I’m getting married, but my CEO fiancé, whom I had been engaged to for ten years, had no idea.

Thanks to his new personal maid, the man has no time to spare for me. The two of them always shadowed one another, and they might as well be sleeping in the same bed.

My fiancé even bought a yacht and brought her to the Arctic to see the aurora when she was in a bad mood, completely forgetting that we were supposed to be picking out wedding gowns that day.

I spent the entire day waiting in that bridal shop, waiting for a man who would never show up.

So I called my dad, “I’m marrying someone else.”

On the way back from the bridal shop, my dad gave me documents about over twenty candidates. These candidates ranged from mature men to youthful ones; all were heirs to their parents' billionaire corporations, and they were mine to choose from.

My dad was angry and ranted, "I knew Jared wasn't good! 'I won't leave you sad or lonely.' Pssh! It's been ten years! You got engaged to him ten years ago! He still hasn't married you! Thank goodness you found out his true colors! Hmph! I'll find you someone better, don't worry!"

"Don't wait anymore; come back first. I'll set you up on a few blind dates first. My daughter can marry whoever she wants!"

Everyone could tell that Jared did not love me. I was the only idiot blinded by our memories, foolishly believing I was the only one he loved.

"I'm sure I'll like anyone you choose, Dad. I'll marry anyone as long as it's not him."

Jared must have made his way beside me sometime during the call, and when he heard that, he frowned. "Who else do you think you're marrying?"

He was about to grab my arm to make me face him when a sharp cry came from the kitchen. A lady in a maid outfit walked out with tears in her eyes and her hands in front of her.

"I'm sorry, Jared. I just wanted to cut some apples for you but accidentally cut myself with the knife instead.”

"I'm too careless to be your personal maid. Maybe you should find someone else…"

Jared immediately ignored me and rushed over to cradle her in his arms. "Hush, Vincy, it's okay. Don't worry. I'll have the family doctor come over right away!”

"And don't say that! I will never have anyone else as my personal maid. It's you or nothing, I promise!"

Gently, my fiancé comforted her, forgetting his 'beloved' fiancée once again. I was no doctor, but even I could tell that a bandaid was sufficient for a small cut.

Watching him choose her without hesitation only strengthened my resolve to move on.

Once he had left, I dialed my best friend’s number to say goodbye.

Ten years ago, Jared and I had gotten engaged secretly. I left home with the excuse of studying abroad, and that was when I met this best friend.

I told her my feelings for Jared, how much I loved him, and how I skipped important classes and exams for him.

When I officially began living with Jared, she even joked about receiving our wedding invitation soon.

That was ten years ago.

"You're getting married? With Jared? Oh my God, finally! I'm so happy for you! I know you've been waiting ages for this!”

"I remember you saying that you'd move to Spain after getting married, right? I'll go visit you during Christmas!"

I shook my head calmly. "It's not him. I asked my dad to find someone else."

She was confused. "But you were dead set on marrying Jared. Why are you marrying someone else? What did he do this time? You know how he is, the man loves you but he doesn't know how to express it. Give me a moment, let me go knock some sense into him."

I sighed tiredly. "People change. We've been engaged for ten years, and he has no plans to marry me. I was the only one holding on to this relationship, but a decade is a long time. I'm tired now.”

"Maybe we're both wrong. Even if Jared doesn't know how to express his love verbally, shouldn't I be able to feel it from his actions?"

I told her how Jared left me at the bridal shop to watch the northern lights and how worried he was when Vincy cut herself.

My best friend fell silent; it was apparent who Jared loved and who he did not. She supported my decision to marry someone else.

After I ended the call, I began to pack my things. I sold or donated all the expensive gifts I got from Jared.

Then, I took pictures of my luxury bags, jewelry, and designer clothing for my best friend to choose and take.

All of that took half a day, and by the time I was done, Jared came to look for me again. This time, Vincy followed behind him, looking proud.

“You’re going on a trip?” He asked me suddenly.

I gave him a nonchalant smile. “It’s not that big of a deal. I just felt like having a change of style.”

Jared stared at me for a while. He seemed to believe me and relaxed visibly.

I was starving from skipping lunch, so when I saw the cakes on the table, I ate a slice.

Vincy suddenly shouted, “Ms. Lawson! Mr. Payne got that for me…”

I halted and looked at Jared. The man’s lips twitched. “Vincy’s right. She’s never tried them before. You can buy yourself a new cake anyway.”

I frowned at him, taking her side. “I haven’t had anything today, Jared. I’m hungry.”

Vincy pouted pitifully. Before she could say anything, Jared spoke up for her harshly, “What is wrong with you? It’s just a slice of cake. Why do you have to steal Vincy’s?”

I stared at him. Perhaps realizing his tone was wrong, Jared spoke softer this time, “I’m not trying to reprimand you. Are you craving anything specifically? Maybe a steak? Or spaghetti?”

“I’ll cook whatever you want, okay? Let Vincy have her cake, yeah?”

Vincy was sobbing beside him. “You don’t have to take my side, Mr. Payne. I’m just a maid. If Ms. Lawson really wants my cake, she shouldn’t have to ask me.”

Jared responded by snatching the cake from my hands and shoving it in Vincy’s arms. “Ignore her, Vincy. I bought the cake for you.”

If this was before, I knew I would have picked a fight with Jared and forced him to explain himself. Now, I just wanted to leave.

The opposite of love was not hate but indifference.

I smiled. “I’ll take a steak, then.”

Surprised that I let him off the hook so easily, Jared explained, “Don’t misunderstand, okay? Vincy got hurt today. That’s why I’m going easy on her.

“You’re my fiancée, the woman I love. There’s no need to be angry over something so insignificant.”

“I’ll have the chauffeur send you to the mall later, okay? Just charge everything to my card.”

I shook my head. I did not need his money. I had my own to spend.

Ever since the beginning, all I ever wanted was Jared’s love, and yet.

Jared gave me an apologetic smile and headed to the kitchen, Vincy following behind.

Before long, I began to hear giggles coming from the kitchen. It had me reminiscing about our relationship when it first started.

Jared was not good with his words, so every time I got angry, he would apologize with a home-cooked meal. I would silently follow him to the kitchen, and when he saw me, I would hug him from behind, and we would kiss.

Now, I sat in the living room and flipped through the magazine, ignoring whatever was happening in the kitchen.

I glanced over just in time to see Jared feed Vincy a slice of steak.

I walked over calmly and heard Vincy say, “Mr. Payne, those things Ms. Lawson doesn’t want anymore, could I…”

“I mean, it’s not that I’m asking for… It’s just… You put a lot of effort into choosing those gifts, and they still look new. I just think it’s a pity…”

A carefully worded phrase, and she had painted me as a wasteful and ungrateful woman in Jared’s eyes.

I watched the man nod.

“Just because I don’t want them anymore doesn’t mean I want to give them to you.”

Jared frowned. “You were going to throw them away anyway! Why can’t you give them to Vincy? I’m not even asking you to buy something new anyway!”

Seeing the pride on Vincy’s face, I lost the energy to argue with Jared. “They belong to me. I decide who I want to give them to.”

“And do I look like an idiot to you, Jared? You think I don’t know about the luxury goods you bought her behind my back?”

I ignored them and walked away.

The helpers I called for had arrived, and they helped to carry my things to the car.

After I arrived at my best friend’s place, I pulled out my phone to answer a few messages, only to see a notification on Instagram about Vincy’s new post.

She posted a selfie of herself and Jared next to two large parcel boxes with the caption: [Souvenirs for everyone from the Arctic with my boss!].

The comments section was filled with cheers.

"Boss? Or husband?"

“Your husband is handsome! He's so good to you, oh my God!”

“Kiss him! Kiss him!” Jared liked this comment, and Vincy replied with a ‘shy’ meme.

Vincy’s number of followers skyrocketed, and she received many grateful messages in Jared’s villa’s maid group chat.

“Thank you for thinking of us even when you were on vacation, Vincy!”

“As expected of our millionaire CEO! So generous! Thanks, Vincy!"

I remember creating this group chat when I started living with Jared so it would be easier for them to discuss Jared’s meal plans. The man was a picky eater and always too busy to eat.

I stopped paying attention to the group after Vincy joined it, and my relationship with Jared grew distant.

I did not care to read through all the messages and deleted the group chat instead. It was only at that moment that I remembered Jared was also in the group chat.

After learning about the group, he joined it too and used it to track how I was when I was busy with studies or if I had fallen sick.

During our anniversary, Jared would ask them to prepare a list of ingredients for our candlelit dinner, only for Vincy to ruin everything. She needed to be more clumsy, spilling Jared’s coffee and dropping my warm milk multiple times. Each time she made a mistake, she would cry and apologize but never improve.

Jared used to be frustrated with her, but slowly, the man teased her for it and cleaned up after her.

I wanted to fire her more than once, but Jared would stop me. “Vincy is still young. She's only 18, you should be kinder to her.”

One of our maids complained about how slow Vincy was before, and Jared fired her for it. I was the one who found this maid another employer so this single mom could afford a living for herself and her newborn.

That night, I switched the lights off and got ready for bed when suddenly, I realized I was still wearing my engagement ring.

I took it off and caressed the pattern engraved upon it. Jared had made it himself despite knowing nothing about ring-making. He had accidentally hammered his fingers many times, too, because of this.

On the inside was a crooked engraving of our initials.

“This ring symbolizes my promise to you.”

“Jenny, as long as you wear this ring, I will never leave your side. We will always be together, no matter what.”

How ironic.

I asked for an express delivery and had the man deliver the ring back to Jared.

Coincidentally, my dad had just sent over information on my new husband. The wedding was set to occur next week.

The next morning, Jared stood outside my room. The moment I opened the door, he questioned, “Jenny. Why did you give the ring back to me?”

“Are you breaking up with me? Over that insignificant problem yesterday?”

I looked at him calmly. "It doesn't fit me anymore.”

Jared must have realized how aggressive he sounded, for he apologized, “I'm sorry. I just panicked when I received the ring.

“You should've texted me and explained.”

I ignored his explanation, nor would I ever explain anything to him again.

I waited four hours at the bridal shop for him while the man happily brought his darling maid to watch the aurora. I sent him many messages, but he blocked me on all social media platforms.

This man standing before me was no longer the fiancé who loved me like I was his world.

“This is my best friend's home. You should leave if you have nothing more to say.”

I turned around to close the door, only for him to pull me into his arms. “It's okay if the engagement ring doesn’t fit anymore. We still have the wedding ring, don’t we? I’ll make you one that looks much better.”

“I know you're angry I wasn't there when you were trying out wedding gowns, I'm sorry. I booked a new time for us with them already. Let's go try them tomorrow, hmm?”

From Jared’s tone, I almost believed that he cared about our future, but then I saw a hickey on the side of his neck. He also smelled strongly of Vincy’s perfume.

I was a fool to believe this man loved me, the same man who abandoned me for another woman.

I pushed him away with a smile. "We'll see."

‘Oh, Jared. What made you think I'd marry you after everything?’