We'd been legally married for seven years, yet my CEO "fiance", Jared Lane, had ditched me at the altar thirteen times.

At our first wedding, his assistant, Maeve Fischer, scraped her leg. I spent the entire day waiting alone at the ceremony.

At our second wedding, he heard she was sick and tossed the wedding ring away to rush to her side.

On every wedding day after that, some accident would conveniently happen to her.

By the 13th time he bailed, I had had enough and decided to walk away.

But when I found comfort in another man's arms, Jared lost his mind trying to win me back.

"Ms. Snow, are you sure you want to strip down the wedding procedures and decorations? Would you like to run it by Mr. Lane one more time?"

The head wedding planner, Astrid Rune, repeatedly confirmed. She'd overseen all 12 of my previous weddings with Jared Lane, so she knew me well enough.

I smiled bitterly at her. "No need. Just keep it simple."

Jared and I had been married on paper for seven years, but not once had we walked down the aisle.

Today, on my birthday, he had promised for the 13th time that we'd finally have our wedding. But at the party meant for me, I sat alone, while the crowd gathered around him and his assistant, Maeve Fischer, clicking glasses.

I swallowed the nausea rising in my throat and sat alone in front of the massive cake. Jared never bothered to glance my way. And just like that, my birthday party ended under his icy indifference and the guests' mocking glances.

When the party was over, he was supposed to come with me to finalize the wedding details for the day after tomorrow. Instead, he left me standing alone by the restaurant doors again.

His black car rolled to a stop in front of me. Before I could reach for the passenger door, he stopped me.

"Mae drank too much, so I'll take her home. Handle the wedding however you want. Don't stay up late; I'm not coming back tonight."

Without bothering to wait for my answer, he rolled up the window.

I gazed away from Maeve, already sitting in the passenger seat, then smiled and reminded him before the window slid up. "Drive safe."

That caught him off guard. He looked at me a little longer in surprise before softening his tone. "I'll be there on time for the wedding."

Then, he rolled the window up fully, and he drove off without a second thought.

Autumn nights were chilly, but when I was staring at the black car disappearing down the horizon, the emptiness in my chest felt colder.

Jared rarely let me near his car, let alone offered me such meticulous care. I once assumed that was just how he was, but now I knew that it depended on who sat beside him.

I married him at 22. Seven years later, we still had no actual wedding.

Even before we got married, I knew there'd always been someone else in his heart. He'd agreed to our marriage just because his grandmother—Eleanor Rhodes—demanded it.

Most importantly, the woman he loved had left for abroad.

But now, she was back, working as his assistant, always by his side.

I drew in a steady breath and fixed the polite smile back on my face.

"Jared, I've let go now. I'll walk through this 13th wedding alone, and two days later, life will carry on just as it always has."

Talking about the 13th wedding, Astrid looked at me with pity and distress.

"Ms. Snow, you were radiant and so full of joy the first time you and Mr. Lane came to me for your wedding. You look so different now…"

She was right. There had been a time when Jared and I shared memories warm enough to keep me going through disappointment after disappointment.

By the window, a wedding gown I'd designed for our first wedding hung draped on a mannequin. I remembered the joy I'd felt sketching every detail, and how much I'd looked forward to a lifetime of happiness and bliss.

But the dress I'd poured my heart into never made it down the aisle.

Now, the apartment was silent and echoed the hollow in my chest, no matter how carefully I decorated it.

After a quick wash, I opened my old design archives for the first time in years. As I took in the exquisite design sketches, something inside me softened, and warmth seeped back into my chest.

Before marrying Jared, I had been a well-regarded jewelry designer in the circle. But after I married him, he said he didn't like women who were "too restless", so I set aside my career and poured everything I had into him.

Looking back, I realized it wasn't just the career I'd lost all these years; it was myself.

I used to be decisive and bold. But my love for Jared made me cautious and hesitant, second-guessing every step.

Now, my fingers traced the bodice of the wedding gown that had witnessed my 12 heartbreaks as I dialed the number I knew by heart.

"I've made up my mind. I'll go."

There was a pause on the other end before a reply came, filled with joy. "Perfect! I'll book your ticket right now!"

…

At 3:00 am, I woke up to my phone's continuous buzzing. When I picked it up, I saw dozens of messages from Maeve, including her intimate pictures, videos, and even an audio recording with Jared.

After hesitating briefly, I tapped on the play button for the recording.

"How many times has this been, Jay? Are you really going to marry Yvaine? Say something. Don't tell me you've fallen for her."

A brief silence followed before Jared's low, rough voice answered, "That's never going to happen."

Those words were enough to please Maeve and sum up everything we ever were.

Though I'd chosen to leave, his words still cut deeper than I'd imagined. So, I closed the recording and cut out the sound.

Since I couldn't sleep anyway, I decided to start packing.

There wasn't much I could take away from the house. After seven years, everything I had fit into one suitcase.

By the time I was done, dawn was breaking on the horizon. And I'd just dozed off on the couch when Jared came home.

Once, I would wait for him no matter how late it was and open the door the moment he arrived. Perhaps it was a habit I'd built over time.

This time, I hadn't stayed up waiting for him, so he knocked for a while before I dragged myself up. As soon as I opened the door, his complaint came sharply. "What were you doing, leaving me out there for so long?"

"I just fell asleep. Honestly, you could've—" I was about to point out that his fingerprint was registered on the lock when he abruptly cut me off.

"Forget it. Wait… What's all this? Why are you packing?" He glanced at the scattered gifts he'd given me over the years and looked slightly startled.

"Oh, I thought I'd visit Grandma Eleanor today. There isn't much room here, so I'll take a few things to Lane Manor," I said, clearing the items aside to make way for him.

He softened slightly. "Send her my regards, and don't upset her. She's old now."

When I nodded, he exhaled slightly in relief and retreated to his study.

I ignored him and gathered the trinkets I used to treasure.

Soon, he emerged, holding two jewelry boxes. I recognized them instantly.

They were the two sets of heirloom jewelry Grandma Eleanor had once given me, saying they were only for the future Lady of the House.

Later, Jared had taken them back. And now, I figured he was going to give them to Maeve.

He caught my gaze lingering on the jewelry boxes and, for once, started explaining. "Mae and I have an important gala in a few days. She wants to borrow them to make an impression. I'll return them afterward."

I nodded and murmured, "Whatever."

After all, they were simply going back to where he believed they belonged.

"You…" He faltered, unsettled by my indifference.

Before, I would have made a fuss. I would've demanded he cut Maeve out of his life, and even dragged out Grandma Eleanor's name like a weapon.

But for the past two events, I'd been exceptionally calm. Something about it unnerved him, but he couldn't put his finger on why.

Just before leaving, Jared took a glance at the pile of gifts he'd given me and said stiffly, "Tell me where you'd like to go after the wedding tomorrow, and I'll take you there."

And with that, he hurried out the door.

I looked at the few gifts left scattered around me, picked up the stuffed toy that had fallen when Jared slammed the door, and held it for a long while in silence.

My mom never believed in marriage but insisted a woman should have a child of her own. That was how I came into the world.

When I was 16, she left for a new career and love abroad, leaving me in the care of Grandma Eleanor of the Lanes.

When I first arrived at Lane Manor, I'd been drowning in grief from being abandoned. It had been Jared who came to me with this stuffed toy and talked to me. That toy had marked our beginning.

I packed it away into the box with everything else and dropped it into the trash, along with the last trace of my attachment.

…

"Yvie, have you really made up your mind?" Grandma Eleanor's grip tightened on my hand as her eyes fell on the divorce papers on the table.

"I have, Grandma Eleanor. This was never my place to begin with. It's about time I set everything back to the way it should be. And Jared has resented me for years too."

Seeing the tears brimming in her eyes, guilt pricked at me. She'd always loved me dearly.

"You had moved him four years ago," she whispered. "If only Maeve hadn't returned then… It's all my fault you've suffered for years, child."

She was right. I'd worked hard for three years to soften Jared's heart, and for a while, we were a happy married couple.

Just when I thought things were turning for the better, Maeve returned. Everything snapped to a halt, and his coldness toward me returned.

I repeatedly promised Grandma Eleanor that I'd visit her often before leaving under her reluctant gaze.

Just after leaving Lane Manor, I ran into Jared.

"The wedding's tomorrow. I'll stay home tonight, so I'm here to pick you up," he quickly said before I could speak.

I nodded and said nothing.

The car ride home was silent. I could feel his restlessness simmering as if he couldn't stand the pressure between us.

Out of nowhere, he asked, "How's Grandma?"

"She's well. You should visit her when you can."

After that brief interaction, silence followed, and Jared never said a word since. When he reached home, he went straight to his study and locked the door shut.

It might just be my imagination, but he almost seemed mad. But that thought lasted for just a moment when I realized that he'd never been warm with me anyway.

Later, I stepped out of the shower and intended to say goodbye when he came to me.

"Mae's running a fever. She's been weak lately and might not be able to handle it. I'll check on her and come back later."

For some reason, there was a flicker of guilt in his expression, and his tone sounded as if he was seeking my approval.

I swallowed my words, forced a polite smile, and nodded. "Alright. Drive safe."

Relief flickered across his face.

"I'll be back soon. Don't worry. I promised I'll be at the wedding tomorrow, and I will."

As he spoke, he swiftly grabbed his coat and slipped on his shoes. His final words faded with the sound of the closing door.

I laughed bitterly to myself, knowing he wouldn't be back that night. I'd wanted to give a final goodbye in person, but now, it seemed I wouldn't get the chance.

…

The next morning, I arrived at the wedding venue early, dressed in my gown with my hair and makeup done.

As I waited, the time for the ceremony ticked closer, but Jared had yet to show up.

"Ms. Snow, would you like to call Mr. Lane?" Astrid asked. Like always, she stayed by my side.

Seeing the concern in her eyes, I couldn't bring myself to disappoint her and nodded. Just as I grabbed my phone to call him, a notification popped up on my screen. Maeve had tagged me in a post.

In the picture, she wore the Lane family heirloom jewelry meant for the future Lady of the House. Behind her, Jared slept on the couch.

The caption read "The best day, the man I love, and the happiest me!"

Though I'd chosen to let go, my chest still tightened with pain the moment my eyes landed on the picture. I'd truly loved Jared for years, after all.

I slipped the phone away and forced a smile at Astrid. "No need to wait. I can do this on my own."

"Ms. Snow…" She looked stricken.

"It's fine. Let's go," I said, taking a deep breath. Then, I lifted my gown and walked toward the hall.

In those two short minutes from the dressing room to the altar, memories of the years I spent with Jared replayed in my mind. I'd thought leaving him would shatter me, but after taking the first step forward, I realized the world would never end even if I walked away.

Standing tall and graceful, I walked the wedding alone. And Jared never came, even after it ended.

Like all the others, the 13th wedding ended with his failed promise.

…

After the ceremony, I hailed a cab and headed straight to the airport. On the way, I sent Jared a message I'd typed long ago.

"I left the divorce papers with Grandma Eleanor. From today, everything returns to where it belongs. Be happy, and let's not meet again."

Without waiting for his reply, I blocked his number and deleted it from my phone.

Before boarding, I called the customer service and canceled my phone line, for good.