Leaving behind a cold statement, "The wedding is suspended," Rudy Ritter left me standing alone at the wedding venue, making me the laughingstock of the entire city.

This was the 99th time Kelsey Mitchel had used the same excuse to take Rudy away from me.

A marriage involving three people is simply too crowded.

So, I chose to leave.

Unexpectedly, after I disappeared completely, Rudy went mad, searching for me all over the world.

——

When the wedding was about to reach the exchange of rings, Rudy’s phone rang.

I silently begged him with my eyes not to answer it.

However, Rudy froze with the ring in his hand and hesitated for barely a second before answering the call.

I don’t know what was said on the other end, but Rudy’s expression instantly changed.

"Melissa, the wedding is suspended. Kelsey isn’t feeling well."

"Do we really have to go now? The ceremony will be over in ten minutes. Can’t we call an ambulance for her?" I clenched the bouquet tighter, trying to maintain a smile and keep him here.

But Rudy’s eyes were filled with worry. "No, I’d feel better seeing her myself."

And just like that, he turned and left without waiting for my reaction. His steps were firm and unyielding, without the slightest pause.

Watching his cold figure disappear, a bitter taste filled my mouth, and my heart felt as though it was being pierced by countless steel needles. I knew Rudy wasn’t coming back today.

Kelsey was his white moonlight—his savior. Ten years ago, a fire engulfed the Ritter family estate. Without hesitation, Kelsey rushed into the flames to save an unconscious Rudy. Though she succeeded, she inhaled thick smoke that damaged her lungs and left her frail ever since. Her parents perished in that fire, leaving her orphaned. While she doesn’t bear the Ritter surname, Kelsey enjoys all the privileges of the family’s eldest daughter.

Everyone knows how much Rudy treasures his non-blood-related sister.

No one believes the story of the boy who cried wolf after hearing it too many times, but Rudy always does.

I thought, at least for today, he would consider my dignity. But reality dealt me a cruel slap in the face.

In Rudy’s heart, I, his fiancée of seven years, would always come second to Kelsey.

The hall erupted into whispers and pointed stares. The guests exchanged murmurs, their gazes landing on me with judgment and pity.

Today should have been the happiest day of my life.

Rudy knows better than anyone how much I’ve looked forward to this day.

For seven years, I dreamed of this moment.

I personally handled every detail—the wedding program, venue planning, customized wedding dress and ring, and even the invitation design. I wanted everything to be perfect, leaving no room for regret.

And yet, the groom, the supposed star of the day, walked away without hesitation.

I stood there, feeling like a clown under the spotlight, with everyone watching, waiting for me to break.

Even though my heart was bleeding and the pain suffocated me, I forced myself to stand tall, smiling as I politely bid farewell to the guests.

Under the sympathetic gazes of the hotel staff, I walked out. It wasn’t until I reached the street that I realized I hadn’t even changed out of my wedding dress.

Ignoring the curious and confused stares of passersby, I wandered aimlessly through the streets.

I couldn’t bring myself to return to the home steeped in memories of Rudy—not yet.

But as vast as the world may be, in this moment, it felt like there was no place for me.

My parents passed away when I was young, leaving me to be raised by my grandfather.

For years, he was my everything, but two years ago, the one who loved me most also left me forever, taken by illness.

I saw Rudy as my last family. Even though he abandoned me time and time again for Kelsey, I chose to stay by his side.

All because I craved the warmth of a home.

Rudy once promised me he’d give me the warmest, happiest home imaginable.

That promise still echoes in my mind, yet the man who made it seems to have forgotten, breaking it over and over again.

My phone buzzes.

Kelsey: Melissa, you lost.

Yes.

I lost—and I lost completely.

I let out a bitter laugh, and as I did, tears spilled down my cheeks, unstoppable.

I’ve held onto this relationship for seven years.

Perhaps it’s because I forgave him so many times that Rudy became fearless, convinced I would never leave no matter what he did.

But the pain of waiting has become unbearable.

I’m exhausted now—too tired to keep holding on.

Today was meant to be our last chance to make things right.

But Rudy, once again, chose not to cherish it.

Even the heavens seemed to share my sorrow. A gentle drizzle began to fall, its droplets mingling with the tears on my face. I could no longer tell which was which.

Lost in my thoughts, I faintly heard someone shout from behind, “Be careful!”

The next moment, the screech of brakes tore through the air.

Before I could react, pain exploded through my body as I hit the ground. The sharp agony quickly spread, and crimson blood seeped out beneath me, staining my white wedding dress in an instant.

“Baby!”

Later, I found myself lying pale and bloodied in the hospital’s emergency room. Pain radiated from my lower abdomen, and I could distinctly feel something being wrenched away from within me.

Desperate and terrified, I clutched my phone, calling Rudy repeatedly.

The first call—no answer.

The second call—still no answer.

...

Finally, on the seventh try, the call connected.

“Rudy!” I cried, my voice cracking with desperation.

But before I could say another word, his cold voice interrupted me. “I’m busy. If it’s not urgent, we’ll talk later.”

Hearing the indifference in his tone, panic surged through me. Before he could hang up, I rushed to say,

“Rudy, I was in a car accident. Please... can you come to the hospital now?”

At this moment, cold sweat drenched my forehead, and the pain was so overwhelming I could barely speak. If one listened closely, they would easily detect the tremor in my voice as I struggled to endure the excruciating agony.

But Rudy, on the other end of the line, noticed nothing. Instead, his voice carried irritation as he scolded me:

“Melissa, there’s a limit to jealousy. Faking a car accident just to get my attention? Is this your idea of fun?”

Then, the line went dead, replaced by the cold, repetitive tone of "beepbeep."

His words cut through me like a jagged blade, leaving wounds that bled deeper than the ones on my body.

At that moment, my heart froze completely.

Under the nurse’s sympathetic gaze, I picked up the pen with trembling hands and signed my name on the consent form for the operation.

Before the darkness consumed me, I whispered to the doctor, “Doctor, don’t save the child.”

…

When I opened my eyes again, I was greeted by the blinding white of the hospital room.

The time on my phone read nine o’clock the next morning.

The ward was deathly quiet, interrupted only by the soft, intermittent buzzing of the monitor.

I reached down and touched my lower abdomen. It was silent—empty. I could no longer feel the faint flutter of life that had once been there.

Tears rolled down my cheeks, uncontrollable and endless.

This baby had been my wedding gift to Rudy.

When I first discovered I was pregnant, I was overwhelmed with joy. I’d imagined countless times how ecstatic Rudy would be when I told him.

In the quiet hours of the night, I had often wondered whether the baby would resemble me or Rudy more.

…

I don’t know how long I cried.

When my tears finally dried, I wiped my face, picked up my phone, and made a call.

“What? Finally made up your mind?” A casual, almost amused male voice came through the receiver.

“Yes,” I said, my tone calm and emotionless. “I’ve made up my mind. I accept your proposal to go to New York City.”

On the other end, Gerald Holt chuckled, as if my answer had been exactly what he expected.

Ignoring his smugness, I added firmly, “But I have one condition. You must ensure that all my identity information from the past three years is completely hidden. I don’t want Rudy to ever find me.”

With Rudy’s financial resources and influence, disappearing without a trace wouldn’t be easy. But I knew that if anyone could make it happen, it was Gerald.

“No problem,” Gerald replied confidently. But before ending the call, he asked, “Are you really willing to leave Rudy?”

His question hit me like a punch to the chest, making my heart falter.

Am I willing to let go?

I silently asked myself the same thing.

Seven years of love… how could I let go so easily?

But I also knew that one day, I would have to let go completely. The first step was to distance myself.

Ten minutes later, a notification buzzed on my phone. It was Gerald, sending me flight details.

The flight was scheduled seven days later. What a coincidence—it was the same day as my birthday.

After ending the call, I accidentally opened the home monitoring app on my phone. My thumb hesitated over the lock screen button as the video feed played.

Rudy had just returned to Lanting Garden, still wearing the same clothes as yesterday.

I watched as his face clouded with impatience and irritation while the servant informed him I hadn’t come home all night.

I could guess exactly what he was thinking.

He must believe I’m throwing another tantrum.

“Boss Ritter, should I call Miss May?” the assistant asked cautiously, stealing a glance at Rudy’s expression.

“There’s no need,” Rudy replied, his voice cold and detached.

“It’s not the first time she’s caused a scene. I told her from the beginning—if she wants to be with me, she has to unconditionally accept Kelsey, my sister in all but blood.”

He leaned back slightly, his tone laced with disdain. “If she wants to throw a tantrum, let her. She always comes crawling back once she’s done making a fool of herself. She has no one else—where could she possibly go if not back to me?”

Rudy’s words carried not a shred of guilt for abandoning me at the altar. Instead, the subtle curl of his lips betrayed his mockery.

Hearing this, it felt like my heart had been ripped open, raw and bleeding, the pain unbearable.

This was the man I had devoted myself to for seven years.

Seven years of love, patience, and sacrifice—reduced to nothing but waste.