Chapter 1

"I tell you, 'Kael,' today is the day of your marriage contract with 'Laura.' Aren't you afraid of her wrath?"

"And you think she dares to be angry? That woman follows Kael like his shadow, and even if she learns that he skipped their wedding appointment today for 'Ninia,' she will swallow her grief and keep silent."

"Exactly, 'Laura' is nothing more than a footnote in Kael's life. Since when did she equal a single grain on the scale of 'Ninia,' who has been spoiled since the tender age of her fingernails?"

Inside the hotel's private suite, 'Laura' stood behind the closed door, eavesdropping on the words that tore apart the veil of her illusion for years. This was the man to whom she had dedicated her life? How pathetic! She clenched her fists so hard that her nails dug into her flesh, but the pain of her body vanished before the frost that gnawed at her soul. She took a deep breath, then shoved the door open violently.

The room's noise cut off instantly, as if someone had turned off an engine.

"Laura..." everyone whispered in astonishment.

She stood at the entrance, with her striking beauty, her pink dress that traced her silhouette precisely, and her hair styled with a delicate Korean touch. She looked like a work of art, but her eyes were cold as death. She swept her gaze over 'Kael' and 'Ninia,' then said mockingly: "Kael, is this the reason you were too busy to document our marriage today?"

Confusion reflected on 'Kael''s face, and he approached her, trying to smooth things over: "We can register at any time, Laura. 'Ninia' just returned from abroad, and it is my duty as her brother to welcome her and celebrate her return."

'Laura' laughed with bitter sarcasm: "The anniversary of our love comes only once a year; doesn't this mean anything to you? Don't you realize that if we don't register today, we will be forced to wait a whole year?"

Their agreement had been sacred—to make the anniversary of their meeting the day of their marriage covenant, but 'Kael' had planned to fail her, his heart hanging onto 'Ninia,' his childhood friend who never left his side.

'Kael' felt the tension of the situation, so he tried to grab her hand: "Enough of making a fuss, I'll explain everything to you later."

She shook his hand off with contempt.

Here, 'Ninia' stepped forward with masterly acting: "Laura, I am deeply sorry; I didn't know you two were registering the marriage today."

She lowered her head with manufactured coyness, like an oppressed victim. 'Laura' could not bear this falsehood. 'Ninia' raised her tear-filled, glistening eyes and said in a faint tone: "Forgive me, Laura, I truly wish you and my brother all the happiness."

Happiness?

'Laura' exhaled a cold laugh: "Can you stop this farcical show? If you truly wished us happiness, you wouldn't have appeared in our lives again."

'Kael''s face turned to anger: "'Laura,' don't be so cruel."

"What? Did it hurt you that I criticized your spoiled sweetheart?" 'Laura' looked at him as if she were seeing a stranger.

'Kael' scolded her in a low, charged voice: "'Laura,' watch your place and don't utter nonsense!"

Look... how eager he is to protect his little sister. Since he was desperate to defend her, 'Laura' decided to grant him what he aimed for par excellence.

"Since you two have done what you did, why do you fear people's glances and words?"

'Ninia' burst into tears: "Laura, my brother and I don't harbor what you think! Why do you insist on constantly misunderstanding me? If I had known my return would ruin your relationship, my feet would never have set foot in this place."

Her sobbing was enough to elicit the sympathy of the mob, and they began showering 'Laura' with blame.

"Laura, you are exaggerating. Kael and Ninia are siblings; are you jealous even of kinship?"

"Exactly, Ninia sacrificed and left for the West for three years for your sake, aren't you satisfied?"

"Beware, Laura, if you continue with this foolish jealousy, you might lose Kael forever!"

'Laura' kept watching them coldly. In the past, she used to turn a blind eye and endure for 'Kael''s sake, but this time... it wouldn't happen.

'Laura' shot looks like daggers: "A sister attached to her brother like his shadow, and you find logic in that? Has madness struck your minds, or do you worship these forbidden relationships? I don't mind withdrawing; let them finish their scene in front of you!"

Astonishment swept over everyone. They did not expect that 'Laura,' who used to be tame one day, could transform into such ferocity.

"Laura, why are you insulting me like this?" 'Ninia' said in a broken tone: "I don't hate you, but my brother loves you, why aren't you satisfied?"

'Laura' could no longer bear it. She had known 'Ninia' for years; whenever an important date for her with 'Kael' approached, 'Ninia' created a disaster—an accident, a suicide attempt, a psychological crisis... and 'Kael' always chose to abandon her to run after his sister.

'Laura' glared sharply at 'Ninia': "Normal relationships do not require sacrificing the most important day in a partner's life. You two are just shameless people, and now you blame me and demand that I forgive? On what basis? Because you are devoid of shame?"

'Ninia''s face flushed with embarrassment and she was unable to reply, so she burst into hysterical crying. 'Kael' no longer held his nerves: "'Laura,' enough! Can't you see how pathetic you look? Just a marriage certificate, if not today then let it be on your birthday, what does it matter? Why won't you be more mature?"

Mature? Well, she would be mature enough.

'Laura' said in a voice as calm as the calm before the storm: "'Kael,' let's break up."

Silence and astonishment prevailed.

'Kael' said sharply: "You're threatening me with a breakup again? Are you trying to drive her away once more? You are so vicious, Laura! I won't marry you as long as you are this bad!"

After 'Kael''s words, a charming smile blossomed on 'Laura''s lips, like a flower blooming in autumn: "Well, there is no need for marriage, and this bond will never take place."

She turned to leave, and 'Kael' shouted threateningly: "'Laura'! If your feet step outside this door without an apology to 'Ninia,' I will never forgive you!"

Everyone wagered in their hearts that she would return and humble herself before him; for she loved him madly. But she stopped, turned back to them, and said with an irrevocable oath: "Since you are all witnesses, listen well: I, Laura, swear that today I have broken up with Kael, and I will never be his wife. If I break this oath of mine, may he be afflicted with the severance of his lineage and die a wretched death!"

She left them in shock and departed, blocking all their numbers. While she was at the height of her distraction, her phone rang with a familiar yet strange number at the same time. Her heart stopped.

She answered, and a low, attractive male voice came from the other end:

"Would you like to get married? Why don't you think of me then?"