On the eve of our wedding, Trevin Hoffman's childhood sweetheart, a mercenary who had vanished for five years, was struck by a deadly love spell during a mission.

When her teammates dragged her back to him, she was covered in blood, barely clinging to life.

Trevin, usually calm and composed, lost control. Ignoring my protests, he locked himself in with her for the entire night.

I sat outside that door, sleepless until dawn.

The next morning, when I demanded an explanation in hysteria, he shielded her with his body and snapped, his mask completely gone.

"I couldn't just watch Wren die. One wild night before marriage, what's so wrong with that?"

At that moment, I was disillusioned. My love for him vanished in an instant.

The night's whispers of love had finally fallen silent when Trevin Hoffman, wearing a ragged bathrobe, stumbled out of the bedroom.

He was unsteady on his feet, his cheeks flushed with a satisfied glow, his eyes lingering on the memory of what had just passed. The love bites marking his skin stood out starkly.

Ignoring me completely, he poured himself a glass of water at the dining table and spoke with a hint of annoyance.

"Yara, there's a limit to how much of a scene you can make. I'm not feeling great, and I don't have the patience for your attitude right now.

"It was just one night. Wren, a girl, didn't make a fuss about it. Can't you relax a little?"

"Relax?" I couldn't help but laugh bitterly. "She’s really something—jumping into bed with a guy who’s about to get married!"

In a fit of rage, Trevin hurled his glass to the floor. "Shut up!

"Wren's not doing well. Don't talk trash in front of her, or you can kiss this marriage goodbye!"

No sooner had he spoken than the medical team we had on standby rushed into the bedroom to begin life-saving measures.

Trevin was right there with them, not even giving me a second look.

Wren Scott was lying on what was supposed to be my wedding bed, weakly holding Trevin's hand.

"Trevin, I've been a burden to you, but I just wanted to see you one last time before I go…"

The air was thick with hormones, and the trash can was overflowing with evidence of their night together.

"Being with you before I die makes me so happy… On the wedding day, can I just watch from the sidelines?"

"Don't be silly!" Trevin clutched Wren's hand, tears filling his eyes, and he shouted at the doctor. "Save her, now!"

He turned back to her. "Wren, you're going to be okay. I'm still looking forward to the day I can lift your veil."

They kissed with abandon, like lovers seizing their final moments before the apocalypse.

I watched the soap opera scene play out in front of me, my stomach churning.

Everyone in town knew Trevin was my Achilles' heel.

For him, I, the pampered heiress who never lifted a finger, awkwardly took up cooking, bending over backward to please him.

I even endured the punishment from my furious granddad, all to be his bride.

I poured my heart out to Trevin, never expecting to be repaid with betrayal.

"Yara, are you blind? You're just standing there like a statue," Trevin snapped, his eyes brimming with annoyance.

"Why haven't you called the Lawrence family medics yet? If Wren dies because of the delay, will you be able to live with that?"

When I did not budge, Trevin's expression turned stormy. It was the first time I had ever openly defied him in front of others.

"Our wedding's tomorrow, and you choose now to pick a fight?"

"Do you even remember we're getting married?" I fixed my gaze on the telltale hickey on his neck and let out a scornful laugh. "Did the wedding slip your mind while you were in bed with Wren?"

"I was saving her life!"

I laughed calmly. "Sure, save her life!

"You had an antidote but chose the hero's path instead. How selfless!"

His face went from pale to flushed as he was about to retort, but the wedding planners barged in, chattering away.

Trevin's best man led the pack, catching sight of the chaos in the bridal suite and knitting his brows in disapproval.

He tossed a jacket at Trevin and shot me a look that could kill.

"Ms. Lawrence, I get that tomorrow's the big day, but could you tone it down? This mess… not even a suit can hide it…"

"This has nothing to do with her!" Trevin slipped on the jacket and shot me a glare, his voice laced with irritation.

"Wren got hit with a love spell last night, and I was just trying to help, but now she's making a mountain out of a molehill."

…

The room went deathly still.

The best man's smirk was plastered awkwardly on his face as he tried to lighten the mood.

"Come on, cut the act. You two are the perfect couple, and we're thrilled for you. Let's get you changed, shall we?"

"Who's acting?" Trevin's voice spiked as he strode to the bridal bed and grabbed Wren's hand with a triumphant air.

"Wren's right here. I saved her, and last night…"

"Zip it!" The head best man gave him a sharp pinch, cutting him off.

"I did nothing wrong! Franklin, you know I've always had a thing for Wren, and saving a life… that's a big deal!"

"That's it!" Franklin snapped.

Trevin's defiance only fueled my weariness. I spun on my heel, ready to storm out.

"Yara, are you done causing a scene?" Trevin blocked my path. "The guys are all here, you can't just walk out on me!"

The best men crowded the doorway, chiming in with their two cents.

"Ms. Lawrence, that's enough drama for now. You're about to tie the knot. Five years is a long time to throw away!"

"Right! Trevin was being a hero, not a cheater. Give the guy a break!"

"Exactly! Trevin and Wren go way back. We're all friends here. Don't give people a reason to judge you!"

I let out an icy laugh. "With a betrayal this big, they're already judging me."

Before I could say more, Wren's condition took a nosedive, and the doctors rushed her to the hospital.

Trevin's eyes were riddled with concern until Wren vanished from sight. Then he spun around, fury in his eyes.

"Are you happy now, Yara? Your blabbering ruined everything I worked for all night. If Wren's hurt, it's on you!"

'He dares to talk about last night's efforts?' I seethed inwardly.

I stared into his eyes, heavy with blame, and my heart ached.

My five years of heartfelt devotion did not seem to weigh as much as Wren's sudden return.

In a rush to follow the ambulance, Trevin did not even bother with shoes, tossing me a hurried thought.

"We'll have to postpone the wedding. Wren needs me."

The groomsmen blocked his path. Trevin snapped, "Why are you stopping me?"

"Trevin, you're on the brink of marriage. Don't let a rash decision spoil everything!"

"Right, we can arrange for a nurse for Wren. You just go ahead with the wedding!"

However, Trevin was not hearing any of it; he was desperate to get away.

I watched the drama unfold with a frosty gaze and declared icily, "Let him go. We're done."

Trevin stood there, stunned, his face a mask of disbelief.

"Yara, are you threatening me?"

Threaten him? No, I was simply exhausted.

Five years back, Trevin claimed it was love at first sight and set off on a relentless chase.

He hounded me for months, but I would not budge.

Then, during a typhoon, he braved the storm to check on me while I was away on business, just to see me safe.

Drenched and disheveled, he still managed a smile and said, "As long as you're okay."

That's when my heart started racing, and I fell head over heels, hopelessly in love.

Together, I brokered a deal between the Hoffmans and the Lawrences, landing a billion-dollar project. I poured in money and effort to help them grow internationally, smoothing out any bumps along their way.

In just a few years, with the resources of my family, the Hoffmans grew from a small outfit to a globally recognized brand.

I gave my all to him, sometimes feeling it was never enough.

I never saw it coming. Wren just had to show up, and I was beaten, utterly and completely.

"You want to call it off? Fine! Since Wren's back, I can finally chase after my own slice of happiness! Yara Lawrence, you've only got yourself to blame for this mess!"

…

He tried to intimidate me with his gaze, yet I could not help but laugh.

Did he really think I would still be at his beck and call after everything that has happened?

He was about to storm off when the phone cut through the silence, sharp and demanding.

"Yes, I'm Wren's partner. What's going on now?"

Whatever the voice on the other end said, it knocked the color right out of Trevin's face, sending him stumbling backwards.

"Get the treatment started, the best there is, I'm calling the shots here!"

Once he hung up, his eyes darted to mine, a flicker of guilt betraying him.

"Wren's taken a turn for the worse. She needs this special serum to kick her immune system into gear, and the one you've been waiting on just got here. Give it to her!"

I could not help but scoff, my words deliberate and biting. "Is she even worth it?"

That serum was worth a fortune. It was not something just anyone could buy. It had been reserved for my granddad five years ago, and I had called in more than a few favors to secure it.

Did he expect me to just hand it over on his say-so? The nerve of this guy!

Trevin went pale, but then an icy laugh escaped him.

"Yara, isn't all this just your way of trying to trap me into marrying you? Alright, I'll bite. Once Wren's better, we'll have our wedding. Happy now? Just give up the serum."

He acted like he was doing me a huge favor, barely hiding his annoyance.

When I did not budge, Trevin spat out his next words with venom.

"If not, you can go ahead and have the wedding by yourself tomorrow! Imagine that, no groom, and the Lawrence family being the talk of the town!"

I stared into his eyes, wild with a kind of do-or-die craziness, and could not help but snort at the absurdity.

Turn the Lawrences into the town's joke?

As if he had the right!

I spun on my heel to leave when my assistant's message buzzed in with urgency.

Trevin had gone behind my back, using my name to send a concoction to Wren, and then it was in transit, pending my sign-off.

Trevin raced to me, his grip tight on my arm.

"Please, just sign it. Wren can't wait. Can't you just do this for me? It's already on its way. Wren will be grateful that you saved her. And your stubborn old man, it wouldn't make a difference to him with or without the serum…"

I cut him off with a slap that sent him reeling. His hand flew to his cheek, his eyes wide with shock.

"You hit me? Yara! You…"

I tuned out his swearing and floored it to the hospital.

My phone was relentless, ringing off the hook. I was about to shut it down when a new call stopped me cold.

I took a deep breath to steady myself.

Picking up, I was greeted by Edward Graham's taunting tone.

"Ms. Lawrence, are you sure about the wedding tomorrow?"

I let out a weary sigh. "I'm not one to flip-flop on something as serious as marriage."

"Really?" He tutted softly. "Seems to me you've been flip-flopping for years when it comes to men."

I massaged my temples at a red light, my voice steady.

"When it counts, I've always kept my head in the game. Plus, I need the Grahams' medical expertise, and you need new markets. Marrying into each other's families is just smart business."

After a brief silence, Edward's voice took on a more serious tone as he spoke.

"I have no intention of marrying you. Imagine the mess when that guy starts bawling, and you rush to his side. Splitting the companies would be a nightmare."