When everyone else doubted me, only Cole stood by my side.

When someone tried to hurt me, he was the one who protected me.

Even when the media spread false stories, claiming I had schemed to seduce him, he didn't hesitate to speak up, publicly declaring that it was he who had pursued me, regardless of his lofty status.

Once, when a thug tried to attack me, Cole beat him within an inch of his life. He was seriously injured in the process, but still shielded me with his own body.

And yet, the man who once loved me so deeply… suddenly stopped loving me.

Everything that once felt like happiness had vanished.

Cole might have forgotten. Or maybe it never mattered to him in the first place.

Back when we were together, I'd once told him, "If you ever stop loving me, just tell me. I won't cling to you. But if you deceive me, I'll leave. And after that, we'll never see each other again."

"Lisa, what are you doing just standing there? The dresses are here. Come try them on."

The door opened and Cole walked in, grasping my hand and leading me toward the living room.

I followed him, but then… I saw a faint smudge of lipstick on his collar.

I stopped walking.

He turned to look at me, puzzled. "What's wrong?"

My eyes searched his face. He looked so innocent, so unaware. I gave a small shake of my head.

What would be the point of saying anything? To argue? To cry?

No. I didn't want that.

I just wanted to leave quietly.

In the living room, the staff were waiting, holding three wedding dresses. All custom-made. All beautiful.

I tried on each one. None of them fit.

Cole lost his temper and lashed out at the assistant.

"Idiot! What's going on with the sizing? Don't you even know her measurements?"

The assistant lowered his head and stayed silent.

I stared at Cole and for the first time, he felt like a stranger to me.

He rarely got angry. He was always composed and measured. This was the first time I'd ever seen him explode like this.

Watching him now, using rage to cover his own carelessness, I felt a kind of bitter amusement.

Did he really think I was that naïve?

Did he think I couldn't tell who'd made the mistake?

If he truly cared, how could he get the size wrong?

He used to spoil me endlessly. Every piece of clothing he gave me fit perfectly. Mistakes like this were unthinkable in the past.

Still, I didn't call him out. Instead, I smiled.

"Forget it, Cole. Don't be angry. It's just a ceremony. Any dress will do."

He let out a long breath, relieved. "Sorry. I just wanted you to have a one-of-a-kind gown."

I shrugged. "It's fine."

So he handed me a tablet to choose a different design.

I scrolled through the options.

Next to me, he was on his phone.

Something caught his eye. His gaze lit with intense desire.

"Madam, which one do you like?" the assistant asked.

I didn't answer. I was watching Cole.

He must have felt my stare, because he put his phone away and glanced over with a faint look of guilt.

"Lisa," he said, "there's an emergency at work. I have to take care of it. Just pick whatever dress you like. I'll buy it."

Without waiting for a reply, he rushed out the door.

My expression dimmed. I smiled bitterly.

A message came. I opened it. It was a photo of the three wedding dresses that didn't fit me. All three, exactly the same.

So Cole had the wedding dresses made—for his lover.

So much for a one-of-a-kind gown.

I was never his only bride.

How greedy he'd become. He wanted a proper wife at home, but still kept mistresses outside.

There was no point in choosing a dress anymore.

It didn't matter. Because I was never going to marry him.

On the day of the wedding, the only bride who'd show up would be a dead one.

I dismissed Cole's assistant.

A while later, my phone lit up again. It was another photo.

Cole was in bed with the rising young actress, Kai Orwin. Their bare bodies were tangled together, lost in each other's touch, kissing deeply.

The way he looked at her—possessive, hungry—was the way a man looks at a woman he wants to claim.

Kai's exposed skin was covered in red marks, proof of how fiercely he'd kissed her.

I thought I'd grown strong enough. But the image still cut deep.

The pain crawled into my bones and began devouring reason, piece by piece.

Tears came. I couldn't stop them.

Kai was relentless. Determined to make me suffer, she sent a video next, taunting me.

In the clip, Cole looked like a man starved of touch, devouring her like it was his first time.

The scenes were graphic and disgusting. Watching them made me nauseous. I barely made it to the bathroom in time.

Kai then sent a series of voice messages.

"Lisa, he's crazy about me. He's never been like that with you, right?

"By now, you should realize he's never really loved you. To him, you're family. An obligation, nothing more.

"If you're smart, you'll walk away. Otherwise, things won't end well for you."

I listened to her voice with numb detachment.

Then I opened my photo gallery.

Photo by photo, moment by moment, I watched our time together pass before me, then slowly began to delete each one.

Everything about him… had to go.

'Cole, I'm done with you,' I swore inwardly.

That night, he came home.

He still carried the faintest trace of someone else's perfume. It was subtle, but I noticed.

"You're still up?" he asked when he saw me sitting quietly in the dark.

He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

"It's windy by the window. You're in short sleeves. You'll catch a chill."

I turned my head to look at him, reached up and touched his face.

I could feel his warm skin, but my heart felt like ice.

Still, logic triumphed over anger. I gave him a faint smile.

"Couldn't sleep. I didn't feel like lying down, just wanted to sit and feel the breeze."

He frowned, concerned.

"If you can't sleep, watch a movie. Don't sit in the cold like this. It's not good for your health. Don't do this again."

I nodded and remained silent.

There were so many things I wanted to say, but none of them would come out.

The next day, Cole took me to a charity auction.

I never liked public events, but he always insisted I go, saying that as his future wife, I had to learn to navigate his world.

He brought in stylists, dressed me in a designer gown, and had my makeup done to perfection.

I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror. I looked elegant and flawless—a woman who shone from the outside. But inside, I longed for simplicity.

I used to think Cole and I came from different worlds.

Now, I was sure of it.

…

The proceeds from the auction were going toward building schools in remote villages. To show his generosity, Cole placed bids on every precious item at the auction.

But he donated it all under my name, painting me as the benevolent figure.

The crowd looked at me with admiration and envy.

But I knew that this, too, was just another way for him to show off.

Toward the end of the night, Kai appeared, dressed in a stunning red gown that clung to her body. She was bold, radiant, and seductive.

As she walked past us, she suddenly stumbled and fell straight into Cole's arms.

Instinctively, he caught her.

Then, noticing my gaze, he let her go.

Kai's eyes darkened for a moment, but she quickly forced a smile.

"Lisa, would you mind if I sat beside you?"

Her words were directed at me, but her eyes never left Cole.

She leaned slightly forward, just enough to let the deep curve of her chest spill into view.

I glanced at Cole.

I could see his heated gaze on her. His desire was plain to see.

And then, without a word, he grabbed Kai's wrist.

"You. Come with me. We need to talk."

Cole took a few steps, then paused and turned to look at me.

"Lisa, I need to talk to her for a bit. Wait here for me, alright?"

Then, without giving me a chance to respond, he hurried off with her in tow.

I watched their backs disappear into the crowd and let out a bitter laugh.

Of course. What a joke. Even with so many people around, he didn't care. He ditched me so easily for her.

Even the onlookers seemed stunned.

Kai looked back at me, giving a smug little smile.

I shrugged, watching calmly.

It didn't matter anymore. If she thought she'd won, good for her.

But if I couldn't hold on to his heart, what made her think she could?

Because Cole never had a heart to begin with.

A few minutes later, a message popped up on my phone. Cole wanted me to meet him in the VIP lounge.

I knew something was off, but I went anyway.

Even before I reached the door, I could hear the sounds—heavy breathing, soft moans that turned my stomach.

Through the crack in the deliberately ajar door, I saw Cole was on top of Kai.

His large hands clutched her breasts greedily. His lips trailed hungrily down her neck.

"Mmm…" She let out a moan.

Her hips arched up against him, grinding slowly, teasingly.

His eyes were glazed with lust. One hand slid beneath her skirt.

"I want you. Just… be gentle."

Her body tensed, her expression intoxicated, soaking in every touch.

"You little minx," he growled. "After I'm done, you won't be walking normal."

And then he lost control, tearing off her dress in a frenzy and burying himself in her.

I couldn't watch any longer. I turned away.

I don't even know how I walked away from that room, only that somehow I ended up on a balcony, as if drifting.

Even with several rooms between us, I could still hear them.

In that moment, all strength drained from my body. I collapsed to the floor.

The tears came hard and fast.

It felt like the whole world had gone dark.

And then, without meaning to, I thought about our first time.

Back then, he had been awkward and innocent. I had been naïve and nervous. Neither of us knew how to be with each other.

We watched videos to learn and figure it out.

Only then did we truly become one.

I remembered that whenever I cried out in pain, he would stop—sweating, trembling—but never forcing another inch.

Back then, he had been gentle with his every touch and kiss, like I was something rare and precious.

Never like this. Never like the man I saw today.

Now, his lustful voice echoed in my head.

He had become someone else. A man ruled by lust. A stranger.

When the sounds finally stopped, my phone buzzed.

It was a new photo…from Kai.

It was a ring.

Kai: [A gift from Cole. Our promise.]

The ring looked familiar.

I looked down at my hand and saw the exact same one.

Cole had once said it was a custom design. Unique. Meant to symbolize his one and only love.

Now, he'd shared it.

I was no longer his only one.

I slipped the ring off and tossed it into the pond.

Then I sat on the balcony, staring off into nothing, letting the cold wind scatter my tears and numb the pain.

Half an hour passed before Cole came running out.

"It's dangerous out here. What are you doing on the balcony?"

He lifted me in his arms and carried me inside.

I looked at his worried face and felt dazed.

How had things changed so drastically?

He used to love me. Didn't he?

But no one could answer that. Maybe not even him.

"It's too cold. Come on, let's go home," he said, taking my hand. "I'll cook your favorite tonight."

He sounded excited about showing off his cooking.

I didn't refuse, but I didn't say anything either.

He didn't seem to mind. He probably thought I wasn't feeling well.

"I'll let you sleep when we get home," he said gently. "Once the food's ready, I'll wake you."

I looked at his kind, steady face—so different from the man I'd just seen lost in another woman's body.

How did he switch so easily between the two?

I couldn't believe it.

The same man holding me so tenderly now… had just been with someone else.

But I'd seen the truth myself.

Suddenly, I needed to know. The words slipped out before I could stop them.

"Cole… you're marrying me because you love me. Right?"