I once thought my fiancé, Cole Donovan, was deeply in love with me.
He even gave up a hundred-million-dollar business merger, a deal to be sealed by marriage, just for me. I’d thought our three-year relationship was unshakeable.
However, everything changed at our engagement party on a SoHo rooftop.
His first love, Sloane Cresswell, appeared.
In front of everyone, she asked Cole, "If I show up on your wedding day, will you leave with me?"
He answered without a moment's hesitation, "I will."
Fighting back tears, I sent a text to my wealthy best friend, Chloe Montgomery: "I need you to get me out of here. Now."
Seven minutes later, she arrived in her bright yellow Lamborghini.
She told me, "I told you so! You should have married into an old money family like ours! My brother is handsome, rich, and has a body to die for. Hell, my dad’s still a silver fox. Take your pick!"
————————
1
As our wedding date approached, Cole Donovan's friends threw him an engagement party.
Everyone in Cole's circle knew how much he doted on me. If I skipped a party, he’d be home by ten, no matter how much fun everyone else was having.
So this time, they insisted I join.
But the moment I stepped into the party, the atmosphere felt tense.
Everyone greeted me warmly, but I caught them exchanging furtive glances with Cole. I had no idea what was going on.
After we were all seated, a woman with short hair arrived fashionably late.
"Sorry I'm late! The traffic was a nightmare!"
She was tall and statuesque, with a voice that was crisp and confident.
Beside me, Cole tensed. In that instant, my heart plummeted.
The woman smiled and extended her hand to me.
"You must be the bride-to-be. It's a pleasure to meet you! I'm Sloane Cresswell."
The moment I heard her name, all the pieces clicked into place. Sloane was Cole's first love—the girl he had been obsessed with for five whole years.
From what I knew, the Cole back then was nothing like the composed man he was now. He had pursued her relentlessly, whether it was paving the street in front of her house with roses or setting off fireworks just for her. His entire adolescence had revolved around her.
But three years ago, Sloane had abruptly left for Paris with another man.
That was when I met Cole. At a party, he walked toward me through the smoky haze. I'd only had half a glass of wine, but he was already intoxicating.
I immediately grilled my friends for intel, and when they shoved me in front of him, I was so nervous I could barely stammer out my own name.
"My name is Ava Sinclair... And you are?"
Laughter erupted around us. A smile finally broke through the gloom that had clouded his face for months.
After we got together, he showered me with affection.
He remembered all my likes and dislikes. No matter how late I worked, he insisted on picking me up himself. For every holiday, he’d find the most thoughtful, perfect gifts.
He posted photos of me on social media and introduced me to all his friends and family. Even his friends couldn't help but joke with me about it.
"After years of chasing the one girl he couldn't get, Cole learned a thing or two about romance. You lucked out, Ava!"
I never took those words to heart. After all, everyone said Sloane and I were complete opposites in both looks and personality. I was never a substitute.
Most importantly, I could feel that Cole loved me.
Three years into our relationship, he proposed with an air of absolute certainty.
I thought our love story was just beginning. Yet, just when everything seemed perfect, reality came crashing down.
Sloane sat down beside me and pulled a vintage T-shirt from her tote bag, handing it to me.
"This is an engagement gift for you. It's limited-edition merch from Cole's favorite band. I've had it in my collection for years."
She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
I forced a smile and thanked her.
Then, she took out her phone and saved my number in her contacts.
