Wyatt kept rambling on about the wedding preparation.

Sloan watched him, taking in the warmth in his eyes and the easy charm in his smile. A sudden ache tightened her chest. If she hadn’t seen what happened last night with her own eyes, would he still be lying to her? After all, Wyatt was a masterful liar.

For years, she had molded herself to fit his tastes, pushing aside her own needs just to keep him happy. Even when doubt crept in, she buried it beneath blind faith in his love.

Wyatt took the necklace from the box and carefully fastened it around her neck. The cool weight of the chain against her skin felt heavier than it should.

When Sloan didn’t say anything, her gaze fixed blankly on the dress and necklace, Wyatt assumed she was too overwhelmed to speak. He took her hand, his voice tender. “Baby, meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m so lucky we’re about to start our life together.”

His sudden confession caught her off guard. Her heart, which had been dead for so long, trembled for a moment.

She had waited six years for this. Sloan picked up the dress and walked toward the dressing room.

Just as she was about to close the door, she spotted a familiar figure through the gap.

Carol.

Her eyes were red, as if she had been crying. Wyatt gently wiped her tears away and pressed a tender kiss to her cheek. They whispered to each other, their bodies close.

A sales assistant approached with a velvet jewelry box.

Inside was a ruby necklace — Sloan’s favorite gemstone. But the one Carol held was larger and brighter than the one Wyatt had given Sloan.

A dazzling, brilliant red — sharp and cutting, like a dagger piercing Sloan’s heart.

Compared to Carol’s necklace, the one around Sloan’s neck felt cheap and meaningless.

Much like her relationship with Wyatt—polished and perfect on the surface, but rotting underneath.

Sloan gripped the necklace, the sharp edges of the ruby cutting into her palm until blood trickled between her fingers.

Carol, now wearing the necklace, seemed noticeably happier.

Still, she pouted and murmured, “Are you really going to marry Sloan? You don’t even love her... You only feel sorry for her.”

Wyatt denied it immediately, “That’s nonsense. You better go now. Sloan is in fitting room. I don’t want her to see us together.”

Carol scoffed. “Fine. If you’re really going to marry her, then I guess we’re done. After the wedding, don’t come crawling back to me!”

She turned to leave.

Wyatt instantly panicked and grabbed her hand, pulling her back into his arms.

His tone was soft, coaxing. “You know you’re the only one I love. Mom and Dad would never let us get married. We’re lucky they hadn’t caught us. I need to focus with Sloan now because she’s the key of this alliance. I swear I’ll divorce her as soon as we get the trust fund. Just be patient and trust me, okay?”

In that moment, Sloan felt like a knife had pierced her chest, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.

When the Tanner Family had tracked her down years ago, there was already another girl in the house—a fraud who had taken her place. The only reason they took her back was because her relationship with Wyatt would benefit the Tanner Family’s business.

At the time, her mother had fallen seriously ill and was hospitalized. The medical bills were astronomical and despite working multiple part-time jobs around the clock, she was still drowning in debt. That’s why she agreed to return to the Tanner Family.

She hadn’t expected that not only did the Tanner Family see her as nothing more than a bargaining chip, but even the man she’d loved for six years had been using her all along.

Hot tears rolled down her cheeks, unstoppable. It was the height of summer, but Sloan felt like she was standing in the middle of a glacier. Her whole body was freezing, chilled to the bone. She couldn’t feel warmth anymore.

Sloan didn’t storm out to confront them. If she exposed them now, her plan would fall apart and the Tanner Family would never let her go easily. She wiped her tears and the blood from her hands, then numbly changed into her dress, moving like a soulless puppet.

When Wyatt complimented her appearance, she simply smiled mechanically.

Inside, she felt nothing.

***

Three days before the wedding.

Rosehill Cemetery.

A man and a woman stood in front of a gravestone, each holding a bouquet of flowers.

Sloan knelt down and lit a candle, placing it gently before her mother’s grave. Her fingers traced the engraved photo of the woman, her eyes filled with quiet longing.

Wyatt stood beside her, facing the photo as he solemnly promised, “Mrs. Tanner, I swear I’ll take care of Sloan for the rest of my life. You don’t have to worry about her anymore.”

A sharp ringtone interrupted his words. Wyatt answered the call, his brows furrowing as anger and panic flickered across his face.

He hung up, looking at Sloan with an apologetic smile. “Sloan, I’m sorry, I…”

Before he could make up an excuse, Sloan’s expression remained calm. “It’s fine. I’m not a kid. If something’s going on at the company, you should handle it. I’ll stay for a bit longer and head home after.”

Wyatt visibly relaxed, his smile widening. “You’re the best, baby. I’ll come get you once I’m done, okay?”

Sloan didn’t respond. She watched Wyatt’s retreating figure, his poor attempt at acting calm.

Pathetic.

She wasn’t just laughing at him—she was laughing at herself.

Six years together and she’d been so blinded by love that she hadn’t seen his true colors. But it was fine. She was planning to leave him anyway. At least now, he wouldn’t get the chance to defile her mother’s grave with his false promises anymore.

Sloan turned back toward the grave, her eyes cold as she continued arranging the flowers.

A low, familiar voice broke the silence behind her.

“Sloan. Long time no see.”

She turned and for the first time in days, a genuine smile touched her lips. “Tristan, it’s been a while.”

Tristan Grant, her childhood friend and former crush, immediately noticed that something was off about her. His brows furrowed slightly, but his tone remained light.

Seeing an old friend she genuinely cared about made Sloan’s mood lift, even if just for a moment.

Tristan’s eyes swept the area. “Where’s Wyatt? Aren’t you two getting married soon? Why isn’t he with you?”

Sloan’s smile stiffened. Forcing herself to stay calm, she replied, “He had something going on at work. He left early. Well, let’s not talk about him. How are you? When did you get back in town?”

Tristan caught the chill in her tone. His heart tightened with both excitement and worry.

They’d been classmates since childhood. He had loved her quietly for years, but when his family sent him abroad for university, he returned only to find Wyatt already by her side.

She had seemed genuinely happy back then, so Tristan had buried his feelings, telling himself it was too late. But now, seeing her relationship with Wyatt unraveling, Tristan wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip through his fingers.

They chatted easily, reconnecting as they exchanged numbers.

After parting ways with Sloan, Tristan immediately ordered his assistant to investigate Wyatt.

When the report came back, confirming Wyatt’s involvement with Carol, Tristan’s lips curled into a dangerous smile. “This should be interesting.”

Meanwhile, Sloan approached the Rosehill Cemetery manager. “I’d like to relocate my mother’s grave.”

The next morning, Sloan went to Wyatt’s place and asked for her mother’s protective necklace. Her mother had gotten it for her at a holy ground before she fell ill, hoping it would protect Sloan. If she was going to leave, she needed to take everything that belonged to her.

“Why are you suddenly asking for the necklace?” Wyatt asked, confused.

Sloan didn’t want to raise suspicion, so she brushed it off. “I’ve been thinking… now that I’m pregnant, I want to keep it close. It might bring good luck for the baby.”

Wyatt smiled and handed her the necklace without questioning it.

Time flew by and soon it was the wedding day.

A luxury yacht.

Sloan sat in the bridal suite, surrounded by stylists buzzing around her.

“Oh my God,” one stylist gushed. “I’ve never seen a wedding on a yacht before! This must’ve cost millions! Mr. Finley must’ve really loves you.”

Sloan didn’t respond. Her expression remained calm. Having the wedding on a yacht had been her one request when she agreed to marry Wyatt.

Wyatt had agreed without hesitation, thinking it was her dream wedding. He would’ve never thought that this yacht would become the site of their final goodbye.

Once her makeup was done, Sloan slipped on her heels and walked into the grand hall. Admiring glances followed her every step. But Sloan felt nothing.

At the head table, Carol sat with a smug smile, wearing a stunning ruby necklace and a white evening gown so extravagant it could have passed for a wedding dress. Carol’s gaze held open challenge.

Sloan’s lips curled into a smirk. Without moving her lips, she mouthed, Bitch.

Carol’s face twisted in rage. She shot to her feet, ready to retaliate, but Wyatt’s mother grabbed her arm. “Sit down! Don’t…you dare making a scene!”

Carol seethed but sat back down.

Only Tristan, standing at the edge of the room, caught the whole exchange.

The officiant smiled warmly, before announcing, “Mister Wyatt Finley, do you take Sloan Tanner to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

Wyatt’s gaze softened. “I do.”

The officiant turned to Sloan. “Miss Sloan Tanner, do you take Wyatt Finley to be your lawfully wedded—”

Suddenly, the large screen behind them flickered to life.

A grainy video began to play.

It was Wyatt and Carol, tangled together in an office. His office. Moans and whispered promises filled the room. The Finley staff rushed to shut it off, but the damage was done.

Gasps filled the hall.

“Oh my God! This was totally worth coming for,” someone in the crowd whispered.

The screen went dark, but the echo of those obscene sounds lingered in the air. The guests’ expressions darkened, their eyes filled with disbelief and disdain.

Sloan stood frozen at the altar, stunned. She had planned to leave Wyatt today, but she never intended to expose their broken relationship so publicly. After all, this was a shameful chapter of her life and she wanted nothing more than to close the book on it without further drama.

Her gaze swept toward the crowd, locking onto Carol’s face. The woman’s complexion had turned ghostly pale, her wide eyes brimming with disbelief.

Sloan’s confusion gave way to a flicker of satisfaction deep in her chest.

She stepped forward, her voice clear and cutting as she spoke into the microphone, “I won't marry him!Never!”