A week before what was supposed to be the wedding of the century, I discovered Rhys’s heart already belonged to someone else.

In the company’s underground garage, his personal assistant, Tessa, was crying in his arms as he murmured comforts to her. Her makeup was exquisite, but her expression was shattered, and she clutched his suit jacket as if it were her only life raft.

My heart clenched. My fingers, resting on the car door handle, went cold.

Two years ago, she was just an unremarkable intern. Now, any pretense of innocence was gone, replaced by the blazing ambition in her eyes.

Her lingering presence around Rhys always put me on edge, and I had asked him more than once, "Rhys, can't you replace her?"

His smile would immediately fade. "Sloane, Tessa was permanently injured saving my life. I can't just cast her aside."

My phone buzzed with a final confirmation from the wedding planner, asking if she should finalize the million-dollar flower order.

I wouldn’t let grief consume me. Wiping a tear from my cheek, I replied to the email: Cancel everything.

I refused to settle for a counterfeit love or a duplicitous partner.

Let them have each other. Let Tessa stand by his side as his chosen one.

In seven days, I would be gone forever, taking with me the child growing quietly inside me.

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1

Rhys looked up from a pile of documents, a warm smile lighting up his face.

"Sloane? I wasn’t expecting you. What brings you to the office?"

As the CEO of Sterling Group, he was always buried in his work.

"I was just with the planner. I thought I'd stop by and see you," I said, my voice trembling involuntarily.

"You missed me, didn't you? I knew it."

He stood and pulled me into his arms.

"I… I saw Tessa in the garage."

"Oh? Was something wrong?"

I searched his gaze for a crack, a flicker of deceit, but there was nothing. A cold wave of panic washed over me.

Was I overthinking this? Was there truly nothing between them?

Rhys's chin gently brushed against my hair.

"Sloane, our wedding is just a week away. I can hardly wait."

His embrace was warm and familiar. For a moment, nestled in his arms, I almost believed him, almost convinced myself I was just being paranoid.

Then, my gaze fell on the suit jacket he had laid out for the evening's gala.

There, peeking from the pocket, was an expensive earring that wasn’t mine.

My gaze shot back to his face, my breath hitching.

"Well, I should get going…"

I rushed home and sat motionless in the bedroom as the sun set, plunging the room into darkness. I didn’t turn on the lights.

The pregnancy test in my hand felt like a razor blade, and I gripped it so tightly it dug into my palm.

I had planned to tell him the news at our wedding. Now, the thought felt like a cruel joke.

I gently caressed my belly. "My baby," I whispered, "Mommy can't bring you into a world built on lies. We'll run far away, just the two of us."

The door opened, and the sudden flood of light made me flinch.

"Are you not feeling well? Why are you sitting in the dark?"

Rhys's voice was filled with familiar concern. He cupped my face to kiss me. I quickly stuffed the pregnancy test into the pocket of my silk pajamas.

"Just tired."

For the sake of our five-year relationship, I decided to give him one last chance.

I looked him in the eye and asked again, "Rhys, can you please replace Tessa?"

He froze. His voice, no longer warm, hardened.

"Sloane, you weren't there for the car crash. If it weren't for Tessa, you would have lost me two years ago."

My eyes stung with tears. "But you've given her so much. She has a whole new life now."

"That doesn't erase the permanent damage to her leg, nor does it replace the dancing career she gave up for it," he said. "She can never dance again. I can't abandon her."

His gaze was calm, but the force of his presence was suffocating.

"But…"

My eyes stung, and the words caught in my throat. His body heat radiated through my clothes; we were so close, yet we felt miles apart.

"Tessa is kind and fragile; she means no harm. You're about to become Mrs. Sterling. Can't you be a little more understanding?"

My lips trembled. All the arguments and emotions churning inside me went cold, then died.

Only a single tear slid silently down my cheek.

Rhys's hand slid to my waist, brushing against the hard object in my pocket.

"What's this?" he asked, reaching in.

I quickly grabbed his hand, my heart pounding in my chest.

"It's… a lipstick."

While he was distracted, I slipped the pregnancy test into the nightstand drawer.

He gazed at me, his thumb gently stroking my cheek.

"Sloane, you look pale. Are you exhausted from the wedding preparations?"

Each word of concern was another gentle twist of a knife in my heart.

I looked into his eyes, my voice catching.

"Rhys, I've told you before. If you don't love me anymore, just tell me. I won't cling to you. But if you lie to me, I will leave you forever."

He laughed, running a hand through my hair.

"Don't be silly. You're just tired. I'm not going anywhere tonight. I'll stay right here with you."

I rested my head against his chest, my thoughts a tangled mess.

He seemed so perfect. Was I really just overthinking things?

But then, the image of that earring—and Tessa’s provocative gaze—stung my heart again and again.

His phone rang, interrupting my thoughts.

The moment he answered, I could feel him tense up.

"Don't worry, I'm on my way."

He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Tessa's having a flashback from the accident. She's hysterical. I have to go."

My hand shot out, grabbing his sleeve. "But you promised you weren’t going anywhere tonight…"

He gently pinched my chin and smiled. "I'll be back soon."

His tall figure vanished from the doorway.

My tears finally fell, silent and hot.

I caressed my belly. "Baby, we're going to a place with no lies. Just the two of us."

Rhys came home very late.

I pretended to be asleep, my back to him, but my mind was a slideshow of betrayals, each one tearing at my heart.

The pillow beneath my cheek was cold and damp with tears.

The mattress dipped behind me. He leaned over, careful not to wake me, and placed a soft kiss on my ear.

His familiar after-shower scent wafted over me, so comforting, so much like home, yet I couldn't relax.

My back was rigid. I was too afraid to open my eyes, unsure how to face him.

For five years, his patience with me had been nearly endless. Whenever I grew upset, he would soothe me with a smile, gently guiding me back to his way of thinking.

The only exception was Tessa. On that subject alone, he never budged.

It was a thorn that had been festering in my heart for years.

The next morning, the countdown on my phone screen flashed: 6 DAYS LEFT. Rhys glanced over. "Six days? For what?"

My heart hammered against my ribs, and I quickly shut off the screen.

"Just a reminder for the wedding."

He smiled and pulled me into a tight hug.

"How could I ever forget?" He kissed me gently. "Don't miss the charity gala tonight."

"Why?" I asked.

He gave me a mysterious smile. "It's a secret for now. All you need to know is that you're the star of the show tonight."

Then he left for the office.

Six days. That was all the time I had left with him. Even as I prepared to let go, a part of me, the part that still ached for him, wanted to hoard these final moments.

I opened my computer and pulled up the digital blueprints for the home we had designed together—every detail of the living room, nursery, and art studio—and dragged them into the trash.

One by one, the future we had dreamed of became a pile of useless data. The chime of the computer emptying the bin felt like it was crushing my heart.

Deep inside, a voice howled, low and mournful, It's all broken… Is there no going back?

I wiped the tears from my face and pressed a hand to my aching chest.

Forgetting him felt impossible.

I arrived a little late to the gala. The ballroom was glittering under a cascade of chandeliers, the air buzzing with conversation.

I saw Rhys immediately, surrounded by a group of business partners, the undeniable center of attention.

Tessa stood by his side, her arm linked with his, a brilliant smile on her face. The slit in her long dress was cut to perfectly reveal the old scar on her leg, a permanent mark she displayed like a badge of honor.

I stopped short, my breath catching in my throat.

"Tessa, you and Rhys look like a perfect match."

"Anyone who didn't know better would think you two were the couple."

Tessa tilted her head to look at Rhys, a coy smile on her face. "Do we look like a couple?"

His eyes were full of undisguised tenderness. He made no move to correct their absurd compliments.

It wasn't until she noticed me approaching that Tessa composed her expression, feigning modesty.

"It's a shame I met him too late," she said in a tone laced with mock regret. "I can only stand here and wish him well from afar."

A vise gripped my heart.

"Look, here comes our bride-to-be!" someone called out.

"Sloane, we're so envious of you," another guest said. "Rhys's love for you is second to none."

I forced a smile, knowing their words were hollow.

It seemed everyone knew about Rhys and Tessa. I was the only fool living in my own happy delusion.

But it didn't matter anymore. I would be leaving soon.

Still, a pang of grief shot through me for the life I was losing. For five years, he had been a part of me.

I gazed at him, trying to burn his face into my memory.

"What are you thinking about, Sloane?" Rhys asked, breaking away from the crowd.

"Nothing," I said, reaching up to adjust his tie clip. "Your tie clip is striking."

It was a strange impulse, but I had to know. The tie clip and matching cufflinks weren't from me, nor were they his usual style.

He shifted uncomfortably, a flicker of something in his eyes.

"My other clips didn't go with this suit. It's a gift from the company."

He excused himself and made a hasty retreat.

A sharp pang shot through my heart. I knew it was a lie. All his clothes and accessories were custom-made by top brands; he would never wear a generic company gift.

There was only one answer: Tessa had chosen it for him.

And he had just lied to my face.

Just then, Tessa sashayed over, holding a glass of champagne.

"Sloane, I'm so envious of you," she said, her smile not reaching her eyes. "You're about to marry Rhys."

"Thank you," I replied, forcing a polite smile.

"But he'll never forget me. No matter what you do, I will always be by his side."

She raised her glass, her eyes full of contempt. The bracelet on her wrist was a limited edition from the same luxury brand as Rhys's tie clip.

At that moment, the music swelled, and Rhys strode to the center of the hall with a microphone.

"In a few days, Sloane and I will be getting married," he announced. "Tonight, I will present my wife-to-be with the Sterling family's most precious heirloom, the Star of Sterling necklace."

He opened a box, and a magnificent blue sapphire glittered under the lights. The crowd erupted in applause, all eyes turning to me.

Rhys’s gaze seemed full of love, waiting for me to join him on stage.

Suddenly, a thunderous crash echoed through the ballroom. The massive glass art installation beside me came crashing down, sending a shower of glittering shards everywhere.

Cold liquid soaked my skin as shards of glass sliced into my flesh. Screams erupted as guests scattered.

I was frozen in place; the slightest movement sent a fresh wave of agony through me. I was trapped, the pain intensifying with each passing second.

I looked at Rhys in terror. He was running toward me.

A flicker of hope ignited, but it was quickly extinguished. Just a few feet away, he stopped and turned to Tessa, who had fallen in the commotion and was crying, clutching her leg.

"Don't be afraid," he said, his voice thick with panic. "I'll take you to the hospital."

He swept her into his arms and rushed out the door, his face etched with worry.

He never once looked back at me. He never saw the hem of my dress, stained dark with blood.

The wounds burned like fire. Pain and fear shot through me, and a chill ran down my spine.

Rhys's figure disappeared into the chaos, swallowed by panicked screams.

Time blurred. It felt like an eternity before the event staff found me and called an ambulance. By the time I reached the hospital, glass shards were still embedded in my skin.

Every movement, every shallow breath, brought a new wave of searing pain. My hands trembled uncontrollably.

My head turned, my eyes desperately searching the bustling hallway for Rhys's face. After a moment, the cold reality sank in: he was with Tessa.

A kind-faced nurse bustled over with a cart. She prepared her instruments, and I watched as she picked up a syringe.

I was instantly on high alert.

"What's that?" I asked, my voice fragile.

"It's a sedative," she said gently. "We have to get all these glass shards out, and it's going to hurt like hell without it."

"No," I answered firmly. "I don't want it."

She looked at me in surprise. "Are you sure?"

"I'm pregnant," I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them. "I'm worried the medication might affect the baby."

She understood immediately, her expression softening with sympathy.

"You'll have to be strong, then. I'll be as quick as I can."

The process of stitching my wounds was as agonizing as I had imagined. I gripped the arms of the chair, my knuckles white, and gritted my teeth through the entire ordeal. The pain was so intense that my body trembled with the effort to stay still.

Another nurse came to help, her voice chipper as she tried to distract me with small talk.

"There's a couple in the next room, also getting treated for injuries," she said with a dramatic sigh. "That girl is so lucky. The guy is a CEO, handsome, and so devoted. She's been crying the whole time, and he's been holding her and whispering in her ear."

My nurse looked up. "Without anesthesia?"

"Of course they gave her some. Didn't help, she just kept crying."

My nurse snorted. "Spoiled rotten. Look at my patient here—no meds, and not a single peep. Tough as nails."

A bitter smile touched my lips, though I couldn't hold back my tears. They streamed down my face, silent and hot.

Rhys used to tease me for being a coward about pain. Whenever I so much as scraped a knee, he was always more nervous than I was. He would disinfect and clean the wound, bandaging it with practiced ease, and then pull me against his chest, soothing me until I calmed down.

Even now, he still had that tenderness. It just wasn't for me anymore.

When the nurse finally announced, "All done," I nearly collapsed with relief.

She gave me some instructions. "Keep the wound dry. Take some painkillers if it hurts badly... Oh, wait. You can't take those. You're pregnant."

A familiar scent filled the small room, a sharp mix of his signature cologne and sterile air.

Rhys had arrived.

"What did you just say? Who's pregnant?"

His voice came from behind me, full of an urgency that made my heart race.

I shot the nurse a warning look and quickly said, "She said I'm not pregnant, so I can take the painkillers."

His expression changed, the tension draining away, replaced by a hint of disappointment.

"I thought for a second you were."

"Nothing like that," I mumbled, staring at the bandages on my arm, trying hard not to let the tears fall.

Rhys looked at the bloodstains mottling my white dress, his eyes clouded with guilt.

"Sloane, I'm so sorry," he said. "Tessa's old injury makes her more fragile. She… she needed me more in that moment. You're going to be my wife; you're strong."

A lump clogged my throat, making speech impossible. I managed a small smile. "I know."

He frowned, gently tracing a finger over my stitches.

"Does it hurt?" he asked. "You were always so afraid of scars."

My nose stung. I took a deep, shaky breath, fighting back the wave of emotion.

"I'm fine." The words were incredibly difficult to get out.

"I'll present the Star of Sterling to you properly at the wedding."

Before he could finish, his phone rang. He listened for a moment, his face growing tense. He gave me a quick peck on the cheek.

"I have to go," he said, a new urgency in his voice. "I'm taking Tessa home. She's shaken up… she needs someone with her."

"I'll have my driver take you. Go home and rest. Don't wait up for me."

He was gone before the words had even settled.

I didn't get home until the early hours of the morning. I collapsed onto the bed, tears streaming down my face until my eyes were red and swollen.

Rhys was a man of his word, a man of responsibility, but he was no longer mine.

I didn't need the Star of Sterling necklace anymore.

Five days left. Then I could leave.