
Leave the Wrong Man,Marry the Right Love
Chapter 1
In the eighth year of being with Harrison Shaw, he felt bored and turned to a youthful and charming female college student.
As he walked up to me with his new girlfriend, I remained calm and collected, taking off my engagement ring and placing it on her finger.
"It suits you perfectly. Here's a toast to your happiness together," I said.
On the day we registered our marriage, I received a barrage of frantic calls from Harrison, who was furious on the other end.
"Nina Nash, who the hell wants to marry you? Do you think this will make me bow to you? Dream on."
To Harrison's surprise, a man's light laughter came through the phone. "Harrison, my wife is asleep. Let me wake her up with a kiss and see if she answers your call."
1
Eight years with Harrison had led my family to ask if he had any intentions of marriage.
As I was about to knock on his door with a fruit platter, I overheard him complaining to a friend.
"I wish I hadn't gotten engaged to Nina so soon."
His friend teased, "You promised everyone you'd marry Nina. It hasn't been long since then!"
"What? You regret it?"
No, I just want to have a little more fun. Nina is the perfect partner for marriage; she's loyal, but she's just too boring."
"Hey, good girls are like that. Come out tonight; I'll show you a good time."
I thought he might agree, but he surprised me by refusing.
"Don't talk like that; Nina will get upset."
"Are you trying to set me up for a lecture from her?"
"..."
I felt a pang of sadness wash over me as I walked back to my bedroom, unsure of how to process what I had just heard.
The Shaw and Nash families had been close for generations, making Harrison and me childhood friends.
Initially, I wasn't fond of him; he was too rebellious.
But when he presented me with 999 roses on one knee, I couldn't help but feel touched.
Young Harrison would do anything to make me smile, even climbing a 50-meter rock face to win a trivial prize.
He would kneel outside my house in the pouring rain, begging for my forgiveness when he upset me.
He had an almost obsessive nature.
Just as I was lost in thought, Harrison appeared before me unexpectedly.
"Nina, I have a business trip tomorrow. Be good at home, okay?"
"Don't miss me too much."
His eyes were as clear as glass beads, filled with the most genuine affection.
As he turned to leave, I grabbed his sleeve, biting my lip as I looked up at him.
"Harrison, my parents want to know when we're getting married."
"They said next year has a good date."
This wasn't just my parents' inquiry; I wanted a clear answer.
Harrison frowned slightly, his tone growing colder.
"Nina, I told you I'll marry you, but not now."
"When will that be?" I pressed, feeling a sense of urgency.
His impatience grew, and he raised his voice.
"Are you that desperate to get married? If you want it so badly, just find someone else to marry."
He pulled my fingers apart one by one and left decisively.
It wasn't until I heard the door slam shut that I realized he wouldn't be coming back that night.
I called him countless times, but each ring ended with a hang-up.
I think my resolve to break up with him solidified when I saw that girl.
2
When Harrison returned from his business trip, his friends invited me to welcome him back.
I didn't want to go at first, until a friend said Harrison had a surprise for me.
My heart suddenly started pounding.
That day, I practically turned the house upside down to find the best dress.
I even had someone style me from head to toe, making sure I looked perfect.
At the gathering, Harrison walked in with his arm around Grace's waist.
As they entered, confetti cannons suddenly went off, startling Grace. She clung to Harrison like a frightened little bird.
"Harrison..."
Grace's voice was soft and girlish, full of a college student's innocence.
The room fell silent.
Everyone's eyes were on me.
I lowered my gaze, took a sip of my drink, and smiled. "Why's everyone looking at me? Let's play, let's drink."
My best friend squeezed my slightly trembling hand, silently comforting me.
Harrison, as if just noticing me, pushed Grace away with a flustered look, his lips moving, but not giving me a single explanation.
In this silent standoff, I stood up and walked towards the pale-faced Grace.
Perhaps afraid I would suddenly slap his little girlfriend, Harrison stepped in front of her protectively, his eyes warning me.
"Nina..."
That tenderness used to be mine, but I didn't know when it had been replaced.
When Harrison loved someone, he wanted to give them the best of everything.
He would even stand in the path of oncoming traffic when crossing the street with me. I'd tease him for being silly, but he'd say, "If you ever got hit by a car, I could at least shield you."
And now, the man who had once made me promises was shielding another woman.
I forced a smile and joked, "What, afraid I'll do something to your little girlfriend?"
"I'm not that petty."
"It's just, this young lady is so pretty, I can't blame you for liking her. Even I like her a lot."
I took the ring off my finger, took Grace's hand, and slid it onto her finger.
"It suits you perfectly. I wish you both a happy marriage."
I gulped down my drink, smiling at the two of them, but behind the smile was endless sadness.
Harrison's gaze fell on Grace's finger, his face suddenly darkening.
Grace, on the other hand, grabbed his sleeve, looking lost, her eyes red.
As I picked up my bag to leave the room, Harrison's slightly angry voice rang out behind me.
"Nina, do you know what this ring represents?"
"Of course. Harrison, you've been dumped by me. Is that so hard to understand?"
Perhaps angered by my words, Harrison's face turned ashen as he crushed a glass.
"Harrison!"
"Harrison..."
The others rushed to help him, stopping the bleeding. After all, he was the young master of the Shaw Group. If he got hurt, the old Shaw would probably skin them alive.
Outside the bar, a cold wind blew. It was early spring, so why was it so cold? Cold enough to make tears fall.
I pulled my coat tighter around me.
Looking at the bright lights and lively world, I suddenly didn't know where I belonged.
If my parents knew I had dumped Harrison, they would go crazy. In their eyes, I was just a tool for marriage alliances.
I hung my head and wandered aimlessly until I bumped into a wall of flesh.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to."
A man's light laughter came from above. His tone was quite obnoxious. "Well, well, if it isn't the proud Ms. Nash, having such a miserable day. How rare."
When I saw who it was, I kept backing away in fear.
It was Harrison's arch-enemy, Ethan Hunter. They had some private grudge between them.
If I ended up in his hands, there would be no good outcome.
Before I could run more than a few steps, my wrist was firmly grabbed.
I struggled frantically. "Let me go, or I'll call the police!"
3
"Why are you so afraid of me? Am I going to eat you?"
It's no wonder I'm scared of Ethan; after all, I had my fair share of defeats at his hands when we were kids.
Since being with Harrison, Ethan has become even more unpredictable. Every time I see him, he feels the need to mock me a bit to feel better about himself.
In business, whenever Harrison considers investing in a project, Ethan effortlessly outbids him by ten million. This drives Harrison mad with frustration.
Naturally, I don't like Ethan either.
"Every time someone mentions you, you cry like a baby. You're so delicate," Ethan says, his tone almost affectionate, which catches me off guard.
He reaches out and gently wipes away a tear from the corner of my eye, his gaze filled with warmth.
When I finally regain my composure, I stumble back a few steps, eyeing him warily.
After all, he has a reputation as a notorious playboy.
He's either in the tabloids with some young starlet or caught in compromising situations with famous actresses.
"Hey, are you really that scared of me?" he asks.
I nod, not quite understanding the point of his question.
Just as I'm about to turn and leave, Ethan calls out to me again.
"Nina, choose me. Compared to Harrison, I have not only money but also power."
" Don't you want to figuratively humiliate Harrison, to make him feel deeply insulted and disrespected?"
I pause for a moment, but only for a few seconds.
I wave goodbye to Ethan.
"We'll see."
"Okay," he replies loudly, as if he's sure I won't turn him down.
When I get home, it's already late.
My heart sinks as I see the clothes scattered on the floor.
If I had any hope left for Harrison, it has now turned to ashes.
I can hear soft voices coming from the bedroom; it's Harrison with that girl.
"Besides this face, how are you and my fiancée different?"
Grace's playful voice rings out. "Aren't I younger than her? Plus, I know how to please you better."
"Yes, you're quite flirtatious. She's different; she's as obedient as a doll," Harrison responds.
Grace giggles, "Then why not try me instead? I promise you'll be hooked."
"Because that would feel like betraying her," Harrison says.
I wonder what he feels when he says that?
He clearly no longer loves me, yet he still feels a sense of betrayal.
His moral compass seems strong, yet he brings another woman into our home, into my bed.
Through the crack in the door, I see Grace kneeling on the bed, her clothes half-off, their bodies dangerously close.
I quietly step back from the room and head downstairs.
To me, Harrison is someone who wants to be free from the constraints of marriage while still maintaining a reputation for loyalty.
To put it bluntly, he's greedy; he wants it all.
He's like sand slipping through my fingers, and I have to let it go.
Suppressing the bitterness rising in my throat, I pull out my phone and dial that person.
"Hello, does what you said still stand?"