It is the night before our wedding when my fiancee, Whitney Sullivan, reunites with her childhood sweetheart, Steven Foster, a mercenary who has been missing for five years.

He is brought to our doorstep by his teammates, bloodied and barely clinging to life after being poisoned with a deadly aphrodisiac on a mission.

Whitney, usually so aloof and controlled, immediately breaks down. She locks the door, defying my efforts to stop her, and stays with Steven all night long.

I choose to stay outside the door, never closing my eyes.

I confront her the following morning with a torrent of accusations, only for her to stand in front of Steven protectively and say shamelessly, "I couldn't just stand by and watch Steven die. Isn't it just my virginity? What's the harm in letting loose the night before the wedding?"

In that instant, all my affection for her is utterly destroyed.

It wasn't long before the nightlong tumult of their coupling finally hushed that Whitney Sullivan, my fiancee finally appeared from the bedroom in a torn nightdress.

She had weak legs from the whole thing, so she had to brace herself against the wall as she shuffled along, her exposed skin showing telltale marks.

She then walked straight past me, went to the dining table, poured herself a glass of water, and said with a hint of irritation, "Your theatrics have gone on long enough, Daniel. I'm not well now, so I won't stand for your mood right now. It was just my virginity. If it could save Steven, then it was worthwhile. You should stop being such a puritan about it!"

I was so furious at the sheer absurdity of her comment that I burst out laughing. "You're saying I'm a puritan, huh? You practically threw yourself at another man. You're truly the progressive one!"

Whitney slammed the glass to the ground. "That's enough, Daniel! You'd better not spout any nonsense in Steven's presence—he's unwell right now—otherwise, the marriage is off!"

No sooner had she spoken than the medical team, already positioned, rushed into the bedroom and commenced the emergency resuscitation. She quickly rushed over as well, not giving me so much as a single look.

Steven Forster was lying on what was supposed to be my marital bed. He weakly held Whitney's hand and uttered in a strained, faint voice, "I'm sorry for putting you out like this, Whitney. I just wanted to see you one last time before I..."

I could smell a cloying, thick smell hanging in the air, while the contents spilling out of the trash clearly showcased the "score" of their actions during the previous night.

"I'm so happy that I got to be with you before I died… Is it possible for me to accompany you when you walk down the aisle on your wedding day?"

"You shouldn't say such ridiculous things!" she said.

She clutched Steven's hand, her eyes brimming with tears, and barked at the medical team, "Do something! Save him!"

She then turned to Steven and said, "You're going to be fine, Steven. You know, I'm still counting on you to be the one to rip off my wedding gown later!"

They then kissed with reckless abandon, a wild, desperate embrace like the last indulgence at the end of the world.

I watched as the scenario—straight out of a cheesy melodrama—unfolded right before my eyes, a wave of nausea rising in my stomach.

It was common knowledge that Whitney was my ultimate vulnerability. I, the pampered heir who had never done menial labor, clumsily learned to cook and granted her every desire. I even went so far as to kneel before the main gate of my family's residence for 72 hours, enduring a broken leg from my grandfather's beating, just to make her my wife.

I believed I had dedicated my heart and soul to Whitney, yet this was the miserable outcome I faced.

"How could you be so dense, Daniel? How could you just stand there like a paralyzed dummy?"

I immediately snapped out of my daze, only to hear Whitney commanding me with undisguised impatience, "Get the Lister family's medical team here right now! Do you think you'll be able to live with yourself if you cost Steven's life through delay?"

Upon seeing that I wasn't responding to her, Whitney's expression immediately soured—it was unprecedented for me to disregard her in the presence of others, after all. "It's our wedding today, Daniel! Do you have to start this row with me right now?" she added.

I stared at her threadbare, barely-there nightgown and asked, "You do recall that you're getting married today, huh? That thought must have completely slipped your mind when you were tangled up with Steven in that bed!"

"I did it because I wanted to save him!"

I let out a harsh, contemptuous laugh. "Oh, of course! You had the antidote in hand but chose to give your body instead! How profoundly noble of you!"

Whitney's expression flickered, an unhealthy mix of shock and fury. She was on the verge of responding when the clamor of the wedding team barging in cut her off.

Whitney's bridesmaids were the first group through the door. They immediately furrowed their brow when they registered the entire scene unfolding in the room meant for the newly married couple.

It was then that the maid of honor, Yvonne Smith, hurried to cover Whitney with a bath towel. She then turned and shot me a disapproving look, saying, "I know your wedding is set for today, Daniel, but would it have been too much to exercise some control? How could Whitney be seen in public—"

Whitney, tightening the towel around her, shot me a furious glare and snapped, "Daniel had nothing to do with how I look! Steven was exposed to some aphrodisiacs last night. I was just being kind by helping him, but someone here is being completely petty about it!"

In that instant, a sudden tension fell over the room.

Yvonne's teasing grin instantly faltered. She still tried to smooth things over, though, saying, "You shouldn't kid around like that, Whitney. You know, we're absolutely delighted to see such affection between you two! You should get changed first."

"I'm not joking about this!" Whitney suddenly bellowed.

She then marched to the bedside, took Steven's hand, and declared in a loud, arrogant tone, "Steven is right here! I'm the one who saved him, and as for what we did last night—"

"That's enough, Whitney!" Yvonne immediately pinched Whitney's arms to stop her from speaking further.

"I haven't done anything wrong! You've always known how much I liked Steven since I was young, Yvonne! I'm also doing something noble by saving someone's life!" Whitney argued.

"That's enough!"

I felt a profound sense of weariness settling over me as I witnessed Whitney's complete lack of remorse. I immediately turned and walked away.

Whitney rushed toward me, cutting off my exit. "Have you had enough of your tantrum, Daniel? You can't just walk away now that the bridesmaids are here!"

It was then that a bunch of her bridesmaids started chiming in.

"You should calm down first, Mr. Lister. You're about to tie the knot, and you can't just throw away five years of love!"

"That's right! She wasn't willfully sleeping around with another man—she was saving someone's life! You really should try to be less exacting about the whole thing!"

"Exactly! I mean, since Steven and Whitney have known each other since childhood, you'll all become friends moving forward. You should be the bigger person!"

I let out a short, cynical laugh, saying, "I'll only be inviting contempt by standing here and letting everyone see me getting cuckolded!"

I was just about to say something when Steven's condition took a sudden turn for the worse, and the medical team rushed him off to the hospital.

Whitney's eyes were brimming with concern. She waited until Steven was gone, then turned and bellowed, "I hope you're satisfied now, Daniel. Your ridiculous accusations destroyed all my efforts from last night. You would be held responsible if Steven doesn't make it!"

I couldn't believe that she actually had the audacity to mention her efforts from the previous night. I looked at the resentment brimming in her gaze and felt my heart aching terribly. It turned out that my five years of sincere dedication were nothing compared to Steven's single appearance.

Whitney rushed out, not even bothering to slip on a pair of shoes, intending to follow the departing ambulance. She merely commanded me before leaving, "You'd better put the wedding on hold since Steven can't be left unattended."

She suddenly asked when the bridesmaids stood in her way, "What are you guys doing?"

"You're about to get married, Whitney. You shouldn't let an impulse destroy such an important occasion."

"That's right, Whitney! You see, we can just hire a caretaker to look after Steven. You should just stay put and focus on your upcoming wedding ceremony."

Whitney refused to heed any of their suggestions. She fought hard, trying to break free and get away.

I observed the unfolding spectacle with an icy gaze, then stated flatly, "You guys should just let her go since the wedding is off."

Upon hearing that, Whitney immediately stiffened, her expression one of utter disbelief. "You're threatening me, Daniel!"

I wasn't really threatening her. I was just emotionally drained from this whole thing. It was five years ago when Whitney claimed that she fell in love with me at first sight and began a relentless pursuit. I remained unmoved by her stubborn pursuit for three months, and it wasn't until a major storm struck that she defied the peril and traveled to my work location, solely to confirm my safety.

In that moment, she looked radiant, and despite being utterly drenched and disheveled, she simply said, "I'm glad that you're fine, Daniel."

I felt my heart hammering in my chest at that moment, and from then on, I became instantly and hopelessly trapped in the throes of love. I first helped the Sullivan family negotiate a billion-dollar contract when we became a couple and subsequently contributed funds and labor to enable their international expansion, thereby systematically eliminating every hurdle in their way.

In a span of just a few years, the Sullivan family leveraged the Lister family's wealth to balloon from a company with barely a dozen employees into a major international operation. I had dedicated everything to Whitney, and I was often left wondering if I was doing enough. I could never have foreseen that Steven's brief presence would cause me to lose everything so completely.

Whitney said, "You can go ahead and cancel the wedding! I'll finally be able to pursue the happiness I deserve now that Steven has returned. You brought this entire disaster upon yourself, Daniel!"

I met the threatening look in her eyes and scoffed, wondering if she actually believed that I'd still bend to her will after all this.

Just as Whitney was about to leave, her phone suddenly rang. "Yes, I'm Steven's significant other. How's the situation now?"

I had no idea what was said on the other end of the line, but the moment Whitney heard it, she went pale instantly and staggered backward. "He must be treated right away. He must receive treatment, using the finest available medication! I have the authority to approve this!"

She ended the call and turned to me, a flicker of guilt flashing in her eyes. "Steven's condition has deteriorated. He desperately needs that cellular immunity injection. That specific shot you had been waiting for had just arrived, so hand it over to him immediately!"

I let out a cold, derisive laugh and asked deliberately, "Is he worthy of it?"

That injection alone cost millions of dollars and was incredibly hard to acquire. I had placed the order for my grandfather five years ago, having spent considerable social capital in the process. I couldn't believe that she expected me to give it away just like that. How presumptuous of her!

Upon hearing that, Whitney's face immediately drained of color. She then thought of something and said with a sneer, "You're only doing this to compel me into marrying you, right, Daniel? I'll marry you once Steven recovers. Hand over that injection now!"

She looked utterly vexed, clearly convinced that she had just agreed to something monumentally significant for me.

Upon seeing my lack of reaction, she snapped, "You'll be the only one standing at the altar if you don't hand me that injection! Your family will become the laughingstock of everyone if I, the bride, am not there!"

I regarded the all-consuming madness in her gaze with amusement—she had no claim to tarnish the Lister family's reputation.

I was in the process of leaving when my phone buzzed with an urgent message from my assistant, stating that Whitney had already used my authority to divert the injection to Steven and informing me that it was already en route to the hospital and was awaiting my signature for approval.

Whitney rushed forward, grabbing my arm. "You have to sign it, Daniel! Steven is running out of time! I'm begging you here! It's already en route anyway, and Steven will surely express his gratitude after this. Your doddering old grandfather is beyond saving anyway, so it doesn't matter if he receives the injection—"

I slapped her hard across the face before she could finish her sentence, sending her sprawling onto the floor.

Whitney pressed her hand to her stinging cheek, her expression a mask of stunned disbelief. "You actually hit me, Daniel!"

I ignored her stream of curses completely, getting into my car and speeding toward the hospital.

I was just about to reach out and switch off my phone due to the incessant ringing when the identity of a new caller made me stop short. I took a deep breath, fighting to steady my nerves, before I answered the call.

In an instant, Abigail Newman's teasing voice came from the other end. "Have you really made up your mind about the wedding, Mr. Lister?"

I sighed and said helplessly, "I have no intention of breaking my promise on a matter of this gravity."

Abigail tutted lightly. "Is that so? Haven't you reneged on your word countless times over the years, all because of a woman?"

I pinched my nose bridge while waiting at the traffic light and explained patiently, "I can assure you that I have never dropped the ball on critical commitments. In addition, I require the Newman family's medical expertise, and the Newman family requires market access. It's only right for us to get into this marriage alliance that serves both our interests perfectly."

Abigail fell silent for a moment before stating genuinely, "I'm honestly not very keen on marrying you. I'm sure you'll immediately cave to that woman once she starts breaking down into tears. It would be an absolute nightmare untangling our two companies after that."