"Felix, the wedding's about to start—you can't just leave!"

Draped in an immaculate white gown, Linsey Brooks clung to Felix Wells' arm, her fingers trembling as panic filled her voice.

Today was supposed to be their day.

Yet, just as the ceremony was about to begin, Felix had read a text message, turned to the crowd, and declared the wedding canceled.

His brows were drawn together, his voice tight with urgency. "Move. Joanna's hurt. She's alone in the hospital, and she must be terrified. I have to be there for her."

Linsey's face drained of color.

Joanna Saunders was Felix's childhood sweetheart.

Linsey had started dating Felix five years ago. And for five years, whenever she went out with him, if Joanna so much as needed him, Felix would leave Linsey behind.

He always insisted Joanna was just like a sister to him and always told Linsey to understand.

And she had, again and again.

But this was their wedding day.

So what if Joanna needed him? Did that mean Linsey had to be abandoned by the man who was supposed to become her husband?

Her voice quivered as Linsey whispered, "No, you can't go. The wedding can't happen without you. No matter what, you have to stay today. Please, Felix… I'm begging you."

But his patience snapped. "Enough! Stop being selfish and unreasonable. We can always reschedule the wedding. But right now, Joanna's hurt. If I don't go, can you handle the consequences? Move!"

Before she could say another word, he shoved past her.

Linsey staggered, her heels slipping against the polished floor as she crashed onto it. From where she sat, stunned and breathless, she could only watch as Felix disappeared through the doors—without a single glance back.

In the next second, her phone rang.

Without thinking, she answered—only to be met with a woman's smug, triumphant voice on the other end.

"Linsey, today's your big day with Felix, isn't it? Do you like the little gift I sent you?"

Linsey's entire body went rigid as recognition hit her. Through clenched teeth, she spat, "Joanna… You did this on purpose. You lured Felix away, didn't you?"

"That's right. And? What are you gonna do about it? I just wanted to remind you—in Felix's heart, I'll always come first." Joanna's tone dripped with arrogance, every word laced with mockery. "I bet you spent months planning this, huh? Such a shame… All that work, all that dreaming—gone. Honestly, I almost feel bad for you."

Linsey stared down at the pristine white fabric of her gown, and for the first time, she saw the last five years for what they really were—a joke.

Since she was an orphan, she had been so desperate for a family, for a love she could call her own.

But Felix… he was never going to give her that.

It was time to stop begging for something that would never be hers.

A sharp, cold laugh escaped her lips. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Joanna. The wedding's still happening."

Joanna's tone instantly soured. "Are you insane? Felix is the groom. He's not even there. How exactly do you plan on having a wedding without him?"

Linsey's lips curved into a slow, mocking smile.

Who said her groom had to be Felix?

If he could walk away this easily, then she would find someone else—someone who actually deserved to stand beside her.

Her voice turned sharp, unwavering. "Do me a favor, Joanna—pass a message to Felix. Tell him I don't want him anymore. He's not worth another second of my time. And since you're so desperate to have him, be my guest. A spineless man and a shameless woman—what a perfect match. Best of luck."

Joanna's voice sharpened with anger. "Linsey, I'm warning you. Don't push your luck—"

But before she could finish, Linsey ended the call.

The wedding was set to begin in thirty minutes. She needed to find a replacement groom—fast.

Lifting the hem of her dress, she rushed outside. To her surprise, the entrance was swarming with men in black suits. Their imposing presence sent a clear message as they combed through every corner, searching for something—or someone.

Amidst them, a man in a groom's suit sat in a wheelchair, his posture rigid with authority. Though motionless, he radiated an icy, almost untouchable air.

His voice was commanding as he addressed the bodyguard in front of him. "The ceremony is about to begin. Have you found Haven yet?"

The bodyguard hesitated, his expression tense. "Mr. Riley, we've searched the entire perimeter, but there's no sign of Ms. Walton. It appears she's already fled…"

"Fled?" The man's voice was deep and even, but his gaze turned razor-sharp—cold and unforgiving, like a predator sizing up its prey. "If this wedding doesn't happen on time, you know what that means."

Linsey caught every word, and in an instant, she understood—this man had been abandoned at the altar, just like she had.

Without hesitation, she gripped her dress and strode toward him.

The bodyguards reacted instantly, stepping in front of her with stiff, wary expressions.

"Ma'am, what do you think you're doing?"

The man in the wheelchair shifted his attention to her, his presence alone pressing down like a storm on the horizon.

But Linsey didn't flinch. Her voice was steady as she met his gaze head-on. "Sir, I hear your bride has run away. If that's the case—let me take her place. I'll be your bride."

Linsey's words made the man's eyes narrow slightly. His voice, laced with surprise, held a sharp edge. "Ma'am, are you certain about this? I'm disabled. If you marry me, you'll regret it sooner or later."

Linsey didn't answer him directly. Instead, her gaze never wavered as she asked, "Would you ever abandon your wife for another woman?"

"Of course not," he replied without missing a beat, his tone firm.

"Then I won't regret it either," Linsey said, her resolve unshaken. "As long as you agree, I'll marry you."

Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, the man had no reason to refuse. With a slow, deliberate nod, he replied, "Alright then, let's get married."

And just like that, Linsey's wedding—one that had nearly been called off—continued as planned.

With the priest as their witness, they exchanged vows, their voices steady.

As they exited the church, Linsey felt a strange sense of unreality.

She had just married a man who, only hours ago, had been a complete stranger.

Pushing her husband's wheelchair down the steps, she suddenly realized something. "By the way, I don't even know your name."

"Collin Riley," he responded, his voice calm.

Linsey's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait—you're Collin Riley? The eldest son of the Riley family?"

Collin saw the shock on her face and smirked, a hint of mockery in his smile.

"What's the matter? Now that you know you've married a man everyone else considers a loser, you're regretting it?"

The story of Collin—the eldest son of the powerful Riley family—was well-known throughout the city.

His mother had died in childbirth, and his father had remarried.

Later, a car accident left Collin paralyzed, transforming him into what many considered a loser.

When his stepmother gave birth to a son, he became even more of an outcast within the Riley family.

Without his grandmother, Ivy Riley, who had always defended and protected him, Collin would have likely been discarded long ago, left to struggle far worse than someone living on the streets.

In Collin's mind, no woman in her right mind would willingly marry a man like him unless she was after money.

He wasn't just disabled—he was the neglected son of the Riley family. He fully expected Linsey to be disappointed.

He was prepared to see regret or bitterness shadow her face.

To his shock, however, she looked at him not with pity or disdain, but with a deep, unspoken understanding—as if she saw him for what he truly was—another soul abandoned by those who should have loved him.

Reaching out, she took his hand with gentle strength. "I've already told you. Once I've made my decision, I won't regret it. Now that we're married, I'll make sure you have a real home—one that's warm and full of care."

"Is that so?" Collin's voice was laced with doubt, his skepticism clear. "Let's see then."

He didn't believe her.

Curious, he wondered how long she could maintain this facade once she realized there was nothing to gain from him.

A car pulled up in front of them, interrupting his thoughts.

"Let's go," Collin said, his tone commanding.

Linsey paused, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. "Where are you taking me?"

"Home, of course," he replied with quiet certainty. "We're married now, so naturally, we'll live together."

Home?

The word made Linsey's heart skip a beat.

It reminded her of the home she had lived with Felix—the one she had worked so hard to build for their future together.

But now that she was married to Collin, she knew she had to sever the ties to her past.

With a deep breath, she turned to him and said, "I have a few things to take care of first. Could you share your contact info and address with me? I'll move in as soon as I'm finished."

Collin raised an eyebrow, his gaze piercing. "You don't want me to give you a ride?"

"No, it's fine," she replied, her voice firm but gentle. "I can manage on my own. I don't want to trouble you."

He didn't argue. After exchanging their contact details, he got into the car and drove off.

Half an hour later, Linsey stood before the apartment she had once shared with Felix. The key turned in the lock, and the door creaked open to reveal a space filled with memories.

She stepped inside, taking in every familiar detail—the tablecloth, the potted plants—each piece had been carefully selected by her, making it feel like home.

But now, it all felt like a prison. Without a second thought, she moved toward the decorations, ripping them down, discarding the plants, and throwing everything into the trash.

She had chosen to start fresh, and that meant leaving the past behind, no matter how much it hurt.

Once she had cleared out the remnants of her old life, she began packing her belongings. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't hear the sound of footsteps approaching.

Felix, unable to stay away, stood at the door, his face a mixture of shock and disbelief. He couldn't hold it in any longer. "Linsey, what the hell are you doing?"

The apartment, once cozy and filled with warmth, now stood in disarray, its charm completely stripped away, leaving only chaos in its wake.

Linsey continued packing the remaining items into her suitcase, her movements deliberate, as if determined to erase every trace of the life she had once built here.

Felix stood frozen for a moment, his eyes sweeping over the wreckage, disbelief etching his features before he stormed toward her.

"Linsey, are you out of your mind?" he demanded, his voice rising with frustration. "I was gone for only a little while, and you're acting like this?"

He inhaled sharply, trying to reign in his temper, and snapped, "I'm giving you one hour. Put everything back where it was!"

Linsey, unfazed, finished packing the item in her hands and slowly turned to face him. Her expression was cool, detached—almost as if he were a stranger.

A faint, mocking smile tugged at her lips as she replied, "Felix, haven't you figured it out? Sometimes, once something is lost, it's gone forever. It can never be the same again."

Felix's frown deepened, impatience growing in his eyes. "What the hell are you trying to say?"

Linsey couldn't help but feel the audacity in his words. Did he truly not understand? Perhaps men like him never saw themselves as in the wrong.

No. It wasn't that. His tenderness had always been reserved for one person—Joanna, the woman he had truly loved.

Linsey's gaze was unwavering as she stared him down, her voice steady, yet every word seemed to carry the weight of everything she had been through.

"On our wedding day, you abandoned me at the ceremony, ignoring both my dignity and my pleas. Do you have any idea how that felt? Felix, did you ever once stop to think about me? I was humiliated beyond measure, and yet you think I'm just throwing a tantrum?"

She didn't blink, her eyes locked onto his, the pain she had buried deep inside flooding to the surface, her vision blurring as tears welled up. She didn't look away, her resolve as firm as steel.

Seeing her like this, Felix felt a fleeting pang of guilt, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. He dismissed it entirely, just as he had done countless times before.

Over the years, he had hurt her time and time again, and she had always forgiven him. He didn't see why this time should be any different.

He was sure that with a little charm, she would cave, just like she always had. After all, that was how things had always worked between them.

With that thought, his anger dissipated, replaced by a composed, almost smug smile.

"Linsey, alright, I get it. You're upset," he began, his voice smooth and patronizing. "But you shouldn't act out like this. Look at what you've done to our home."

His smile softened, and he reached out to place his hands gently on her shoulders, his touch feigning tenderness as he tried to calm her down.

"Come on, be good. You've vented your anger. Let's not make a scene anymore, okay? How about this? We'll pick another day, a better day, and I promise I'll give you an even grander, more luxurious wedding. What do you say?"

Linsey's eyes locked onto the smile playing on Felix's lips. His words were sweet, but his eyes—those eyes—betrayed a chilling indifference. He seemed so certain that she would fall for his act.

Of course, why wouldn't he think that? This was the way things had always gone in the past.

Linsey let out a quiet, bitter scoff. She had given him far too many chances, and now he was convinced that he didn't need to treat her with any real respect.

Her expression hardened into something cold and detached, and without a word, she shrugged off his hands as though they were nothing more than a bothersome weight.

"Don't touch me. You make my skin crawl," she said indifferently.

Felix froze, his eyes widening in shock. He had never heard her speak to him like that before.

Her voice was ice, cutting through the tension in the room as she continued, "Felix, that wedding is over. I have no intention of having another one. I came here today to move out."

Felix, still stunned by her rejection, frowned in confusion, his mind struggling to catch up. "Move out?"

Linsey nodded, her face resolute. "Yes. I'm leaving now."

He let out a hollow laugh, as if he had just heard the most absurd joke. "And where do you think you're going?"

He knew all too well that Linsey had no family to turn to, no safety net to catch her. Apart from this apartment, she had nowhere else.

For the past five years, her entire world had been centered around him. He was certain she couldn't leave him.

He was certain that this whole "moving out" act was nothing more than her way of trying to make him bend to her will.

Shaking his head in disbelief, he opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by a voice from behind.

It was Joanna.

"Felix, didn't you say you'd be down in a minute after packing? What's taking you so long?"

Joanna's voice echoed through the room as she stepped in. When her eyes landed on Linsey standing across from Felix, her expression shifted in surprise. "Linsey, what are you doing here?"

Linsey shot Joanna a frosty look, her voice icy as she replied, "This is my apartment, isn't it? Do I need to explain why I'm here? The real question is—what are you doing here?"

Joanna lowered her gaze, feigning a mixture of embarrassment and innocence. "I accidentally nicked myself with a fruit knife, and Felix was so worried he insisted on staying with me for a few days."

Her eyes then darted to the suitcase beside Linsey, and she gasped dramatically, her hand covering her mouth.

"Linsey, what are you doing? Are you upset? Even if you are, this is uncalled for. If you're bothered, you can talk to me. I'll apologize if that'll make you feel better. There's no need for all this."

Linsey's lips curled into a cold, almost cruel smile as she took a slow step forward toward Joanna. "Are you really going to apologize? Do you even mean it?"

Joanna, aware of Felix watching, played her part, her voice dripping with false sincerity as she nodded. "Of course. If it helps you, I'll do whatever it takes."

"Alright, then. Why not?" Linsey's smile widened, but there was no warmth in her eyes, just cold calculation. "Since you're so sincere, I suppose I can help you out."

Without warning, she raised her hand.

The sharp sound of a slap sliced through the tension in the room as Linsey's palm connected with Joanna's face, echoing the finality of her words.