Chapter 2

I remembered Jackson wavering over Sara's name when finalizing our wedding guest list. Adding it, deleting it, repeatedly. When I asked why, he simply smiled and said, "She's traveling the world. She wouldn't come back for this."

So she was his first love.

His Instagram was still open. I found Sara's profile and clicked through. Their message history was gone, but her latest post chilled me: "The man I love is getting married? Well, I'm going to sabotage his wedding car and crash the whole thing!"

Jackson's response below read: "It wouldn't change anything. I still won't marry you." Their ensuing exchange continued:

Sara: "Fine. Must mean you've found your soulmate, right?" Jackson: "What are you talking about?" Sara: "Whatever! With your controlling family, being your wife would be like being a servant. No thanks!" Jackson: "I know. That's why I'm marrying who they want me to marry." Sara: "I just couldn't bear to see you trapped like that."

"Couldn't bear to." Those words felt alien coming from Jackson.

We'd met through a matchmaker. On paper, he was everything—young, successful, the youngest associate chief physician at a prestigious hospital, with movie-star looks. But his controlling parents were the reason he remained single. They desired a perfect, traditional daughter-in-law: submissive, hardworking, intuitive, and subservient.

Because the moment I first saw Jackson, I thought: for that face, I'd do anything.

Two years together. His parents adored me. He grew accustomed to spotless floors, hot meals, and freshly pressed shirts. But he remained distant, politely detached—until his birthday this year. I decided to bake him a cake. The oven exploded while reheating.

When they rushed me to the ER, my arm covered in glass shards, he came running. For the first time, I saw panic in his eyes. He held my face, his voice shaking: "You don't have to do all this for me… Please, you don't have to…"

I thought then that he truly cared.

Later, he proposed.

I foolishly believed it was love, that he wanted to build a future together. Until last night, when I saw his exchange with Sara. Sara—the one he loved enough to let go.

The screen's harsh glow illuminated my face. In that moment, I knew—this had to end.