Chapter 1

I spent ten years supporting my husband through building his startup.

The company finally went public.

My husband, Adrian Crawford, sent over a custom-made million-dollar gown, wanting to take me to the gala.

But I couldn't even fit into that dress.

I clutched the pregnancy test results in my pocket and asked for a divorce over the phone.

Adrian's assistant was crying her eyes out: "It's all my fault. I didn't ask for her measurements properly."

Adrian patiently comforted her for a long while, then turned to me and said, "Since that's the case, let Lily attend the gala in your place."

Watching them on TV standing hand in hand together, I calmly packed up my things and left.

After packing everything up, I had wanted to say a proper goodbye.

I didn't expect Adrian to only come home close to one in the morning.

Hearing the password lock click open, I thought it was Adrian.

Looking up, I unexpectedly met Lily Bennett's finger that she hadn't had time to withdraw.

She wore that evening gown I'd been anticipating for ten years.

Just as breathtakingly beautiful as it appeared on TV.

"I've picked up documents for Mr. Crawford several times before. Entering the password each time was troublesome, so I just registered my fingerprint."

She explained somewhat awkwardly.

In the past, I would have definitely made a scene.

But now, my heart was calm. Apart from that unavoidable sourness welling up from the bottom of my heart, I didn't feel surprised at all.

Before I could respond, Adrian, leaning loosely against her, mumbled, "She can't hold her liquor. I drank for her."

We both understood who that "her" was, making the atmosphere even more delicate.

She quickly lowered her head and coaxed in the gentlest tone, "Mr. Crawford, we're home."

As she spoke, her eyes couldn't help but glance toward me, concealing triumph.

In the past, I would have questioned them without caring about anything else, but today I was unusually calm.

Watching the goal we'd worked ten years toward, seeing that the person walking with him into glory and splendor wasn't me.

Suddenly, it seemed like I could let it go.

Only then did Adrian lift his head, his half-closed eyes opening.

Seeing me, he stumbled toward me and wrapped his arms around my neck. "Serena, we finally made it."

Lily, seeing this scene, seemed somewhat unwilling, but right now no one clearly had time to care about her.

"You're drunk."

As soon as Lily left, I pushed away Adrian's body and said coldly.

He slumped onto the sofa, looking at me with somewhat guilty eyes.

Then he pulled out a bag from inside his jacket.

Inside was an even more exquisite gown.

According to him, this one cost three million, far more prestigious than the one Lily wore today.

I didn't reach out to take it. Both he and I knew clearly that this wasn't what I cared about at all.

The TV was still looping footage of them entering the venue together today.

He immediately turned off the TV and guiltily covered my eyes. "Don't look."

"You suddenly refused to come today. I had no choice but to let her substitute for you."

The drunkenness in his eyes had mostly faded, as if he were sincerely explaining to me.

"Adrian, is this really the first time she's substituted for me?"

"Was it really because you had no choice?"

"Or did you feel from the very beginning that she was more suitable to stand with you in that position?"

Hearing these words, the man who had been patiently explaining somehow had a nerve struck. His handsome brows furrowed tightly.

"Serena, do you have to be so sensitive?"

"Why can't you be more understanding, like Lily?"

"If you could learn from her a bit, maybe Mom and Dad would finally accept you."

I found it laughable.

Laughable that he was the one with a guilty conscience, yet he wanted to blame me for not being as stupid as he imagined.

The evening gown I'd anticipated for ten years was in someone else's size, and he still wanted me to be magnanimous.

"Adrian, you know I can't learn to be like her."

"How about this—I'll give up my position as the Crawford family's fiancée to her. Let's break up, okay?"

I looked at him quietly.

I smiled with my lips parted, smiling so hard my heart ached.

That man who said he'd sever ties with his family and defy the whole world to protect my frankness—today he wanted me to learn to bow and scrape like someone else to please him.