Tomorrow is the seventy‑eighth time Drake Harrington and I are supposed to walk down the aisle.

And yet I see Drake show up in his cousin Vera Mallory’s Moments post, where she’s showing off wedding dress photos.

“Big brother’s wedding dress and my jewelry design are a perfect match!”

In the picture, she’s wearing the wedding dress Drake designed for me, along with the jewelry I designed.

Behind her, a man is bowing his head, carefully fixing the train of her gown.

I comment: Little sister Vera is really blessed.

The next second, Vera calls me, trembling as she apologizes. She says she just casually mentioned that she thought the dress was beautiful, and Drake gave it to her.

Then Drake takes her phone. He’s furious, humiliated, and roars at me, “Let’s cancel tomorrow’s wedding for now. I’ll design another dress for you.”

“Your jewelry design is good. Vera’s just starting out and she needs a chance. Give this one to her and design another one for yourself.”

This is the seventy‑eighth time Drake has unilaterally postponed our wedding.

In the past, I would scream myself hoarse asking why he was once again delaying my wedding because of Vera.

This time, I don’t say a word.

I just sign the divorce papers, then quietly buy a plane ticket to go abroad for further study.

…

Five minutes later, Vera posts another update.

“What do I do, my big brother is way too good to me!!”

The picture is a selfie.

She’s still in that wedding dress, but now there’s another necklace around her neck. At its center hangs a rare, perfectly cut, heart‑shaped red diamond, fifty‑two carats.

Underneath, she’s written: I casually mentioned a few days ago that I love Pierce Langley’s designs, and I didn’t expect Big Brother Drake to buy it and give it to me today.

Pierce Langley—I know the name, because I like his work too.

I once told Drake that Pierce Langley was going to have a jewelry exhibition in the country and that I wanted to go.

He said I’d been out of the jewelry design industry for a long time, that there was no point in me going. Then he turned around and took Vera instead.

He called it giving Vera “more exposure to the world” since she was still a newcomer.

Comments from people in Drake’s circle flood in beneath her post.

Tristan Yeats: “Damn, Pierce Langley’s pieces are practically priceless. Drake spoils you way too much.”

Zane Cooper: “Gotta say, Drake’s taste is actually pretty good. This dress belongs on you.”

Leo Foster: “Cut the crap. Isn’t that the dress Drake designed for Sonia? If Sonia sees this, she’s going to flip out again.”

Drake has always resisted letting me into his circle.

From dating to marriage, the only way I know his friends is through Drake’s mouth—or through Vera’s Moments.

So this is how pathetic I look in their eyes.

They all seem to think the one who should be with Drake is Vera, not me, the woman who appeared out of nowhere.

Before, for Drake’s sake, I kept quiet. I told myself as long as there was love between us, it was enough.

Now, I don’t need to force myself to please anyone.

I simply reply under the post: You’re all overthinking it.

The next second, Drake pings me with a single question mark.

“Sonia, what the hell are you throwing a tantrum about now?”

“I told you, Vera is just my little sister. You’re her sister‑in‑law. What’s wrong with taking more care of her?”

“Why do you have to talk about my friends that way?”

“Looks like they’re right about you—you’ve changed. You’ve turned into a jealous, petty shrew who does nothing but bitch and whine!”

The accusing messages keep popping up.

I mute him, delete the chat, then tap into my own Moments.

I unpin and delete every video about Drake at the top of my page.

Then, in silence, I take a screenshot of Vera’s post.

Drake treated that “little sister” of his so damn well it was ridiculous.

I’d questioned him about it before. He’d told me the person he loved most was me, and even if there *was* something going on between them, what did it have to do with me?

But was that really true?

The first time he called off our wedding was right when we were about to exchange rings. He got a call from Vera.

Vera said she’d just been dumped and was now on the rooftop.

Drake immediately abandoned me and a room full of guests to run to her, leaving me alone to deal with the mess.

The thirtieth time he cancelled our wedding was the night before the ceremony. Vera’s good friend called to say she’d fainted.

He told me Vera’s health wasn’t good, that he had to go check on her, but he’d definitely be back in time for the wedding. He told me to wait for him.

The next day, the only thing I waited for was a call from Vera.

She said Drake had been too tired last night, that he’d been “messing around” with her for a long time, and now he couldn’t get out of bed. The wedding was off.

When Drake finally came back, I asked him who he really loved.

He still claimed he loved me, but said I gave him a headache with how much I nagged.

This was the seventy‑eighth time, and once again, it was because of Vera...

Only this time, I’d decided to let them have each other.

Drake came home at ten that night.

I was a little surprised; I hadn’t expected him to show up. Ever since Vera had come back to the country, his appearances at home had become rare. When he did come back, it was usually in the middle of the night, and sometimes, he didn’t come back at all.

He walked into the bedroom and called my name.

“Make me a bowl of noodles.”

I didn’t respond.

In the past, no matter how late he came home, as long as he called me, I would get up and cook him a bowl of noodles.

Whether he actually ate them or not.

When I didn’t move for a long time, he didn’t keep calling. Instead, he went into the bathroom.

Not long after, the other side of the bed dipped slightly.

A pair of hands settled on my waist.

Those hands were about to get bolder, to move on to the next step.

I caught his hand in mine.

I took a deep breath and said calmly, “You’re back.”

With his hand trapped, the only thing he could do was pull me closer into his arms.

“Sonia, I knew you weren’t asleep.”

“Believe me, nothing happened between me and her.”

His voice rumbled above my head, carrying a hint of coaxing.

“You know I only see her as my sister.”

“Vera might be my cousin in name, but she never had a single good day in the Mallory house.”

“We’re in a position to help her. As her big brother and future sister‑in‑law, shouldn’t we take extra care of her?”

I stayed silent, released his hand, and rolled onto my back to lie flat on the bed.

Drake sensed my attitude and paused for a moment, then went on:

“Sonia, I know you’re not a petty person.”

“That wedding dress Vera liked, just give it to her. I’m the designer—I can make dozens more for you...”

I still didn’t say anything.

That was when Drake started to get annoyed.

Usually, at this point, I’d be crying and yelling, demanding to know why he’d cancelled our wedding for Vera yet again.

“Sonia! Don’t push your luck.”

“I’m already lowering myself to coax you like this. What more do you want?”

“You want gifts? Money? Is that it?”

“The gift is on the table outside—your favorite diamond earrings.”

“I’ll have my secretary transfer money to your account in a minute!”

“What else do you want?!”

Drake poured out a stream of words.

I only answered with one sentence.

“I don’t like diamond earrings.”

He thought I liked diamond earrings, but I’ve always been allergic to that kind of jewelry.

The only reason I ever acted like I liked them was because the first gift he gave me was a pair of diamond earrings, and I treasured them for that.

What I truly love is jade.

But he just assumed this was what I liked.

“How is that possible? There’s no way I don’t know what you like.”

Drake clearly didn’t believe me.

He opened my Moments, ready to dig up proof that diamond earrings were my favorite.

But when he clicked in, it was completely empty.

Everything that had anything to do with him, I’d deleted.

“Sonia, where are the videos?”

“Can you stop making such a big deal out of nothing? It’s just a small thing and you blow up like this.”

“I texted you today and you didn’t even bother to reply. Looks like you’ve forgotten that everything you eat, wear, and use right now is paid for with my money.”

“In that case, I don’t think we have anything left to talk about. Think about it. I’m sleeping at the office tonight.”

Drake slammed the door hard on his way out, as if he needed the sound to vent his dissatisfaction with me.

I couldn’t help mourning the best five years of my life.

Time had already killed the girl I used to be.

Every time we argued, his way of dealing with it was to freeze me out.

Either that, or he’d just throw money and gifts at the problem. Not once did he ever take my feelings seriously.

And then I would be the one to compromise. The moment Drake showed signs of leaving me, I’d cling to him shamelessly.

In his eyes, I was just some pathetic woman who couldn’t live without him.

He said he was sleeping at the office, but of course I knew where he’d really end up.

The next morning, I was woken by the sound of the front door opening.

“Sonia! I told you the wedding was canceled—why the hell didn’t you notify the guests?”

He started yelling the moment he walked in.

Last time he unilaterally called off the wedding, I’d gone door to door with gifts and forced smiles, explaining to everyone that the ceremony was off.

This time, I didn’t rush to clean up his mess.

Naturally, the guests showed up as planned.

But the bride and groom never appeared.

The people invited included uncles and elders from Drake’s circle—men who could close major deals in minutes.

Being played by Drake like this wasn’t even the first time.

They were furious, and they pinned every bit of lost profit squarely on him.

So of course, Drake came to settle the score with me.

I’d already predicted this exact scene.

“Yeah, Sonia, Drake canceled the wedding because of me. If you’re mad, take it out on me,” Vera said sweetly, stepping out from behind Drake and instantly directing all the blame toward herself.

In Drake’s eyes, it only confirmed that I was throwing a tantrum out of jealousy.

“No matter what you think is going on between me and Drake, you can’t just mess with those uncles like that,” she went on.

“The Harrington Group’s stock has been dropping nonstop lately,” Drake added. “Because of this bullshit, a lot of our deals with other companies got canceled too.

“I handled everything this time, so let’s just let it go.

“But there has to be a limit to your temper. Don’t fucking push it.”

The two of them, performing their little duet, had already decided I was guilty before I even opened my mouth.

I smiled and replied, “You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re the one who unilaterally canceled the wedding, Drake. What does that have to do with me?”

“Shouldn’t the fallout from canceling the wedding be your responsibility?”

“It’s a shame I didn’t record everything you two just said.”

I clicked my tongue twice and shook my head.

Drake took it as a provocation. His expression darkened, and he raised his hand and slapped me across the face.

He didn’t hold back. My head snapped to the side from the force of the blow.