Chapter 1 I Called Off the Wedding
The moment those words left my mouth, the entire venue erupted into an uproar.
Even Iris Sullivan, the only sister I had ever known, looked at me as though I were being unreasonable. "Luna, you've been spoiled. What did Julian do wrong? He just wanted to make the wedding a little more perfect."
I said nothing.
Julian suddenly dropped to one knee, his expression earnest. "Luna, please don't do this. If you're upset that I lost ten pounds, I'll gain the weight back after the wedding."
His eyes were filled with affection as he looked up at me. "Luna, please don't call off the wedding. You're the only woman I'll ever marry."
The guests looked at him with open admiration.
"She's making a scene like this, and he's still staying calm. That's real love."
"The bride is being ridiculous. Does she think the Graves family is some kind of joke? She can't decide to get married one minute and cancel everything the next. If word gets out, this will be humiliating for both families."
I listened to the criticism around me and looked at the man standing before me, a man who appeared to be deeply in love.
Then I spoke, "The wedding is canceled. The betrothal gifts will be returned. And from this day forward, we're done. Completely."
Julian shot to his feet. Slowly, he rolled up his sleeves. His arms were covered in scars.
"Do you know how many dishes I've learned to cook over the years just to get you to eat more? I've cut myself with knives countless times, and I've never once complained. Do those sacrifices mean nothing to you?"
The crowd erupted again.
"Oh my God, look at his thumb. The entire nail is gone. That must have hurt so much."
Iris grabbed my wrist. "Luna, if there's some misunderstanding, we can talk about it later. Please stop being stubborn."
Julian remained completely composed. "Please don't blame Luna. No matter what she does, I'll always be willing to understand her."
He looked around at the guests. "Can everyone give her a little more time?"
Then he reached for my hand. "Luna, let's continue the ceremony first. We shouldn't miss the scheduled time."
Without drawing attention to it, I stepped back and avoided his touch. Then I looked straight into his eyes. "Then tell me something. When you had the liposuction procedure, who was with you?"
Julian froze. A flicker of panic flashed across his face. Almost immediately, he forced himself to stay calm. "No one. It was just me and the doctor. Who else would have been there?"
He refused to tell the truth. But I already had proof. I raised my phone. "Then can you explain who this woman is?"
The photo filled the screen. Julian was sitting beside a hospital bed, gently stroking a young woman's forehead. The tenderness in his eyes was impossible to miss.
Cold sweat instantly appeared on his brow. "Luna, let me explain."
I waited quietly and patiently for an explanation, but not a single word came out of his mouth.
At that moment, a young woman suddenly rushed out from the crowd. Her face was wrapped tightly in layers of bandages.
"Please don't misunderstand, Luna." Tears filled her eyes as she looked at me. "Julian only got liposuction because he was trying to save me."
