Chapter 1

In the bridal suite of the hotel, Calliope Jewell glanced up at her reflection in the mirror. She was dressed in a stunning white wedding gown, her long hair elegantly pinned up, with a veil trailing to the floor, just barely revealing her porcelain shoulders. A dazzling diamond necklace sparkled against her swan-like neck. Around her, bridesmaids and makeup artists showered her with compliments. They said she looked like a fairytale princess. They said she’d be the happiest bride in the world. Calliope’s lips curled into a faint, cold smile.

If only things had turned out differently, if Gideon hadn’t run off to see his old flame, if she hadn’t met her untimely end later on, perhaps she would have truly been marrying the man she’d always dreamed of, and she would have been happy. But life had no room for "if only."

The door to the suite swung open. Gideon Baker strode in, his long strides confident. He looked every bit the perfect groom—strikingly handsome, his deep eyes holding a world of secrets. A charming aura surrounded him, effortless, practiced. The bridesmaids and makeup artists exchanged quick glances before making a discreet exit.

“Ready?”

Gideon glanced at Calliope, a hint of impatience in his eyes. Calliope turned to him, her voice soft. “Does the dress look good on me?”

Gideon gave her a cursory glance, but before he could answer, his phone buzzed. The name “Yvette” flashed on the screen.

“The ceremony is about to start. Could you not take her call?” Calliope asked gently.

“Don’t start, Calliope. Yvette wouldn’t call unless it’s urgent. She knows I’m getting married today, so it must be important!”

Ignoring Calliope, Gideon answered the call. His brows furrowed deeper as he listened. Soon, he hung up.

“Something’s happened to Yvette! I need to go. You’ll have to manage the wedding.”

Gideon turned to leave. Calliope grabbed his arm. “Gideon, it’s our wedding today. What’s more important, this wedding or Yvette?”

“Yvette is more important than my own life. I owe her!”

“And what am I to you?”

“Calliope, stop this, please. A wedding is just a ceremony. You can go on with it without me. But Yvette needs me!”

A soft chuckle escaped Calliope’s lips, but her beautiful eyes brimmed with something deeper—profound disappointment. “Gideon, have you ever heard of a wedding without a groom? Am I supposed to marry your photo?”

Gideon pushed Calliope aside. “Enough, Calliope! Every time something happens with Yvette, you act out! Can’t you be reasonable?”

Calliope stilled, her expression unreadable. “Reasonable?” She let out a breath, then met his gaze. “Fine. If you walk out now, I might as well find a new groom and continue with the ceremony!”

She released his arm and took a step back. Gideon figured she was just venting. After all, every time she’d spoken in anger, she’d always come back to him. He opened the door and left.

A few minutes later, Lisette Jewell burst in with Calliope’s parents, Monty and Zelda. Lisette’s eyes gleamed with a flicker of schadenfreude when she saw Calliope, but she hid it well. Monty and Zelda noticed nothing. She had always been good at masking her true feelings. Calliope knew that all too well.

“Callie, where’s Gideon? The ceremony’s about to start, and I just saw him driving off! You know ever since his old flame came back, his attention’s been elsewhere. Could he be having second thoughts? All the guests are here—not just our family, but a lot of Dad’s business partners too. If the wedding is called off now, our Jewell family’s reputation will be ruined!” Lisette sighed dramatically. “Callie… did you upset Gideon?”

Then, with a sympathetic tilt of her head, she added, “Come on. You should try to make it up to him!”