Over the next week, Diana still didn't come home.

But I knew exactly what she was doing. With Ian posting every little detail on

social media, it was impossible not to know.

They soaked in hot springs, looked at the ocean, and took photos together at

sunrise...

Scrolling through my feed, I saw a completely different side of Diana once

again. It turned out she was capable of acting like a normal woman in love.

I hadn't been idle those few days either. There was a lot of stuff in the

apartment, and it took me several days to clear it all out completely.

I also found time to visit my parents, telling them I was heading to a medical

research institute in Milan and that it would be hard to keep in touch for a

while.

My father looked surprised. "Aren't you and Diana getting married soon? Are you

two going to live apart after the wedding?"

My mother looked worried. She grabbed my hand and urged, "Think about this

carefully, Nathan. You and Diana finally made it this far. I'm afraid if you go

off to do medical research, she won't agree. She might even cancel the wedding

and break up with you..."

I understood my parents' concerns.

They had seen my relentless devotion to Diana over the years, and they were well

aware of her coldness toward me. My parents had subtly advised me in the past,

telling me that I didn't hold much weight in her heart and urging me to

reconsider. But back then, I was full of confidence, convinced I could change

her and make her fully accept me. So, they eventually stopped pushing the issue.

But now, the one deciding to cancel the wedding was me.

When I told my parents my decision, they were silent for a long time.

I didn't mention that Diana was already pregnant with Ian's child; I was afraid

they wouldn't be able to handle the blow. I simply told them I wanted to

continue my career in medicine and contribute to the field.

Finally, my father sighed, patted me on the shoulder, and said, "As long as you

won't regret it yourself."

After returning home, I called my best friend, Lucas, to help me throw out all

the boxes I had packed. The cardboard boxes were piled high in the living room,

taking up a huge amount of space.

We went up and down the stairs a few times until we finally dumped all the boxes

into the trash. Suddenly, the apartment felt incredibly empty.

Lucas looked at the bare room, shaking his head in disbelief.

He still remembered how, just two months ago, when Diana finally accepted my

proposal, I dragged him out to drink all night, excitedly telling him my dream

had finally come true.

He couldn't believe that only two months later, I had decided to call it off.

"You're actually serious? I thought you were joking when you said the wedding

was off," he said, staring at me in shock. "I've watched you chase Diana for

years. What the hell happened? Why are you suddenly letting go?"

Maybe it was because I was leaving soon, but I suddenly felt the urge to spill

everything.

I told Lucas everything that had happened over the past month—Diana, Ian, and

the baby.

When I finished, Lucas swore loudly. "You treat her like gold, and she gets

knocked up by another guy right before the wedding, and expects you to just

accept it? What the hell is wrong with her?!"

I looked down, swallowing the bitterness. "Who knows. She says Ian is her

savior, and she's just fulfilling his dying wish."

Lucas's face twisted with anger. "But you're her savior too! How could she do

this to you?!"

I didn't answer.

Five days before the countdown hit zero, I submitted my resignation to the

hospital.

Back then, to stay with Diana, I had given up the opportunity for advanced

medical studies and followed her to Manhattan, becoming an attending physician

just to remain in this bustling city.

When my colleagues saw my resignation, they were all surprised.

"Why are you suddenly quitting, Nathan?"

"You just handed out wedding favors a few days ago. Are you planning to become a

stay-at-home husband?" one colleague joked.

I held my files, smiled faintly, and shook my head. "No. The wedding is

canceled."

When I got home and pushed open the door, I saw Diana and Ian sitting on the

couch, talking in low voices. I hadn't seen her in a week.

Seeing the folders in my arms, Diana subconsciously asked, "What are you doing

with all that?"

I gave a random excuse: "Just some old files I don't need. Bringing them back to

throw away."

Diana nodded, then scanned the room, looking slightly confused. "I’ve only been

gone a week. Why does it feel like there's less stuff in here?"

I took the folders into the bedroom to put them away, replying calmly, "I just

cleared out some things we don't need."

Diana seemed like she wanted to say something else, but Ian interrupted her.

"Nathan, Diana’s been working so hard taking care of me on our trip. Thank you

for letting her take wedding photos with me. You really made my dream come

true." His tone carried a hint of smugness.

"How about I treat you both to dinner? Think of it as a thank you for taking

care of me. I might be a burden to you two for a while longer, so I hope you

don't mind, Nathan."

I had no interest in getting involved in some pointless power struggle with him.

In five days, I’d be completely out of Diana's life. Right now, I just wanted to

wrap things up smoothly so I could leave quickly.

Seeing my lack of reaction, Ian instantly put on a hurt expression.

"Diana, is Nathan upset? I know you guys are getting married, but..."

Hearing Ian's words, Diana frowned immediately. She shot me a look of

displeasure. "Ian genuinely wants to thank us. Why are you giving him attitude?

It's just dinner. It's not like he's going to poison you."

Before I could even speak, Diana had already labeled me the "jealous bad guy."

In the end, I was dragged to the restaurant by Diana.

When the waiter came to take our order, I had barely opened the menu before

Diana spoke up. "Nothing too oily or spicy, and no cilantro in any of the

dishes."

When the food arrived, Diana thoughtfully placed food on Ian's plate, then

pushed a plate of prawns toward me.

"Ian can't eat seafood right now. I ordered this specifically for you."

Looking at the prawns, I suddenly lost my appetite entirely and put down my

fork. "I'm allergic to seafood."

Diana didn't even remember my seafood allergy, yet she knew Ian's dietary

restrictions by heart. She even remembered that he hated cilantro.

Diana froze. When she looked at me, a flash of guilt crossed her eyes. She

quickly ordered a few more dishes.

But I didn't touch my food. I just sat there in silence, quietly sipping my

water.

After dinner, as we walked down the stairs, I got a call from my senior at the

research institute.

"Nathan, the Professor asked me to confirm one last time. Are you sure you're

okay with the standard schedule? This project involves confidential research,

which means you might be cut off from the outside world for a year or two."

My eyes rested on Diana and Ian walking ahead of me. They were descending the

stairs side by side, and Diana was carefully supporting Ian by the waist.

My tone was completely calm. "I'm sure."

My senior breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. The Professor was worried you

wouldn't be able to bear leaving your wife."

I pulled my gaze away and turned to walk in the opposite direction.

"The wedding is canceled."

"I'm ready to leave."

As soon as the words left my mouth, a confused voice came from behind me.

"Who's leaving?"

Diana had just put Ian in the car when she caught the last few words of my

sentence.

I realized she hadn't heard the first part, so I made up a quick excuse. "My

friend is leaving town soon."

Diana nodded and didn't press further.

With four days left on the countdown, Diana brought home her wedding photos with

Ian.

She held her phone in one hand, video-calling Ian, and proudly held up a framed

photo with the other. Her eyes were full of tenderness.

"Ian, our wedding photos are finally printed. The staff said we look amazing in

them."

At that moment, I was just walking out of the kitchen with a glass of water.

A flash of awkwardness crossed Diana's eyes. She looked at me, seeming like she

wanted to say something.

I glanced at the photo and forced a faint smile. "They look really good."

I had paid top dollar for that photographer, just to capture the happiest moment

between me and Diana.

In my imagination, those photos were supposed to be filled with the sweetness of

our love. Diana in her wedding dress, looking breathtakingly beautiful—the woman

who was once the love of my life.

The only difference was that the groom in the picture wasn't me.

Diana froze.

She suddenly realized that I hadn't initiated a conversation with her in a long

time. I hadn't even sent her a single text during the entire week she was on

vacation with Ian.

She wasn't used to this.

On the video call, Ian was still chattering away, but Diana's attention was

entirely on me. A sudden wave of unease bubbled up in her chest, though she

tried to push it down.

Two days before the deadline, I went to the hospital to pick up some medication

for my trip. Unexpectedly, I ran into Diana and Ian just coming out of an OBGYN

appointment.

A rare look of panic flashed across Diana's eyes. She opened her mouth to say

something, but Ian beat her to it.

He walked up to me and grabbed my hand, his eyes welling up with tears. "Nathan,

I know you never agreed to Diana having a baby with me, but I really can't wait

anymore. The doctors said I have a year left at most. I just really want to see

my child born with my own eyes."

"Once the baby is born, I promise I'll stay far away from Diana. I would never

ruin your relationship."

Before I could even speak, Diana grabbed his arm, her face full of heartache.

"You're sick. Why are you doing this?"

She looked at me, her eyes complicated. "Don't worry. This won't affect our

wedding."

I looked at them silently for a moment, then pulled my gaze away.

"I get it."

With that, I grabbed my medication and got ready to leave. My departure date was

closing in, and I still needed to finish packing.

The two of them clearly didn't expect me to be so calm.

Especially Diana. Her expression grew complicated as she watched me walk away.

A month ago, I had fought with her for weeks over the pregnancy idea. But now,

finding out she was actually carrying Ian's baby, I showed absolutely no

reaction.

For some reason, the unease in Diana's heart grew stronger. It felt like

something had quietly shifted, and she had been completely oblivious to it.

Just as I reached the stairwell, Ian suddenly chased after me and yanked hard on

my sleeve.

Diana was still far behind us, and Ian finally dropped his mask.

"Nathan, how does it feel? Watching your fiancée have another man's baby right

in front of your eyes?"

I didn't want to argue with him. I shook off his hand and turned to leave.

But the moment I pulled away, Ian deliberately lost his balance and tipped

backward toward the stairs.

My reflexes kicked in, and I reached out and grabbed him to stop him from

falling.

But before I could even let go, Diana's furious voice echoed from behind me.

"What are you doing?!"

Seeing Diana rushing over, Ian instantly switched back to his pitiful victim

act, his eyes red and teary.

"Diana, I just wanted to thank Nathan for being so understanding, but I never

expected him to..."

Hearing Ian's words, Diana's face instantly darkened.

"Nathan, I never thought you could be this kind of person!"

"Apologize to Ian right now!"

Hearing Diana's blind accusations, I actually laughed.

"Me, apologize? Why don't you go check the security footage and see who's really

lying!"

She furrowed her brows in disbelief. "Ian is a sick man. Why would he throw

himself down the stairs on purpose?"

A flicker of panic crossed Ian's eyes. He quickly chimed in, "Forget it, Diana.

It's normal for Nathan to be angry... Let's just go."

I could tell he was terrified she might actually check the cameras, so he

quickly put on a weak, fragile act.

Sure enough, Diana's expression changed. She held him carefully and hurried

away.

She didn't come home that night.

I guessed she was too busy taking care of the "injured" Ian.

The next day, I shipped my luggage to the medical school dorms, keeping only a

single carry-on suitcase.

That night, Diana finally came back, still carrying a look of anger.

"Ian is still lying in a hospital bed. Even if you didn't do it on purpose,

couldn't you be the bigger person? Do you really have to be so petty with him?"

I smiled. A smile that was cold to the bone.

I had been the bigger person for a long time.

Big enough to let him have my fiancée. Big enough to let him wear the tuxedo I

ordered and take my wedding photos.

Diana's eyes fell on the red circled number on the calendar, and her tone

softened a bit.

"Look, we're getting married tomorrow. I don't want to fight. Just apologize to

him after the ceremony, and then we can go on our honeymoon."

"Did you finish planning the honeymoon itinerary?"

I didn't answer.

If she had paid even the slightest bit of attention, she would have noticed

there wasn't a single fresh flower in the apartment. It looked nothing like a

place where a wedding was happening tomorrow.

"We..."

I was about to speak, but her phone rang. She answered it. It was Ian.

"Wait for me, I'll be right there."

Hanging up, she hurriedly changed her shoes by the door. "Ian isn't feeling

well, I'm going to the hospital to check on him. Don't be late tomorrow. Be at

the hotel on time."

The moment the door clicked shut, I finally spoke.

"Let's break up, Diana. The wedding is canceled."

No one heard me. Only the old clock on the wall ticked away.

I sat in the living room, waiting from the dead of night until dawn. My phone

buzzed with a reminder: Two hours until boarding.

I stood up, grabbed my suitcase, and took a marker to the calendar. Over

the 10th—the day that was supposed to be my wedding day—I drew a massive X.

Then, I wrote my final words:

"Diana, let's break up."

I placed the calendar in the most obvious spot in the living room, and walked

out of the apartment that had been my home for years without looking back.

Meanwhile, Diana stayed at the hospital until Ian's condition stabilized before

leaving. On the way, she sent me a text.[Is everything set up at the venue? I'm

almost there.]

But she didn't get a reply.

She scrolled up through our chat history. Over the past month, it was almost

entirely messages from Nathan:[What time are you coming home tomorrow? I'll wait

to eat with you.]

[Do you have time to look over the wedding menu?][I picked red roses for the

church decor, is that okay?]

And her replies were always: "Whatever." "You decide." "I don't care."

A wave of unease washed over her.

The last time she mentioned getting pregnant through IVF for Ian, Nathan's eyes

had been colder and more desperate than ever before.

Since that day, he had stopped reaching out. He had stopped waiting for her to

come home.

She gripped her phone tightly. "Drive faster."

When she arrived at the hotel, her friends and mother were waiting in the lobby.

"Why haven't you even changed into your dress? Isn't Nathan with you?" her

mother frowned.

Diana froze for a second. "He should already be in the banquet hall."

But she had no idea which hall the wedding was in. Nathan had never told her,

and she had never cared to ask.

She quickly grabbed a staff member. "Which banquet hall did Nathan book?"

The staff member checked their clipboard and replied, "Hall number three...

but..."

She frowned.

"Nathan called to cancel the reservation half a month ago," the staff member

continued. "He said—the wedding was canceled."

Diana stood there, completely paralyzed.

The wedding... canceled?

In that exact moment, her entire world came crashing down.