Chapter 3
A few days later, I received another message from Ivy showing off their professional couple’s portraits, along with a barrage of bragging.
[By the way, you’ve been with Roman for so long–have you two ever taken couple’s portraits together?]]
[I’ve never seen a single picture of you two at his place. No way! Don’t tell me you don’t even have one ordinary photo together…]]
I didn’t want to engage with her and was about to block her when I accidentally opened the photos she’d sent.]]
To my shock, their portrait theme was a wedding.[]
My eyes darkened. So Roman’s intended bride was Ivy after all.[]
I suddenly realized that with our wedding date approaching, Roman and I still hadn’t taken our wedding photos.[]
I had brought this up with him before, but he always made excuses about being too busy with work to accompany me for a photoshoot.[]
In reality, his “busy work” was taking Ivy on getaways.]
Just then, my mother called to ask about our wedding preparations: “Darling, I’m telling you, you need to check everything carefully. We can’t have any mishaps that would embarrass the Thornfield family…“]
“If you need any help, just let me know. Don’t let yourself be mistreated. Our family may have fallen on hard times, but that doesn’t mean anyone can push us around.“]]
As she spoke, I recalled the images of Roman in his custom–tailored suit, beaming with joy.
I said flatly, “Mom, I’m calling off the wedding.“]
My mother, assuming I was just having another spat with Roman, tried to reason with me: “Sweetheart, Roman is a good man. What’s wrong with giving in to him a little? You’re about to get married–do you really want to walk down the aisle with a sour face?”
Give in to him?
How many times had I given in over the years?]
He repeatedly took my projects to please Ivy and even went on multiple trips alone with her. I always thought if I just compromised a little more, things would improve.[]
But what happened? He only grew more entitled, going so far as to take wedding photos with Ivy.
This time, I refused to give in any more!
Seeing I wasn’t responding, my mother gave me a few more words of advice before hanging up.
Shortly after, the housekeeper came to tell me that our custom wedding dress and suit had arrived, and that Roman had already gone to the shop and wanted me to hurry over.
I was surprised–I thought Roman wouldn’t return until the wedding day itself. He usually never came back from business trips before two weeks had passed.[]
Could it be that he actually cared about our wedding?
But if he truly cared, why would he leave everything for me to handle without any involvement?[]
1 dismissed the hopeful thought with self mockery and drove to the bridal shop.[]
Just as I reached the entrance, I overheard Ivy arguing with Roman.[]
Ivy was questioning him: “Why do you have to marry Serena? You’ve been bound by that engagement agreement for years. Are you going to waste your entire life on her?“[]
You clearly love me! When you’re with me, your whole being lights up!“]
“I just can’t bear to see you unhappy. If you insist on marrying Serena, I’ll kill myself right in front of you…“[]
Roman froze at her words.[]
When Ivy saw that Roman was still hesitating, her emotions suddenly collapsed.[]
Spotting a scissor left behind by the tailor nearby, she lunged for it and began slashing at her wrist.[]
Roman was horrified. He quickly seized the scissor and pressed his clothes against her wrist to stop the bleeding.
Ivy pushed him away violently, her emotions volatile: “Don’t stop me! Let me die, then I won’t have to watch you suffer every day.“[]
Terrified she might do something worse, Roman hastily agreed to her demands, bringing tears of joy to Ivy’s eyes.[]
When Roman insisted on taking her to the hospital, Ivy refused.[]
She seized the opportunity: “I want you to announce publicly on your wedding day that I’m your real bride, and that Serena is just a crazy woman obsessed with you. Consider it a lesson for her.“]
Seeing the blood flowing from her wrist, Roman quickly nodded in agreement.
Witnessing this, I silently left the bridal shop, removing the ring from my finger and casually tossing it into a nearby trash can.]
This was the gift Roman had given me when we first fell in love.[]
Now that the love was gone, what use was an empty promise?]
