The day before Valentine’s Day, my fiancée, Sera Hayes – who notoriously hated water – suddenly announced she wanted to learn to swim. Right then, a chilling suspicion seized me: she’d fallen for the swimming instructor downstairs. After attending one lesson with her, I calmly informed her: either the engagement was off, or she cut ties with that instructor. Seraphina stormed out in a rage, slamming the door, and didn’t return all night. She came back the next day, her legs shaky, her back aching, swearing she’d only ever be with me. On our wedding day, the city’s elite, the who’s who of high society, gathered. As the officiant declared, “Now, the groom may kiss his bride,” Seraphina abruptly pushed me away, her voice trembling: “I’m sorry, I can’t kiss someone I don’t love.” “I thought I could force myself, but I just can’t lie to my own heart.” With that, she ran, in her pristine white gown, straight into the arms of the red-eyed swimming instructor sitting in the front row. The entire ballroom erupted in gasps, camera flashes blinding us. Overnight, I became the city’s biggest joke. The top trending news? A video of Seraphina and the male instructor kissing passionately right at our wedding. In that moment, my heart died. If you choose to betray me again, then don’t blame me for eradicating you. … Staring at her retreating back, the last shred of hope in my heart evaporated. I swept my hand, shattering the champagne tower, glass shards scattering everywhere. My voice, cold as ice, warned: “If you walk out now, the Thorne empire and the Hayes family will be sworn enemies, utterly relentless!” Seraphina faltered, her eyes instantly brimming with tears. “I’m so sorry, but I can’t betray my own heart. I’ll make it up to you later.” Within half an hour. News of the Hayes heiress running away from her wedding for love had seized every media headline. 【LOL, is this some archaic ‘alpha CEO’ monologue? He totally deserved getting dumped!】 【If he acts this arrogant in public, imagine how despicable he is behind closed doors. They should investigate the Thornes!】 【Go, Sera! Women shouldn’t be pawns in dynastic alliances!】 Instantly, the Thorne family became the laughingstock of the entire metropolis, the talk of every dinner party. Yet Seraphina Hayes, the orchestrator of it all, was being hailed by public opinion as a brave, new-age woman chasing true love. I scrolled through the screen, my face devoid of emotion. Until I saw Seraphina’s latest “apology statement”: 【This decision, though it deeply hurt Alex Thorne, I simply couldn’t accept a marriage without love, destined to drown in numbness for the rest of my life… All the fault is mine. I humbly ask everyone not to blame Alex.】 The accompanying photo showed her with swollen, red eyes. What was particularly glaring was the cheap silver band on her ring finger. It certainly wasn’t the engagement ring I’d given her. Then, Brendan Miller poured gasoline on the fire of public outrage: 【Sera has been so consumed with guilt, she’s wasted away. Love can’t be forced; we’ll still be friends.】 I actually laughed, a bitter, furious sound. If she’d just been honest before the wedding, I would have let her go, wished her well. But she didn’t. She chose this moment, in front of everyone, with the city’s elite gathered. To utterly trample the Thorne family’s dignity! Now she expected to manipulate public opinion into forgiving me? In her dreams! “Immediately issue a directive: withdraw all investments from Hayes Industries, terminate all partnerships.” “Furthermore, mobilize every resource to support Hayes Industries’ competitors.” “If I don’t drive the Hayes family into bankruptcy, then I’ll disown my own name!” My assistant, Flick, broke into a cold sweat. She carefully advised, “Mr. Thorne, public opinion is strongly against us right now. Making a move at this moment might…” I cut her off sharply: “Afraid of what?” “An ungrateful viper, biting the hand that fed them – shouldn’t they be taught a lesson?” “This is the perfect opportunity to make an example of the Hayes family. Let’s see who dares to challenge the Thornes after this!” I massaged my throbbing temples. A cascade of past events flooded my mind. Years ago, when Mr. Hayes Sr. suddenly passed, his fortune was snatched by a conniving illegitimate son, a predator lurking in the shadows. Seraphina knelt in the pouring rain for an entire day and night, just to beg me to save the Hayes family. “Mr. Thorne, if you just help Hayes Industries, I’ll do anything you ask for the rest of my life!” Moved by a moment of weakness, I proposed a marriage of convenience. She agreed without hesitation. After our engagement, I kept my promise. Not only did I help her reclaim her company and put that illegitimate son in jail, I personally mentored her in business. I elevated Hayes Industries from a fledgling startup into a formidable corporate powerhouse across the city. But gradually, things between us changed. She started resisting my closeness, rejecting my plans, yearning for what she called “pure love.” Until that swimming instructor, Brendan Miller, appeared. She poured all her passion and affection onto him, holding nothing back. Actually, half a month ago, I’d given her one last chance. “Seraphina Hayes, if you still want to get married, watch your step.” She merely smiled faintly: “We’re just instructor and student. Your mind’s just twisted, seeing dirt where there’s none.” “Mr. Thorne, you’re not cheating on me, are you? Is that why you’re so paranoid?” My voice dropped to an icy tone: “If you cross the line, I’ll reclaim everything I’ve given you.” She flinched violently, her tone finally softening: “You’ve misunderstood. There’s nothing going on between me and Brendan.” “I won’t see him again.” In that moment, I actually believed we could go back to how things were. Sadly, she ultimately betrayed my final trust.
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