Chapter 2

After I saw Cameron off, I went back to the dressing room to change out of my tuxedo. Before the full-length mirror, the black tuxedo caught the shifting light, the silk lapels gleaming like still water.

Ruby had flown all the way to Baymouth to have this tuxedo custom-made by an old tailor. It was one of the few truly thoughtful gifts she ever gave me.

The day of the fitting, she had said, "You're my empire. Marry me, and I'll make you kind of the whole world."

At that moment, I had believed her.

I had thought that after ten years, we had finally made it. But it was over before it even began.

I lowered my eyes and took off the tuxedo. Then, I turned and left.

As the door swung shut behind me, the jacket slipped from its hanger, and the gold-thread crest on the breast pocket vanished into the folds.

I was about to leave early when the commotion at the entrance stopped me in my tracks.

In the center of the crowd, Ruby and Steve were being egged on to take a bite of the same apple. Just as they went in for a bite, the apple was swiftly yanked upward. The two of them melted right into a kiss instead.

The ballroom erupted in a chaos of screams and whistles.

Ruby's friends, not noticing me standing in the corner, chatted away without restraint.

"Look at how happy Ruby is! I'll bet 100 dollars she's still in love with Steve."

"Since Ruby chose Steve for the wedding, does that mean Ivan got dumped?"

"Obviously! Ivan's nothing but a bootlicker from the slums. Ruby was just playing around with him. There's no way she'd really marry him."

"He's such a loser. Seven years of sucking up to Ruby, and he still couldn't win her heart. A man as pathetic as him might as well just drop dead."

Unspeakably filthy mockery rose up and droned in my ears.

In a daze, I was transported back to that summer ten years ago.

My father, Doug Turner, who had abandoned me long ago, lost money gambling again. He went so completely off the rails that he chased me all the way to my school.

He grabbed me by the arm and tried to shove me into some old lady's car.

A crowd had gathered around us. Mockery and pity buzzed in the air, yet not a single person stepped forward to help me.

That was, until Ruby showed up.

She ordered her bodyguards to drive Dad away, then helped me call the police.

From that moment on, she became my obsession. But now, that obsession was broken.

The mocking laughter still rang in my ears, but it felt muted, like a distant buzzing behind a pane of glass. It just couldn't get to me anymore.

"Ivan?" the bridesmaid's voice rang out.

Ruby whipped her head around to look at me. The corners of her lips were still wet.

Our eyes met. A flicker of panic flashed through her gaze, but just as quickly, she expertly pulled on a smile.

"We're just playing a game. Don't overthink it."

"Yeah, I won't. Enjoy yourselves." I stepped around her to leave.

Ruby's eyes froze over. She grabbed me by the wrist and asked, "Are you going home? I'll give you a ride."

But before she could even take a step, a pained groan from beside her pulled her attention away.

Steve clutched his forehead and slumped dramatically against her shoulder.

"Ruby, I think I'm drunk."

Hearing this, Ruby immediately steadied him. Then, she looked at me hesitantly and said, "I'll take Steve back to rest first. Why don't you—"

I glanced at Steve, whose eyes were as clear as ever, and calmly cut Ruby off, "Okay. I'll head back on my own."

The words she had been about to say caught in her throat. She gave me an unreadable look but ultimately nodded.

"Be good and wait for me. I'll be back soon."

With that, she looked away from me and quickly left with Steve in her arms.

I withdrew my gaze and pulled out my phone to cancel the marriage registration appointment scheduled for tomorrow.