Chapter 1

Ashlee's POV

The proposal venue, blanketed in blossoms, instantly fell deadly silent. Friends and family who had been ready to applaud all froze, their hands suspended in midair.

Ruben Castille looked up at me, his face filled with utter bewilderment.

"Ashlee?"

He didn't yell at me. Instead, he shot to his feet and grabbed my hand, worry written all over his face.

"What's wrong? Did I do something wrong?"

I looked at him quietly. He looked exactly the same as he did in my memories. This was exactly how he'd treated me for 30 years.

No one around us would ever say that Ruben didn't love me. In fact, they'd say that he loved me more than he loved himself.

On rainy days, he'd carry me on his back so my shoes and socks wouldn't get wet. When I had bad menstrual cramps, he'd stay up all night replacing my hot water bottle and gently massaging my stomach.

When we got into a car accident, his first instinct was to shield me. He didn't even care that he broke three ribs himself.

And yet, this very man who seemed to love me more than life itself had lied to me for 30 years.

I closed my eyes and forced down the suffocating wave of emotions surging inside me. Then, under his worried gaze, I pulled my hand back and said expressionlessly, "Let's break up."

His eyes widened, and his lips turned pale. "What?"

He hurriedly grabbed me, so anxious that he even started stammering. His eyes darted around, filled with unease.

"Is… Is it because y-you don't like such a public proposal? Did it put too much pressure on you? It's my fault. Please don't be mad."

I stayed silent, but that only made him more frantic.

My younger brother, Leeland Drayton, was just as dumbfounded. He set down the confetti popper and hurried over, frowning.

"Ash, what's going on? You and Ruben have been in love since high school! He loves you so much. What are you doing?"

An uncontrollable pang of agony pierced my heart at his words. He was right.

Ruben and I had been in love for so many years. But his deception had lasted even longer than our love.

I took a deep breath. I didn't answer Leeland and instead walked away under everyone's shocked stares.

…

I'd only just arrived home when Ruben came rushing in right behind me, looking slightly harried. He hugged me tightly from behind.

"Ashlee, tell me what I did wrong, please?" he asked, his voice shaking. "I'll change. Whatever it is, I'll change. Just don't leave me."

I broke free from him. The embrace that once felt so warm now felt only cold to me.

I turned to look at him.

"Okay. Then tell me this—are you hiding anything from me?"

His expression stiffened for a split second. If I hadn't known him for two lifetimes, I would never have noticed.

"No. I swear, absolutely not."

Watching him continue to lie to me, my heart sank lower. I didn't feel like saying anything more and just went to the bedroom.

…

In the middle of the night, a vibrating phone woke Ruben up.

He called my name twice. Finding me fast asleep, he took his car keys and left.

In the darkness, I opened my eyes and quietly followed him. I wanted to know just how many more secrets he was keeping from me.

An hour later, his Maybach pulled up outside a small townhouse in the southern area of Kingsford.

With a stony expression, Ruben got out and strode inside.

I opened the wiretapping app I'd installed on his phone while he was showering earlier and put on my headphones.

The sound of arguing immediately came through.

"Didn't I tell you not to contact me unless I contacted you first?"

There was a darkness in Ruben's voice that I had never heard before.

The woman was sobbing hysterically.

"Why? I know you proposed to her today! She's your woman, but what about me? Aren't I your woman too?"

Ruben's tone was cold and indifferent. "I love her. And who do you think you are? I'm warning you, Mareya Burruss, stay away from Ashlee. Do you understand me?"

After a moment, Mareya whimpered in agreement.

"Be good," he continued, his tone softening. "I've already arranged for you to start working as an executive secretary at Castille Group. Other than marriage, I can give you anything you want—even a child. But don't cross my bottom line."

Outside, I leaned against the car seat, gripping my phone tightly. Tears fell without warning, one after another, reflecting my pale face.

The argument had already stopped by then. All that came through the headphones now were whispers of affection between the two of them.

I took a deep breath. Then, I promptly accepted the admission offer to study abroad in Norland.

I'd given up the chance to go abroad for Ruben in my past life. But this time, he was no longer worth it.