The One Who Got Away

Everyone is envious of me for having someone like Dominic Cruz, who's love-brained, as a husband-to-be. He's rich, handsome, and highly educated.

I smile without saying anything, but I nod happily.

However, on the day I'm misdiagnosed, he goes missing. He's so engrossed in his secret lover that he forgets all about me.

So, I jilt him before he can do it to me. I turn him into the city's laughingstock.

Later, I hear that he drinks the bar dry every night. He scours Marina City but fails to find his missing bride.

"Ms. Baird, this is the fake death service you booked with us. The time of death is set for three days from now, on your wedding day. The body will be delivered to the wedding venue, and you will be the deceased. Please confirm and sign here."

I nodded and signed the end of the document without hesitation.

On the way from the hospital to Dominic Cruz's company, I opened my phone and happened to come across a video interview of Dominic.

"I owe all my success to my wife, Yvonne Baird. She is my greatest support and motivation."

The barrage of comments kept appearing at the bottom of the screen.

"I heard that when Mr. Cruz was 20 years old, he personally designed a blue diamond tiara for Ms. Baird. He said she was his queen."

"When Ms. Baird was 23 years old, she was trapped under rubble after an earthquake. Mr. Cruz refused to believe she was dead and dug through the debris with his bare hands until his fingers were mangled just to save her."

"We all know how important hands are to a designer, yet Mr. Cruz damaged his hand's muscles and nerves, rendering him unable to work on delicate details ever since."

"At 25 years old, Mr. Cruz proposed to Ms. Baird in a global live broadcast and finally brought her home as his wife."

…

Everyone envied our relationship.

I got out of the car and took the CEO's private elevator, but my phone screen suddenly displayed an image of Prestige Entertainment's new spokesperson—Rosa Kerr.

Her innocent and beautiful appearance made it hard to reconcile her with the homewrecker who seduced another woman's husband. The thought of the explicit photos in bed Rosa had sent me made my stomach turn.

Before her brazen provocation, I had never doubted Dominic's love for me. To give me the best life he could, he founded his company and handled everything personally. To secure business deals, he drank with clients until he developed stomach ulcers.

Yet the man who once vowed would love me forever had still cheated.

I wiped away the tears from the corner of my eyes.

Just as I reached for my design portfolio, someone suddenly embraced me from behind.

"Yvonne, didn't we agree to wait until I returned from my business trip to go wedding dress shopping together? Why did you suddenly come to the company?"

He took my hand. "Your hands are so cold, and you're not even wearing a jacket. Your lungs aren't in good shape—how can I possibly not worry about you?"

I looked up at him. His gaze was sincere and ardent. It was precisely because of this that I couldn't understand.

"Why did you hire an amateur as the company's spokesperson?"

Prestige Entertainment was a top global company with countless celebrities under its helm, including A-list international stars and top idols. Yet, they chose an amateur.

Dominic remained unperturbed. "Oh, you mean Rosa? I chose her because she reminds me of you back in college. She fits perfectly with the company's youthful and vibrant culture."

Then, in a teasing tone, he asked, "What's the matter? Are you feeling jealous over me?"

Dominic held me close, burying his face into the crook of my neck. "Yvonne, I'll always have eyes only for you. Everything with anyone else has been completely innocent."

He spoke with such sincerity, a sharp contrast to the bold, glaring marks on his neck.

How ironic and laughable.

I didn't know how to respond to him.

Just then, the assistant knocked on the open door and said respectfully, "Mr. Cruz, the car is ready."

"Got it," Dominic replied. Then, he turned back to me and said, "It'll be our third wedding anniversary soon. How about I put on a grand firework display at Gemini Towers for you?"