On New Year's Eve, my cousin twirled in my wedding dress, admiring her reflection with a smug grin. When Nolan Hendrix saw her, his temper snapped. Without a word, he seized the delicate fabric and shredded it to pieces.

When I went to deliver his phone, the sight before me stopped me cold. Nolan had my cousin pinned against the towering floor-to-ceiling window, his presence casting an ominous shadow over her trembling form.

She clung to his neck, her voice laced with desperation. “Brother-in-law, I was wrong! Please… be gentle.”

A cruel sneer curled on Nolan’s lips as he gripped her chin tighter, his voice dripping with venom. “Didn’t you say the drug would kick in after twenty minutes? If I hadn’t shown up, would you have thrown yourself at the first man who walked in? So desperate, weren’t you just hoping I’d treat you exactly like this?”

My cousin giggled, a coy sparkle in her eyes. “I was only trying on my sister’s wedding dress, and you got so… intense.”

Nolan’s hand froze mid-movement, his expression darkening like a thundercloud. His voice turned icy. “Stop nurturing fantasies you have no right to. Trying to take Isabella Madison’s place? You don’t even come close to deserving it!”

The phone vibrated persistently in my hand, the sound pulling me out of my daze after three agonizing minutes. Without hesitation, I whispered to the receiver, “Mr. Lennon, I’ll take the overseas assignment to Cyveria.”

——

Meanwhile, in my wedding home, Dione Cromwell knelt at Nolan’s feet, her every action a plea for mercy as she groveled to appease his smoldering wrath.

The two of them continued their charade, completely unaware of my presence just outside the door, separated only by a narrow crack.

The streets on New Year’s Eve were alive with laughter and bursting fireworks, painting the night sky in vibrant colors, but none of it reached me. Instead, an unbearable loneliness crept over me, settling like a weight on my chest.

Six months ago, my uncle’s sudden passing left Dione utterly adrift. Desperate and vulnerable, she came to me, seeking shelter.

I let her move in, thinking I was doing the right thing.

That same evening, she accidentally drank from Nolan’s cup. His reaction was immediate; disdain flashed in his eyes as he picked up the cup and tossed it into the trash without hesitation.

Dione stared at him, her large, tear-filled eyes shimmering with grievance like a fragile doll left in the rain.

Nolan’s expression hardened, his voice cold enough to cut. “I don’t like dirty things!”

I couldn’t stay silent. “She’s just a timid girl, Nolan! You didn’t have to scare her like that,” I scolded, hoping to soften his edge.

“Simple? More like foolish. How do you even mix up someone else’s cup? I have zero tolerance for stupidity! Get her a place to stay and move her out!”

Dione, ever obedient, took his harshness without a word of complaint. Every morning, she woke early to prepare breakfast for us. After a long day of job hunting, she returned to cook and clean as if trying to repay some unspoken debt.

Two weeks later, Nolan’s tone softened, though his words still carried an edge. “The company needs a personal assistant. Ask your sister if she’s interested.”

“Baby, I just don’t want you stressing about her job situation. This is her chance. But let her know if she screws up, I won’t hesitate to fire her.”

Relieved and hopeful, I sent Dione to work at Nolan’s company, urging her to make the most of the opportunity. To show my gratitude, I even invited her to stand beside me as my bridesmaid on the most important day of my life.

How naive I had been. I didn’t realize that what Dione truly desired wasn’t to stand by my side as a bridesmaid but to take my place as the bride.

Nolan had chosen the most painful place for her, the home meant to be ours.

The weight of betrayal from both love and family made the winter air sting sharper. Bowing my head, I let the tears spill, disappearing into the thick, unforgiving snow beneath me.

Dione’s messages struck like icy needles, each one embedding deeper into my heart.

“Sis, I know you saw everything. How long are you planning to endure this?”

“Your wedding home is beautiful, luxurious, and romantic. But don’t forget the crack in the floor-to-ceiling window your fiancé made. Remember?”

Her words were poison, and I refused to reply.

Aimlessly, I drove through unfamiliar roads until I found myself in a small, snow-covered town. I sank onto a roadside bench, letting the snow drift down, frosting my hair until it looked as pale as my resolve.

Time lost meaning until a tug on my sleeve startled me. A little girl stood beside me, her smile warm against the cold. “Miss, don’t cry! It’s New Year’s! Come with me—you’ll feel better!”

Before I could protest, she pulled me along, her laughter ringing through the night. “There’s an event! It’s called ‘A CEO’s Love for His Wife.’ If you write a blessing and hang it on the wishing tree, you’ll get a thousand-dollar red envelope!”

My steps faltered when we reached the square. On a massive LED screen, Nolan and Dione appeared, locked in an intimate embrace, their smiles glowing under the falling snow.

“This is our first New Year’s Eve together, and we want to share our joy with all of you.”

The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement electrifying the frosty air. Blessings poured forth like confetti, showering them with wishes for everlasting happiness and unwavering love.

A bone-deep chill settled into my soul, freezing every corner of my being.

While my New Year’s Eve was drenched in solitude and despair, theirs unfolded as a grand spectacle celebrated by an entire city.

Clutching the edge of my coat, I let out a hollow laugh. With the urging of impatient voices behind me in the blessing line, I meticulously wrote, “Eternal happiness, everlasting love,” each stroke deliberate and mocking my own misery. I hung the cloth strip on the wishing tree, the irony biting deep.

With the crisp 1,000 dollars in hand, I headed back home.

When Nolan returned, he carried a velvet box in his hand.

“Baby, I’m sorry,” he said with a practiced tenderness. “I stopped by to pick up a New Year’s gift, so I was a little late. But I made it back in time to spend New Year’s Eve with you.”

A bitter laugh echoed in my heart. What jewelry store would be open on New Year’s Eve?

I had trusted him so blindly, never realizing how painfully obvious his lies had been all along.

He slipped a ruby ring onto my finger, the same one I had casually admired in a magazine at the airport long ago.

Holding my hand, Nolan sighed, his voice laced with what seemed like genuine admiration.

“It’s stunning. The moment I saw it, I knew this ruby was meant for you.”

But my gaze fell on the kiss marks and faint scratches marring his collar, their presence burning into my eyes like searing flames. I pulled my hand back awkwardly, the ring suddenly feeling like a shackle.

“How’s Troy doing?” I asked my tone light but pointed.

Nolan hesitated, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face before he forced a faint smile.

“Of course, I put him in his place. It’s disgusting, leaving his wife at home to mess around on New Year’s Eve.”

I fixed my eyes on him, my voice dropping to a soft murmur. “Then don’t spend time with him anymore.”

“Betraying his wife’s love,” I added, each word deliberate, “he deserves nothing less than hell.”

For a fleeting moment, guilt flashed across Nolan’s face, mingling with a trace of panic. He reached out to pull me into his arms.

“Alright, baby,” he said, his tone almost too smooth. “I’ll do as you say.”

As he drew closer, the faint scent of jasmine on him turned my stomach.

Images of their tangled betrayal looped endlessly in my mind, each one cutting deeper than the last.

I pushed him away abruptly, a wave of nausea rolling through me.

Nolan froze, his expression shifting to concern as his gaze darted to my hand resting on my stomach.

“Are you feeling unwell?” he asked eagerly. “I’ll call Dr. Zimmerman right now.”

I shook my head slowly. “Maybe the New Year’s dinner was too greasy. It’s just making me a little nauseous.”

He exhaled in relief, his shoulders relaxing. “Alright. I’ll whip up some cereal to help settle your stomach.”

Before I could respond, he turned and disappeared into the kitchen.

When the cereal was ready, he placed it carefully on the table in front of me, the steam curling into the air. I took a small sip, but my appetite was already gone.

“Sorry,” I murmured, setting the spoon down gently. “I didn’t mean to waste your effort.”

Nolan reached out, his fingers brushing through my hair with an affectionate touch.

“Silly girl,” he said warmly, “even if you only ate a single grain of it, it’d still be worth every bit of effort to me.”

I turned my head, sidestepping his touch, and decided to test the waters.

“It’s so late, and Dione still hasn’t come home. Why don’t you go out and look for her?”

The tenderness on Nolan’s face dimmed noticeably.

“Just scolded her a little, and she stormed out. Don’t know who spoiled her to be this way.”

“She can come back if she wants. If not, so be it!”

As if on cue, the door creaked open, and Dione walked in, her bare legs catching the light.

Nolan’s frown deepened. “Look at the time. You went out without a word and made your sister worry all night.”

Dione’s lips curled in a sly smirk, her gaze flicking to me with subtle intent.

“Sorry, sister. I was on a date. My boyfriend got a little clingy, so I came back late.”

“But you’re experienced; you must understand how hard it is to resist passion, right?”

I nodded, offering a faint smile that never reached my eyes. “As long as you’re back.”

“What kind of boyfriend has you so smitten with? Bring him over sometime, and I’ll see if he’s worth it.”

Dione clung to my hand, feigning coyness. “Hmm, my boyfriend’s amazing. Even brother-in-law knows him.”

I didn’t miss the flicker of unease in Nolan’s eyes.

“But he’s not exactly considerate. When he misbehaves, you have to help me teach him a lesson, alright? Tell him to be gentle like my brother-in-law instead of tearing up my things. It’s freezing!”

As she spoke, her eyes drifted playfully to her bare legs, the bruises on her knees glaringly provocative.

Her bold provocation struck me like a blow, but I steeled myself, swallowing the lump in my throat and refusing to let the tears spill.

Nolan’s glare darkened as he turned to Dione, his gaze sharp with warning. She quickly adjusted her expression, but her eyes flickered to the ring on my finger, and a sly laugh escaped her lips.

“Sister, is that a New Year’s gift from brother-in-law?”

“I guess we really are sisters; we have the same taste in men.”

“Look at this. My boyfriend gave it to me. Doesn’t it look like a set with your ring?”

“He said he wants to keep me tied to him forever. So childish, don’t you think?”

Before I could utter a word, Nolan’s voice sliced through the air, cold and sharp. “Can’t you see yours is a fake? Parading it around like that, don’t you feel ridiculous?”

Dione didn’t flinch. Her lips curled into a serene smile as she leaned forward, pulling a neatly wrapped box onto the table. “Sister, I brought some pears. Let’s split them later. I’ll go take a shower. You two enjoy.”

Her every word dripped with calculated innocence, but her gestures were a melody of provocation.

As the clock struck midnight, the building opposite us came alive, its windows blinking until they spelled out glowing words: "I LOVE YOU."

Nolan dropped to one knee, his gaze filled with reverence. “Baby, these ten thousand lights shine just for you. They’re a symbol of my love. Let’s get married after the New Year, okay?”

My phone buzzed, interrupting his declaration. It was a message from Dione.

"Sister, brother-in-law said the ruby reminded him of the color I bloomed under him for the first time. Are you still sure you want to marry him?"

I glanced at my reflection in the window, catching a glimpse of her twisted smile as she ground her teeth. The words on the screen burned in my mind, igniting a spark within me. I knew then that my time for revenge had finally come.

I smiled gently and nodded. “Alright.”

Nolan’s joy was uncontainable. He lifted me effortlessly and spun me around; his laughter filled with boyish delight. Tears glistened in his eyes, and his voice trembled with emotion. “You’ve given me the most unforgettable New Year’s Eve of my life.”

I let out a soft chuckle, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “The feeling’s mutual.”

His enthusiasm spilled over as he began calling a few friends, eager to celebrate and share the news of our engagement.

Turning to Dione, I smiled faintly. “Why not invite your boyfriend too? The more, the merrier.”

Her eyes darted instinctively toward Nolan, her expression unreadable. His face remained stoic, though a fleeting unease flickered in his gaze. “Do as your sister says,” he muttered, his tone devoid of warmth.

Hours later, Isaiah Crassus arrived, his tie slightly askew, his disheveled appearance hinting at the rush to get here.

What happened next silenced the room. With an air of nonchalance, Dione walked straight to him, her movements deliberate. She perched herself boldly on his lap, her arms sliding around his neck, leaving no doubt about her intentions.

She teasingly placed a cherry against his lips, her gaze, however, drifting back to Nolan, lingering just a moment too long.

Isaiah sat stiffly, the discomfort evident in his posture. His eyes darted nervously toward Nolan, betraying his unease.

I smiled knowingly, tilting my head ever so slightly. “Well, Nolan, it seems your secretary has managed to steal my sister’s heart.”

Nolan swirled his wine with deliberate calm, his expression cold and detached, though the faintest spark of anger flickered in his eyes. It was the same smoldering fury I remembered from the days when we had dated in secret, especially when his senior had insisted on asking for my number.

The moment Isaiah’s lips brushed against the cherry, Nolan moved without warning. He pulled me into his arms and kissed me fiercely, a gesture that was equal parts defiance and possession.

I fought back my rising anger, gently pushing him away, my movements controlled despite the heat in my chest.

Someone broke the tension with a laugh. “Not quite the same. She’s sharing cherries, and you’re sharing saliva!”

Nolan took my hand, his smirk playful yet edged with dominance. “What can I say? My baby’s sweeter than any cherry.”

The sound of glass shattering filled the room, cutting through the laughter. Dione’s wine glass lay in pieces, red wine blooming across her dress as she froze under the weight of everyone’s gaze.