On Christmas Day, I put on a reindeer-themed lingerie set, ready to spend an unforgettable night with my CEO boyfriend. Noah Levine eagerly unbuttons my top, kissing my body with feverish intensity.

Just then, his phone rings. He answers impatiently. "What is it?"

A sweet voice comes through from the other end, speaking in Farylian. "Noah, what time are you coming tonight? I have a Christmas present for you."

Hearing those words, my eyes fly wide open. That woman is my younger sister, Heidi Miller.

Noah's expression turns serious, like he's handling a work call. He responds in Farylian. "What present?"

The voice on the other end laughs softly. "The present is me, wrapped head to toe in red ribbon. Come over and help me unwrap it. I can't wait anymore."

That night, Noah doesn't touch me. He helps me dress, kissing my cheek with reluctance.

"Work call. Something urgent at the company I need to handle. We'll pick this up another time.

"Remember to wear this outfit next time, though. It's very enticing."

His lie sounds calm and natural. He clearly assumes I don't understand, but I know Farylian. I hear everything crystal clear.

I pretend to nod calmly. After he leaves, I accept the company's overseas assignment. In three days, I'll vanish completely from his world.

When Noah Levine came back, Christmas had already passed. I'd thrown that reindeer lingerie into a street trash bin.

"Babe, I left in such a rush last night that I forgot to give you your Christmas present."

He pulled out a sapphire necklace and swept my hair aside to fasten it around my neck. Because he leaned in so close, I could clearly see the red marks on his neck and smell the sickly sweet perfume that obviously wasn't his.

Knowing the scent belonged to my own sister made my stomach turn.

I grabbed Noah's hand. "You don't need to put it on me. Just leave it on the table."

Hearing the coldness in my tone, Noah pinched my cheek. "What's wrong? Are you still mad that we didn't finish what we started last night?"

I looked up at him coldly and said quietly, "No. I'm just curious why you suddenly left last night, and why you suddenly started speaking Farylian."

Noah smiled. "It's just a client from Farylia. You know my clients are all over the world."

As if trying to dodge the topic, he patted my shoulder. "Don't overthink it. Get ready. Your parents are already on their way to the restaurant. We can't be late."

"After all..."

He crouched down and kissed my lips. "Today is our engagement party."

Looking into his affectionate eyes, my heart only grew colder. Noah and I had been together for five years. I'd always hoped we'd get married, but he kept refusing, claiming he was too busy.

Until three days ago, when he finally got down on one knee and proposed.

That night, fireworks bloomed across Rivershore City all night long. Every burst spelled out his love for me.

I received countless congratulations. The city's socialites all looked at me with envy.

My sister, Heidi Miller, was one of them.

She linked arms with me intimately. "I'm so jealous of you, Erin. I wish I could find a man this handsome and successful too."

Back then, I was too caught up in the joy of being proposed to. I didn't catch the mockery in her voice.

Seeing me zone out, Noah called from outside the door. "Erin, are you done changing?"

I stayed silent for a moment, then grabbed a simple white dress and headed downstairs.

When Noah saw me, he paused. "Why are you dressed so simply today? You usually wear something elaborate even to regular parties."

I smiled without answering. I wasn't there to get engaged to him. I was there to witness Noah and Heidi's affair with my own eyes, to sever the last thread of feeling I had for him before I left.

"Still, you look beautiful like this too." Noah put his arm around my waist and led me outside.

On the way, I got a call from the company. I immediately lowered my voice.

"Ms. Miller, are you sure about this? The assignment location is extremely remote. It's barely even on the map. It'll be very difficult. And aren't you about to get married? Won't your husband mind?"

Hearing the word "husband", I laughed bitterly. My future husband was currently looking down at his phone, smiling as he replied to his mistress' messages.

I turned away, my voice firm. "Mr. Bardot, I'm going."

After hanging up, I met Noah's questioning gaze. "You sound so determined. Where are you going?"

"To the bridal shop to try on dresses." I tossed out a casual lie.

Noah squeezed my hand and laughed softly. "Erin, are you really that eager to marry me?"

Before I could respond, the car had already stopped at the banquet hall entrance. Our families and guests were all waiting for us, the two main characters. And Noah, in front of everyone, let go of my hand to pass a gift box to Heidi.

"Heidi, your Christmas present."

Heidi excitedly tore it open. When she pulled out the worn pocket watch inside, she pouted. "Noah, you're so rich. Why are you giving me something this old?"

Noah smiled without answering. But I froze completely.

I'd seen that pocket watch before, in the portrait of Noah's late father.

At the banquet, our two families discussed the wedding details enthusiastically.

Mom looked excited. "Why don't we have it at Bapo Beach? Erin loves the ocean."

Dad chimed in. "That's right. Erin dreamed about going there when she was little. Having her wedding there would be so romantic."

They all looked at me expectantly, and Noah nodded along.

Just then, Heidi said unhappily, "But I think Bapo is too hot. We should go to Cyrul instead. The climate there is so much nicer..."

"Heidi." Mom shot her a stern look. "This is your sister's wedding. Everything should be up to her."

The whole family turned to look at me, seemingly waiting for my decision.

I was about to speak when Noah grabbed my hand. "Erin, let's have the wedding in Cyrul. I'll take you to Bapo for the honeymoon instead."

Mom and Dad both froze, clearly not expecting him to go against me. I looked into his unfathomable eyes and smiled gently.

"What if I say no?"

His brow furrowed slightly, then he smiled and raised his glass. "Then of course we'll do what you want."

Heidi immediately looked upset. She threw down her silverware and stormed off to the restroom.

Noah later made up some excuse and followed her.

"Noah, you said you loved me most just last night! But today you're taking her side!"

Noah kissed away her tears tenderly. "Silly goose, I was just fooling her. Once the banquet is over, I'll have my assistant book every venue in Bapo. By then, she'll have no choice but to go to Cyrul.

"Heidi, don't forget. I'm only marrying her because I owe her. Everyone knows she did me a favor once."

Heidi's eyes reddened. "So you're going to owe her for the rest of your life?"

I stood by the door, listening quietly through the crack, a sliver of hope still lingering in my heart despite everything.

"Of course not." Noah laughed softly. He lifted Heidi onto the restroom counter and bit her lip. "I can't bear to see my darling suffer forever. I'll find a way to escape this marriage. And then everything Erin has will belong to you."

Hearing this, my chest felt like a thousand arrows had pierced it. The pain nearly suffocated me.

Years ago, when Noah's company faced a crisis, I borrowed money from every friend and relative I had. I even mortgaged my house to pull him back from the edge of bankruptcy.

The day the crisis was resolved, he told me that meeting me was the greatest luck of his life. But in the end, it had just been a debt and endless lies.

That day, I leaned against the wall as I made my way back to the banquet hall. Seeing how pale I looked, Mom immediately rushed to support me.

"Erin, why do you look so terrible?"

I forced down the bitterness rising in my throat and said it was nothing.

Noah and Heidi returned one after the other. When he sat down, he unconsciously tugged at his collar to hide the fresh marks on his neck.

Later, they discussed many more wedding details, such as which flowers to choose and which music to play. Whenever they asked for my opinion, I only said, "Whatever Noah wants."

Satisfaction flashed in his eyes. He seemed pleased by how much I relied on him.

But I simply felt my opinion didn't matter. More importantly, I wouldn't be attending anyway.

Finally, Noah asked me one last question. "Erin, when do you want to have the wedding?"

"In two days."

Mom and Dad stared at me in disbelief. Pulling off a wedding in two days was nearly impossible. But Noah confidently squeezed my hand.

"Don't worry, Erin. I'll definitely give you an unforgettable wedding."

I smiled softly and squeezed back. I was about to give him an unforgettable wedding too.

When he stood in front of everyone and looked down the aisle, he'd see no one waiting at the end.

Toward the end of the banquet, I started feeling unwell and decided to leave early. Noah immediately said he'd take me home, but Heidi blocked our path.

She seemed drunk, falling into Noah's arms and whining, "Noah, can you take me home instead?"

"That's enough!" Mom yanked Heidi back.

"Your sister is sick. As her fiance, of course he needs to take her to the hospital."

Noah nodded and pulled me toward the exit. But while driving, he was clearly distracted, running several red lights.

I leaned wearily against the window, feeling nothing anymore. Suddenly, his phone screen lit up. He glanced at it, and the car screeched to an abrupt stop.

I lurched forward without warning, crying out in pain. But Noah didn't even look at me. He tossed the car keys into my lap.

"Erin, go to the hospital yourself today. Something urgent came up at the company. I have to go."

Before I could say anything, he'd already flagged down a cab and left. I had a pretty good guess what was happening. Fighting the dizziness, I forced myself into the driver’s seat and followed him.

The car eventually stopped in front of a bar. Noah rushed inside like a madman.

"Sir, this lady had too much to drink at the bar and this man was harassing her..."

Before the employee could finish, Noah's fist connected with the drunk's face. His movements were brutal, each punch landing with sickening force. He was usually so composed and aloof, but now his face twisted with a rare, violent fury.

Several bouncers rushed forward to stop him, but he shoved them aside effortlessly. He grabbed the man by the collar.

"Tell me. Where did you touch her?"

"I didn't touch her! She was the one coming onto me!"

Another vicious punch sent blood flying from the man's mouth.

The crowd immediately started whispering. "Isn't that the CEO of Starlight Group? He's actually brawling in public!"

"But his fiancee isn't this woman, is she? Isn't he worried his fiancee will see this and get jealous?"

"Please. This is Noah Levine we're talking about. Plenty of women would kill to marry him. Having a few mistresses is normal for someone like him."

I watched the scene unfold through the car window. My numb heart still managed to ache.

Just then, Heidi rushed forward to stop him. "Please, stop! You're scaring me..."

Noah's hand froze mid-air. The violence drained from his face, replaced by a tenderness and adoration I'd never seen before.

He pulled Heidi tightly into his arms. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

I buried my face against the steering wheel and let the tears fall, one by one.

On the drive home, the fever made me sluggish. I drove straight into an oncoming truck.

The car flipped through the air. I was pinned beneath the wreckage as flames slowly consumed everything around me.

If there was a next life, I hoped I'd never see Noah again.