Chapter 1

The moment the demolition notice came down, Zane Vance rose from the dead.

This was the same man who, after I caught him cheating, had thrown a tantrum out of sheer embarrassment and subjected me to a month of radio silence. Now he stood before me clutching a bouquet of half-dead roses, wearing reluctance like a cheap cologne.

"Something as huge as your family getting a demolition settlement—why didn't you tell me?" His tone dripped with entitlement. "We've been together for years. I've long considered you my wife, so the replacement housing your family receives must be split with me. I want ten units."

I blinked.

For a moment, words failed me completely. In my book, the silent treatment—especially one lasting a month—was synonymous with a breakup.

But Zane didn't give me a chance to speak.

With the confidence of a man holding a royal flush, he shoved the wilted flowers into my arms and barreled forward. "Monday is the day after tomorrow. I'll wait for you at the Civil Affairs Bureau. We'll get the marriage certificate done immediately so it doesn't affect the housing allocation."

A pause. He adopted what he probably thought was a benevolent expression.

"Me telling you to marry me and split the property isn't me scheming against you, Sara. I'm helping you secure more assets. Don't overthink it."

Staring at that smug, victory-assured face, something broke loose inside my chest.

I couldn't help it.

I laughed.

He only knew my family was involved in a demolition project—did he not realize the property being demolished actually belonged to my *husband's* family?

1

I tried to suppress it, but the absurdity was too potent. A snort escaped, followed by a peal of laughter that left me gasping for air, tears pricking at my eyes.

Zane's expression slowly curdled. We had known each other since kindergarten—childhood sweethearts, technically—so he recognized the mockery in my voice instantly.

"Sara Delgado, what is this act?" he snapped. "You deliberately blocked me on WeChat and cut off all contact just to force me to come propose in person, didn't you? I waited under this blazing sun for five hours, and this is how you treat me?"

I wiped a tear of mirth from my eye and covered my nose. "I was wondering where that sour stench was coming from. Thought someone had dumped rotten pickles on the road."

I looked him up and down.

"Turns out, it's just you."

Zane bristled, anger flaring across his features like a brushfire.

"Is this because I ignored you for a few months? Do you still not realize where you went wrong?"

*I* was wrong?

I pointed a finger at myself, incredulous. Zane nodded as if explaining basic math to a toddler.

"Of course you were wrong," he declared. "I admit, privately contacting your best friend was a mistake, and being alone in a room with her was inappropriate. But you? Dragging relatives and friends from all three families over with gongs and drums to catch us? Was that right?"

He stepped closer, voice climbing. "Do you have any idea how humiliating that was for me? You scared me half to death! I had to go to the hospital multiple times. I even had to leave the province just to recover from the trauma. You caused all of that. That is why I gave you the cold shoulder!"

Looking at him now, I honestly couldn't fathom how I had stayed with Zane Vance for so long.

I knew his type. The more I argued, the more he would twist it into me "admitting my mistakes" and begging for forgiveness.

So I simply raised my left hand.

The diamond caught the light, throwing tiny rainbows across his stunned face.

"Zane, a month of silence is a breakup," I said flatly. "We're done. In fact, we've been done for a while. I'm already married. If I go to the bureau with you, I'd be committing bigamy."

He stared at the ring, expression blank with disbelief.

Understandable. I had always been cautious with relationships. Even though we grew up together, I had made him wait years before I agreed to date him.

But I never expected the shift. Once we were officially together, Zane changed. At first, I thought my standards were just too high. Then I discovered he was juggling two relationships, sleeping with my best friend behind my back.

That was the final straw.

Zane finally scoffed, a condescending smile playing on his lips. "You're smarter than I thought. Buying yourself a fake diamond ring to scare me?"

He shook his head slowly.

"Nice try."