As I drove back to Jayden's villa, I could feel the cold stares of the nannies and housekeepers piercing through me. Their expressions were devoid of warmth, their judgment palpable. I glanced up at the large TV in the living room, where a reporter replayed the wedding scene that had just unfolded. Jayden and Nicole appeared on the screen, their joyful faces starkly contrasting my own despair. It seemed everyone believed I had ruined the wedding.

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the judgment as I made my way to the second floor and retreated into my room. Standing before the full-length mirror, I was met with a reflection of exhaustion and defeat, my wedding dress torn and tattered.

Nicole had left Jayden and gone abroad, while I had become his next girlfriend—an unexpected turn of fate. He had brought me into his life, but it was clear he didn’t care for me deeply; he had simply handed me a few black cards and left me to entertain myself. The housekeeper and nanny had mirrored his indifference, barely acknowledging my presence.

It was only when I found Jayden drunk one night that a flicker of hope ignited within me—the idea of marrying him. I longed to be honest with him, to be the good wife he deserved. Three years I begged for this, three long years filled with yearning and unfulfilled dreams.

Now that I finally grasped the truth, I refused to deceive myself any longer. I recognized this wedding dress all too well; it had languished in Jayden's collection for three long years, the very one Nicole once declared her favorite. A bitter laugh escaped me, mocking my own delusions.

With a heavy heart, I reached for the zipper on the back of the wedding dress. As I pulled it down, it suddenly snagged halfway, leaving me feeling trapped and defeated. I took a deep breath, frowning as I tightened my grip, but still, there was no progress.

Just when I felt completely helpless, I felt a pair of strong hands encircle my waist. Startled, I looked up into the mirror, and my breath caught in my throat. The man behind me had striking features, and his presence exuded a reserved intensity that both intimidated and intrigued me.

“Cohen…” I gasped, my legs going weak as fear coursed through me, the word escaping my lips before I could stop it.

Cohen responded with a calm “Hmm,” his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine.

My gaze was drawn to the large hands he had resting on my waist. I knew it was inappropriate, and instinctively, I began to shrink away, feeling a flush of embarrassment.

“Don’t move.” His deep voice was smooth, but there was an unmistakable command woven into the tone.

We fell into an awkward silence. The sharp contours of his face held an air of detachment and indifference, while his black-and-white eyes exuded a calmness that was both unsettling and alluring.

Cohen raised his hand, fingers gently pinching the zipper of the wedding dress. He pulled it down to my waist, and before I could fully comprehend what was happening, he lowered his head and pressed a kiss against my skin.

The suddenness of it shocked me; my legs turned to jelly, and the kiss—neither too soft nor too forceful—sent shivers racing down my spine.

“Cohen... what are you doing?” I stammered, taking a step forward and glancing back at him, but he remained bent over, focused on the task at hand.

Cohen was Jayden's brother. He was a man of few words. I could count the times he had spoken to me on one hand. His current actions left me utterly bewildered.

Cohen’s lips curled into a smile, softening his previously aloof demeanor. “Hannah, why did you run away from your marriage?” he asked, his voice laced with genuine curiosity.

I bristled at the question, thinking of how this felt like another plea on Jayden's behalf. “This wedding isn’t grand, and frankly, I don’t like it,” I replied with a confidence I didn’t fully feel.

I strode to the door and opened it, gesturing for him to leave. “Nothing’s happening here. You should just go, Mr. Murphy.”

Cohen raised an eyebrow, unfazed, and stepped toward me, the distance between us charged with unspoken tension. “When you’re free, I’ll give you a grander wedding,” he said quietly, his tone sincere yet enigmatic.

I couldn’t help but sneer at his words, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. The men in the Murphy family were all lunatics.

After changing my clothes and packing my things, I descended the stairs with my suitcase, determined to leave this chapter behind. Just as I reached the front door, I collided with Jayden and Nicole, who had just returned.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Jayden’s tone was icy, his gaze locking onto mine with an unsettling intensity.

Before I could respond, Nicole stepped forward, gripping my hand tightly. “Hannah, Jayden and I are friends. Don’t get the wrong idea,” she said, her eyes glimmering with a pride that didn’t escape my notice.

Jayden chimed in, clearly trying to play the mediator, as if he thought he could pacify the situation. The underlying message was clear: he wanted me to stop causing trouble.

I tightened my grip on Nicole’s hand, forcing a smile that felt more like a mask than a genuine expression. “You must take good care of Jayden,” I said sweetly, the words dripping with sarcasm.

Turning to Jayden, I added, “The car keys and bank card you gave me are all in the room.”

With that, I pushed open the door and stepped outside, dragging my suitcase behind me.

“Hannah! Once you leave, don’t ever come back!” Jayden’s roar echoed in the air, filled with anger and finality.

I didn’t bother to reply.

Never stopping is the best answer.

I sold some designer bags and rented a small house in the city, trying to carve out a new life for myself.

One day, as I was unpacking, the landlord stared at me for a long moment before finally speaking. “Hey, Miss Stewart, are you the bride who escaped from marriage in the news?”

My heart sank, and I quickly masked my shock with a calm smile, denying it. I watched as the landlord shook his head, lamenting about how a woman who fled a marriage didn’t know how to cherish such an opportunity, missing the chance to marry into a wealthy family.

It dawned on me then that the narrative had been twisted beyond recognition. I had become the most shameless woman in Florida, a mere footnote in their gossip.

Marrying into a wealthy family had never been my dream. All I wanted was Jayden's sincerity. Yet, not only had I not received that sincerity, but I had also left the Murphy household battered and bruised—both emotionally and physically.

Now that I had finally walked out of that sad place, I also wanted to leave behind the sad person I had become.

Later that evening, I opened a recruitment app and my eyes caught the listing for a personal nutritionist. I hadn’t worked in three years, dedicating my time to taking care of Jayden. In preparation for that role, I enrolled in a nutrition program and took the exam for my certification.

Just as I was contemplating this new path, a knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.

I stood up and opened the door with a crack, only for someone to pull it wide open from the outside. Jayden’s scarlet eyes locked onto mine, filled with a storm of emotions.

“Hannah, what do you mean?” he demanded, grabbing my chin and pushing me against the corner of the doorway.

In the past, I might have interpreted this gesture as flirting. But now, it feels like a cage closing in around me.

I turned my face to shake off his grip, meeting his gaze with cold defiance. “I said, break up.”

“Why do you say break up?” Jayden shouted, his voice rising with agitation. “You’re the one who said we were together, but now you’re the one who wants to end it? It can’t be that easy!”

His shoulders shook slightly, betraying his attempt to control his emotions. The tension in his muscles and the rapid pulse in his throat told a different story, revealing the turmoil beneath his surface.

I smiled, surprising even myself, as I looked him up and down, feigning helplessness. “Fine, then. I’ll be the one you dumped, okay?”

“You go,” he shot back, his voice low and filled with menace.

I pushed him away, but he caught my wrist, pinning me against the wall with a fierce grip. His words were laced with barely restrained anger as he spoke through gritted teeth: “You think this is what I care about?”

“Hannah, you can’t leave me without my permission,” Jayden said, his grip tightening on my wrist. The pressure was painful, and I felt tears spill over, tracing hot trails down my cheeks.

As soon as he saw my tears, the anger in his expression softened, and the strength in his hold lessened. “I’m sorry, Hannah. I was a little too excited and hurt you.”

I took that moment to push him away with all my strength, wiping my tears furiously. “Jayden, do you even realize how sick you are? Nicole is back, and you still want to provoke me!”

“Don’t tell me you love me,” I continued, my voice laced with frustration. “I don’t fucking believe it. You just want to play games with me. Why pretend to be affectionate?"

When it came to understanding Jayden, I was the only one in Florida who could truly see through him. He had married me only to manipulate Nicole into coming home. Men were like that, cradling one woman while holding another in their hearts. What Jayden feared most was that once Nicole became his wife, the idealized version of her would shatter.

His face darkened as the truth hit home. He stepped toward me, but I scolded him sharply.

“Hannah,” he said, his voice strained as I turned to leave, “when you’ve had enough of this fun, come back.”

No. I had wasted so many years chasing after him. I was determined to live my own life now.