Chapter 2

My mind went hot.

I rushed forward without thinking.

"What are you doing?"

I angrily snatched the object from his hand.

The pendant fell to the ground.

In an instant, it shattered to pieces.

Isabella Sullivan looked shocked, staring at the fragments on the ground with heartache.

"Sophia, I know you're upset. I wouldn't have minded if you wanted this pendant for yourself, but why did you have to smash it?"

On the crowded bridge, many people stopped to watch.

Ethan Reed's face instantly stiffened.

"Ethan Reed, you said you'd marry me."

My voice trembled, gradually taking on a tearful tone.

"That you'd only be good to me."

But Ethan Reed looked at me with unfamiliar eyes, frowning.

"What man would dare want a woman as tactless as you!"

I stood frozen, watching helplessly as he left with Isabella Sullivan in his arms.

The crowd murmured among themselves.

"Didn't Ethan Reed say he'd marry Sophia? How can he humiliate her publicly like this?"

"What else? Ethan Reed has a bright future. Sophia was obviously the one throwing herself at him this whole time."

"Tsk tsk, but Sophia's nearly an old maid now. If Ethan Reed doesn't want her, probably only divorced men would marry her."

In that moment, my whole body trembled.

The buzzing murmurs around me felt like sharp knives stabbing into my heart, one after another.

I ran home crying.

I fell while running and scraped my arm.

That Ethan Reed who once said he'd always protect me had become the very person who hurt me.

When my best friend found me at the alley entrance that day, she said I looked completely lost, unsteady on my feet, and it terrified her.

She cried tears of heartache.

"Ethan Reed used to care about you so much... how did it come to this?"

But I was like a walking corpse then---where would my soul be?

I had a high fever and fell seriously ill.

When I woke up, the first thing I did was ask through blurred, teary eyes:

"Did he come?"

While I was unconscious, Ethan Reed had come once but was turned away at the door.

He only said he'd wronged me and would come apologize properly once I recovered.

My best friend hesitated a long time before telling me.

It turned out he'd already sought his superior's approval and would soon marry the daughter of a high-ranking official---Isabella Sullivan.

They'd known each other since university.

Even their professors praised their relationship.

Word had spread throughout the social circle.

No one envied me anymore.

Everyone praised what a perfect match they were.

As for me, there was only pity or mockery---just a pathetic fool who'd loved in vain.

During that time, one of William's old friends from out of town came to visit and heard about my situation.

That friend was well-off.

His son Ryan Ford was young and accomplished, having taken over the family business with considerable assets in this area.

William told me privately that Ryan Ford had seen my photo and felt we'd get along well.

If I didn't mind, we could get to know each other.

If we got along, we could date.

If not, no pressure.

William sighed.

"Sophia, if you're unwilling, next month you'll probably have to marry just anyone. I'm afraid you'll end up with the wrong person."

I clenched my hands slightly.

I'd thought about leaving this city, but going to a strange place alone to start over---I didn't know if I could even stand on my own feet.

Besides, William's family had sheltered me as I grew up.

I couldn't let them keep worrying about me.

"I'll follow William's decision."

And so, with the arrangement of both families, Ryan Ford made a special trip from out of town to meet me.

We met a few times.

He didn't talk much, but he was sincere and dependable in his actions.

He said there was no rush---to take my time considering.

I didn't need long to agree.

Not because I particularly liked him, but because I was tired.

I didn't want to wait anymore.

On the day I was leaving, I looked at the roomful of jewelry, clothes, and ornate wedding garments, yet felt nothing.

I'd imagined countless times what I'd look like in a wedding dress, marrying Ethan Reed.

Only now did I understand it had all been a foolish dream.

Leaving here, perhaps this heartbreak would finally end.