventually come back.

What Liz didn’t know was that Jane had seen Zac more than once, arms around different women, walking into hotels like he didn’t have a fiancée waiting at home.

He was rotten. He wasn’t the man who used to look at Liz like she was his entire world. He had turned into a complete scumbag.

Men like him deserved to get hit by a car and be impotent for life.

*

That night, Liz barely slept. She had one nightmare after another and only managed to drift off near dawn.

She had just fallen asleep when she heard the fingerprint lock click at the front door.

Liz opened her eyes. Just as she sat up, Zac walked in.

He walked in, dragging a suitcase behind him, looking tired and worn from travel. But Liz immediately noticed the lipstick stain on his collar and the faint scratch marks across his chest.

Her grip on the blanket tightened. It felt like someone had shoved a block of ice into her chest, and the cold was spreading through every inch of her body.

When he saw she was awake, Zac raised an eyebrow. “Did I wake you?”

As he spoke, he wheeled the suitcase over to the closet and began searching for clothes.

Liz took a deep breath and stared at his back. “Did you take Xena to the Maldives?”

Zac froze, his hand hovering over a shirt. He turned around with a mocking smile. “What about it? If you like it that much, we can go there for our honeymoon.”

The sarcasm in his voice hit her hard. Liz’s face went pale.

“You know how much that place means to me.”

“So what? Just because you wanted to go, Xena couldn’t?”

“That’s not what I meant. I just—” I just wanted to go there with you.

Before she could finish, Zac interrupted, sounding impatient. “I just got back from a long trip. I'm exhausted. I really don't feel like arguing with you right now.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind him.

Liz lowered her eyes and stared at her fingertips, pale from how tightly she had been gripping the blanket. A bitter smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

There was a time when he would at least argue with her. Now, he couldn’t even be bothered to fight.

By the time Zac came out of the shower, Liz was already dressed. She sat at her vanity, calmly applying lipstick in front of the mirror.

She was wearing a floor-length dark green velvet gown. Her long hair flowed past her waist, and her makeup was flawless. She looked breathtaking—so beautiful it was almost impossible to look away.

Zac glanced at her without emotion, then quickly looked away.

As he reached for the door, Liz spoke in a quiet, steady voice. “The wedding dress fitting is on Saturday. I hope you won’t be late again.”

She had always hated people who were late. One of the reasons she agreed to be with Zac in the first place was because he had been reliable, always on time.

But ever since he stopped loving her, he had broken one promise after another—all for other women.

Zac gave a faint smile, laced with sarcasm. “Relax. I won’t be.”

Just then, his phone rang.

Whether it was intentional or not, he answered it on speaker. A sugary-sweet voice echoed from the phone.

“Mr. Lincoln, you were way too rough last night. I’m still sore. You better take responsibility.”

Zac let out a low, satisfied laugh. “I’ll be more gentle next time. I’ll grab you some ointment later.”

As his voice faded into the distance, Liz lowered her gaze and stared at the broken lipstick in her hand. Her face showed no emotion.

She dropped the snapped lipstick into the trash, then opened the second drawer of her jewelry box. Only a few scattered pieces remained.

It used to be packed with jewelry—hundreds of pieces, all gifts from Zac. But ever since he started cheating, she began throwing one away every time he disappointed her.

In the beginning, she did it slowly, hesitating each time. But over time, she discarded them more and more quickly. Now, there was almost nothing left.

Just like her love for Zac. It had once flooded her heart like a rising tide. Now all that remained was numbness and quiet resignation, nearly drained to nothing.

She picked up a delicate gold necklace with a tiny cat paw charm. It was a gift from their third anniversary.

Back then, Liz had been obsessed with the idea of getting a cat. She often stayed up late watching cat videos online.

When she received the necklace, she was overjoyed. She had turned that little paw over in her hand again and again, unable to stop smiling.

They had even made plans. After graduation, they would adopt a cat once they moved in together. They had already picked out a name—Gigi.

But of course, it never happened. Zac poured himself into his startup. Once it became successful, he only got busier. He barely had time for her, let alone time to think about getting a cat.

Looking back, that was probably when their relationship started to fall apart.

She had been too confident. She truly believed Zac would never change.

Swallowing the tight wave of emotion rising in her chest, Liz dropped the gold necklace into the trash and slowly closed the jewelry box.

Only five pieces were left.

She stood up, slipped on her coat, grabbed her bag, and walked out the door.

As soon as Liz arrived at the firm, a colleague walked over to congratulate her on another win.

“Congratulations, Miss Smith!”

“Miss Smith, that’s your sixth case this month, isn’t it? You really are the firm’s good luck charm.”

“I guess it’s true what they say. When love fails, your career takes off. Just look at how well you’ve been doing lately.”

The words had barely landed when someone nearby tugged on the speaker’s sleeve and gave them a warning glance. The room fell silent. Everyone shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Liz’s eyes.

Everyone at the firm knew she was engaged to Zac Lincoln. The ones who kept their ears open also knew he had been secretly seeing his secretary. But no one had ever dared to bring it up in front of Liz.

The colleague who had just spoken realized they had crossed a line and quickly apologized. “Miss Smith, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. Please don’t take it the wrong way.”

Liz’s face turned a shade paler. Her hand tightened around her briefcase handle, but she managed to force a smile.

“It’s fine. I’ll treat everyone to dinner tonight at Haven Bistro to celebrate. Be sure to keep your schedule open.”

Everyone chimed in with quick agreement, adding light jokes to smooth over the tension. Just like that, the awkward moment passed.

Back at her desk, Liz opened her laptop and began sorting through case files, preparing to write a case summary.

But after more than two hours, she had only written a few lines. Her mind was elsewhere, lost in thought.

That evening, Liz walked into Haven Bistro with a group of colleagues from the firm.

The moment they entered, she spotted two familiar figures sitting by the window.

She looked up and met Zac’s cold, indifferent gaze.

Her breath caught in her throat.

A second later, he looked away and smiled, acting as if she weren’t even there. He turned his attention back to Xena, gently feeding her a spoonful of dessert with a look of affection in his eyes.

Even in front of her coworkers, he couldn’t be bothered to show her a shred of respect.

One of the colleagues who was especially close to Liz turned bright red with anger. She stepped forward, ready to speak up for Liz.

Liz gently took hold of her colleague’s arm and spoke in a steady voice. “I’m fine. Let’s just go to the private room.”

Her colleague’s face was still filled with anger. She turned, ready to say something, but stopped short when she saw Liz forcing a smile—a smile that looked more painful than tears.

In the end, she said nothing and let Liz lead her toward the private dining room.

When it comes to love, only the person living it truly knows how it feels. If Liz wanted to keep pretending everything was fine, no one else had the right to interfere.

After the food was ordered, Liz stood up and told the group she was going to the restroom.

As she closed the door behind her, she could still hear the faint voices of her colleagues talking from inside the room.

“Did I see that right? Her boyfriend just fed dessert to another woman in front of her. He’s such a jerk.”

“I saw it too. I honestly don’t get it. What does she even see in a guy like that? She’s stunning. She could do so much better.”

“I guess it’s true what they say. Even the smartest people lose their sense when it comes to love. She’s always so clear-headed in court, but when it comes to her own relationship, it’s like she’s someone else.”

Liz didn’t hear the rest, but she could guess what was said.

They were right. Every word.

And yet, every time she thought about a future without Zac, a deep, unbearable ache filled her chest.

Eventually, she had learned to live with that feeling.

She had grown used to his indifference, to the lingering scent of other women’s perfume on his clothes, and to the slow, silent process of healing from one emotional wound after another.

But just as she reached the restroom door, her footsteps came to a sudden stop. It felt like her whole body had frozen in place.

Only a few feet ahead, what she saw hit her like a knife to the heart.

Xena was sitting on the edge of the sink counter while Zac stood between her legs, gripping her waist. His back was to Liz, and he was kissing Xena like they were completely alone in the world.

No matter how reckless he had been in the past, he had never crossed that line in front of her.

But today, he did.

As Liz stared at his back, it felt like something had torn open inside her. Cold air rushed in through the cracks, leaving her breathless.

“Zac Lincoln, how could you be this cruel?” Liz thought.

He was so caught up in the moment that he didn’t even notice her standing nearby.

But even if he had, it probably wouldn’t have made a difference. Whether she was hurting or not, he no longer seemed to care.

In the mirror, their tangled figures were clearly reflected—alongside Liz’s pale, devastated face, drained of all color.

She looked like a fool.

It was Xena who noticed her first. Her eyes widened in shock, and she quickly pushed Zac away.

“Mr. Lincoln… Miss Smith…”

Her cheeks were flushed, her wide eyes full of panic. Her lips were swollen and red, glistening with the remnants of his kiss, like freshly ripened fruit.

Zac didn’t even look at Liz. “Don’t worry about her,” he said flatly.

“Mr. Lincoln, wait—” Xena tried to speak, but Zac silenced her with another kiss.

No one knew how long it lasted. When he finally let go, he lifted her down from the counter, smoothed her dress, and wrapped an arm around her. Then, as if nothing had happened, he turned to walk out.

As they passed Liz, he gave her a mocking glance and raised an eyebrow. “Still not satisfied? Want me to bring Xena home tonight so you can really enjoy the show?”

Liz turned and looked directly at him. His eyes, once filled with warmth, now held only contempt.

“Zac,” she said softly, “you can do whatever you want with her when I’m not around. But can you please not throw it in my face? I’m begging you.”

She truly didn’t know how much longer she could keep holding on.

The future they had once imagined together now felt like a fantasy—one that only she was still clinging to.

Zac gave a careless laugh and tilted Xena’s chin before placing another kiss on her lips.

“Already can’t handle it? If it’s too much for you, feel free to call off the engagement or just walk away.”

Liz lowered her eyes, about to respond, when she suddenly froze.

On Xena’s wrist was a gold bracelet with a tulip design.

From the design to the craftsmanship, it was exactly the same as the one Zac had once designed and custom-made just for her.

Noticing Liz’s gaze, Xena quickly reached up to cover the bracelet on her wrist. Panic flickered in her eyes as she instinctively shifted closer to Zac.

Zac pulled her behind him and looked down at Liz with impatience. “Why are you staring at Xena?”

Liz’s eyes were tinged with red. “Zac Lincoln, why did you give her the exact same bracelet? You told me it was one-of-a-kind, made just for me.”

“Xena saw you wearing it and said she liked it,” he replied casually. “What, was I supposed to make you give yours to her? It’s just a bracelet, Liz. Since when did you become so petty?”

His tone was dismissive, as if this were some trivial matter.

Liz stared at him in disbelief. “But when you gave it to me back then, you said—”

Zac cut her off with a frown. “Why do you always cling to the past? You said it yourself—that was back then.”

He had always hated it when Liz brought up the past. It reminded him of the version of himself that had failed over and over again while trying to start his business. Liz had been there for all of it—every breakdown, every moment of despair. Now that he had finally made it, he didn’t want to look back. And over time, he had grown tired of her too.

Liz looked at him, her eyes full of sorrow, like fragile glass on the verge of shattering.

“So the promises you made don’t mean anything now? They can be broken just like that?”

Zac gave her a cold look. “I promised to marry you, and I’m keeping that promise. You want to get married, and I agreed. What else do you want from me?

“Liz, the only thing I’ve done wrong is not loving you anymore. Am I not allowed to choose who I love?”

Liz blinked, and a single tear slipped down her cheek.

So this was what happened when a man fell out of love. All the promises he once made crumbled like a sandcastle, disappearing with the wind.

He could stop loving her just like that. But what about her? What was she supposed to do?

How was she supposed to convince herself to forget the moments when they were in love? How was she supposed to accept his change of heart? How could she let go of him and let go of everything they used to be?

Zac noticed her silence, her lips pale and pressed together. Without another word, he wrapped his arm around Xena and walked away. His figure quickly disappeared around the corner.

Liz stood in place for a long time, eyes burning. She took her time pulling herself together before turning back toward the private dining room.

The dinner didn’t end until late that night.

Only after the last of her coworkers had left the restaurant did Liz drive home.

When she opened the front door, the apartment was completely dark. As expected, Zac wasn’t home.

The image of him kissing Xena by the sink flashed through her mind again, and a dull, familiar ache settled in her chest.

She closed her eyes and forced the tears back.

Walking over to her vanity, she opened the jewelry box and took out the gold bracelet with the tulip design.

There was a time when seeing it would make her smile. Now, just looking at it sent a wave of pain through her.

If it was no longer something special, there was no reason to keep it.

A bitter smile touched her lips as she let it fall from her hand.

The bracelet dropped into the trash can with a soft clink, landing with a finality that echoed the moment her heart skipped when she first saw it on Xena’s wrist.

In the days that followed, Zac never came home.

Each day, Liz sent him one message, reminding him about the wedding dress fitting on Saturday.

He never responded.

On Saturday morning, Liz got out of bed, got ready, and sat in front of her vanity applying makeup, just like any other day. That was when a message from Zac finally came through.

“I’m at the bridal boutique.”

When Liz arrived and saw Xena tucked into Zac’s side, clinging to his arm like they were already a couple, her expression turned cold.

“Zac Lincoln, today is our wedding dress fitting. Why did you bring her here?”

Zac looked completely unfazed, as if there was nothing inappropriate about the situation. “After this, I have a business meeting with her. Are you seriously making a fuss over something so small?”

“Small? You really think this is just a small thing?”

He had brought his mistress to their wedding fitting like it was nothing. Was he planning to bring Xena to the ceremony too?

Xena quickly let go of his arm, looking flustered. “Mr. Lincoln, I told you I shouldn’t have come. Maybe I should head back to the office. I can wait until you’re done—”

“There’s no need,” Zac cut her off coldly.

He turned to Liz, his voice sharp. “Are you trying on the dress or not? I’m busy. I don’t have time to stand around here all day.”

Liz knew that tone. When Zac’s eyes dropped like that, it meant he was past the point of patience.

If she said no now, he would walk out without a second thought.

Without another word, Liz walked through the door and into the bridal boutique.

The boutique associate greeted her right away with a bright, professional smile.

When she noticed Zac following close behind, with Xena still clinging to his arm, there was a brief flicker of surprise in her eyes. But her smile never faltered.

“Good morning, Mr. Lincoln, Miss Smith. The custom gown you ordered has just arrived. Let me show you to the fitting area.”

Liz had studied fashion design for a short time, and the sketch for this gown had taken her six months to complete under the guidance of a well-known local designer. She had poured everything into it.

But all the excitement and anticipation she once felt had vanished the moment she saw Xena. Now, she was just here to get it over with.

She gave a quiet nod. “Alright.”

She followed the associate to the bridal section, where her gown was displayed in the center of the showroom.

It was a strapless design. The bodice was made of sheer tulle, embroidered with her favorite flower—tulips—stitched so delicately in French lace that they looked like they were blooming straight out of the fabric.

A slim band of tiny pearls, fine as stardust, circled the waist and shimmered softly under the lights. The front of the skirt was crafted from smooth satin, while the train behind it flowed in three layered tiers of satin and lace. It was elegant, lightweight, and structured just enough to hold its shape. Liz couldn’t take her eyes off it.

“This came in first thing this morning,” the associate said warmly. “A few other clients asked if they could try it on, but we’ve kept it reserved just for you. I know you’re going to look incredible in it.”

Xena had also spotted the gown. Her eyes lit up with admiration and envy. In her sweet, high-pitched tone, she chimed in, “It’s stunning. I heard Miss Smith designed it herself. You’re really talented. Isn’t she, Mr. Lincoln?”

Her syrupy voice made Liz feel like she had swallowed something rotten.

She turned, ready to respond, but froze when she saw Zac looking at Xena with a soft expression. He reached out and gently patted her on the head.

“You’re not bad either. That’s why I made you my secretary.”

Xena gave him a playful look. “You’re always teasing me.”

In that moment, Liz suddenly had nothing left to say.

What was the point?

If Xena had the nerve to show up here and flaunt herself, it was only because Zac had made her feel she could.

The boutique associate clearly wasn’t sure how to handle the awkward moment. She spoke gently, her tone cautious. “Miss Smith… would you still like to try on the dress?”

Liz turned back to her, her expression calm and steady. “Yes.”

The associate carefully removed the gown from the display and led Liz into the fitting room.

Because the dress had a lace-up corset in the back, it took more than ten minutes to get everything properly adjusted.

Liz was already beautiful—fair-skinned, with elegant features and a natural grace that made people take notice. She had the kind of quiet beauty that drew people in without trying. It was that very presence that had once made Zac fall for her at first sight.

Now, standing in the gown, she looked even more breathtaking.

As the associate knelt down to straighten the hem, she looked up and smiled. “Miss Smith, if I weren’t a woman myself, I think I’d fall in love with you right now.”

Liz lowered her eyes and offered a faint, polite smile. “Thank you.”

The associate could tell she wasn’t in the mood to talk. With a quiet sigh, she stepped aside and said nothing more.

When the curtain was finally drawn back, Zac was still staring down at his phone, replying to work messages. Xena was nowhere to be seen.

One of the staff gently called his attention. “Mr. Lincoln, Miss Smith is ready.”

Zac glanced up without much interest. His eyes swept over Liz, then drifted away again.

“It’s fine. Nothing special.”

He meant it. He really didn’t feel anything. These days, even if Liz were standing in front of him with nothing on, it wouldn’t stir a reaction.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Liz’s heart.

She remembered a moment from their first year together, when they had talked about getting married. He had once told her that no matter what she wore, she would be the most beautiful bride he had ever seen. He said that when he saw her in her gown, he would probably cry—just from the joy of knowing he was finally marrying her.

It had been such a small promise. He had probably forgotten all about it.

Eight years was a long time. Long enough for someone to fall for someone new. Long enough to completely erase another person from their life.

Sensing the heavy silence, the associate was about to say something to ease the mood when the curtain to the fitting room across the boutique suddenly opened.

Xena stepped out in a different wedding gown. She wore a bright smile, her expression composed and confident as she looked directly at Zac.

“Mr. Lincoln, I didn’t think the dress you picked would fit me so well. What do you think?”