Chapter 1
Five Years Ago
The music filled the wedding hall, flowing through the room as I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection in my white wedding dress.
It was beautiful.
More than beautiful.
I had chosen every detail myself—the delicate lace sleeves, the waist embroidered with golden threads, and the long train trailing behind me like a fragment of an old dream.
The dream of a little girl who believed that love meant finding one person and spending the rest of her life with them.
She believed love could make life better, even during the worst moments.
She believed love could be the path to salvation from all the pain and sadness in life.
The door opened, and my best—and only—friend, Sarah, walked in with a bright smile.
"Look at the most beautiful bride in the world!"
I smiled shyly.
"Does the dress really look good? I'm starting to feel nervous. You know no one liked it except you and me."
Sarah walked toward me and stood in front of me.
"Enough worrying, sweetheart. Everything is going to be fine. You're the most beautiful bride in the world, so stop worrying."
She was right.
Sarah was always right.
I shouldn't have been this nervous, but anxiety had completely taken over my mind. I couldn't think logically anymore.
Still, there was something strange.
Something I couldn't explain.
I glanced at my phone.
There was still no message from him.
"Should I call him?" Sarah asked.
I shook my head nervously.
"No."
Her expression changed.
"Maybe he's busy."
"He's the groom. How could he possibly be busy? The wedding starts in ten minutes!"
My voice trembled, and I felt like I was about to cry from anxiety.
And then...
My phone rang.
I looked at the screen.
It wasn't him.
It was an unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?"
No one responded.
"Hello?"
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
A strange tightness formed in my chest.
"Who was it?" Sarah asked.
"No one."
I put my phone aside.
Ten minutes later, I was standing in front of hundreds of people.
The hall looked breathtaking.
White and red flowers decorated the room. Candles flickered softly while gentle music played in the background.
Everything was perfect.
Except for one thing.
The groom wasn't there.
Time passed far too quickly.
He still didn't appear.
Had something happened to him?
People began whispering.
I saw his mother talking to one of his relatives.
Then I noticed the way people were looking at me.
Their eyes were killing me.
They were talking about me.
I knew they were.
Sarah came toward me several times, but she didn't know what to say.
And I...
I simply stood there in my white dress, waiting.
I kept telling myself:
He'll come.
He has to.
Maybe something happened.
Maybe...
Then my phone vibrated.
A message.
From him.
I opened it.
I read the words once.
Then again.
And a third time.
I didn't understand.
Or perhaps I did...
My mind simply refused to accept it.
«I'm sorry, Layla. I can't do this.»
That was it.
Nine years.
Nine entire years of love...
And this was how they ended.
I slowly raised my head.
Everyone was looking at me.
For the first time, I couldn't smile.
The hall suddenly felt smaller.
The air felt heavier.
"Layla?" Sarah called softly.
I looked at her.
"He left me."
"What?"
A short, broken laugh escaped my lips.
"He left me."
Sarah stepped closer.
"Layla, that's impossible. Ryan loves you. Maybe something happened. Maybe someone is playing some kind of sick game with you."
Tears began gathering in my eyes.
"Why didn't he leave me before today?"
My voice cracked.
"He had nine years to decide he didn't want me."
"If he didn't love me, why didn't he tell me sooner? I never forced him to marry me."
Then I saw his mother quietly leave the hall.
His relatives followed her.
One by one, they all walked out.
The rest of the guests remained, staring at me with pity...
and some with barely hidden amusement.
But suddenly, something inside me changed.
Even I didn't know where that strength came from.
I lifted my head and forced that stupid smile onto my face.
"Well... I'm sorry for making all of you wait this long."
I looked around the hall.
"It seems my groom forgot how to find the wedding hall, so I'll go get him myself."
I turned to Sarah.
"Let's go."
"Where?"
"Anywhere but this place."
"But..."
"Sarah, I feel like I'm suffocating. Please. I don't want to stay here. I can't breathe."
That day, I felt as though I had lost my heart.
For an entire year, every night, I would place my hand against my chest just to make sure my heart was still there.
Because I couldn't feel it anymore.
I tried to cry.
But I couldn't.
It seemed I had lost the ability to cry, too.
For an entire year.
---
Present Day
I wandered through the city streets, searching for a job after being fired from my previous one.
I had actually loved working at that workshop.
But my boss was a terrible man.
He was always yelling and was impossible to please.
I stopped on the sidewalk and watched people passing around me.
Everyone was busy living their own lives.
Some were happy.
Some were sad.
Life really was cruel to us sometimes.
Ryan...
My ex-husband...
He never even bothered to explain himself after that day.
And after everything that happened to me, I spent a year trying to recover.
But even after five years, I still hadn't managed to open my own clothing brand.
My phone rang.
I looked at the screen.
It was a message from my mother.
The same mother who hadn't attended my disastrous wedding.
She had pretended to be sick that day, and when I fell into depression afterward, she wasn't there for me either.
The message said:
«Your sister got another scholarship. We're very proud of her. We want to throw a celebration for her, so buy some cake and bring it with you.»
Then another message appeared.
«Wear something appropriate. Your sister's friends will be there, so don't embarrass her.»
I locked my phone and smiled bitterly.
"Wonderful."
I muttered to myself.
"Another wonderful day in my life."
Then my younger sister called.
Despite my mother's ridiculous behavior, my sister wasn't like her.
She was actually kind.
And she was genuinely proud of me.
I answered.
"Yes? How are you?"
She screamed excitedly.
"Layla! My love! Guess what happened!"
I smiled.
"What happened?"
"I got accepted for the scholarship I told you about! I love you!"
I laughed happily.
"Good for you! You need to make sure your older sister knows a lot of useful things, huh?"
She giggled like a child.
"But, Layla, don't tell Mom that you were the one who helped me. I want her to be proud of me."
I smiled softly.
"Okay. I'll send the cake to the house with a delivery service."
She sounded disappointed.
"You're not coming?"
I noticed someone else calling me.
"Sorry, sweetheart. I'm busy. I love you. Enjoy yourself."
I hung up and answered the second call.
It was Sarah.
"Where are you?" she shouted excitedly.
"On the street."
"What are you doing?"
"Breathing."
"Are you alive?"
"Unfortunately."
She laughed.
"Come to the café. I'm here waiting for you."
"I don't have money to hang out with you."
"I'm paying, you cheapskate. Just come."
"Fine. I'm coming. Stop shouting."
---
Twenty minutes later, I was sitting across from Sarah with a cup of coffee in front of me.
I stared at it.
"This coffee costs more than my salary."
"Drink it."
"I'll drink it and sell the cup afterward."
Sarah burst out laughing.
Then she looked at me seriously.
"Did you find a new job?"
"No."
I sighed.
"I'm tired of walking around every day looking for work and getting absolutely nowhere."
"Layla..."
"What?"
I didn't even look at her.
"You're a talented designer."
"Talent doesn't pay the rent."
"You could start your own business."
"With what money?"
Sarah fell silent for a moment, thinking.
But before she could say anything, I spoke.
"It's okay. I'll find a way. Don't worry about me."
"If I don't worry about my best friend, then who am I supposed to worry about?"
I smiled.
I knew Sarah.
Her heart had always been with me.
She worried about me more than anyone.
Then she suddenly asked:
"So... any love stories after five years of isolation?"
I placed my coffee back on the table.
"After nine years of love, I think I've used up all the love I'm ever going to get."
I gave a bitter laugh.
"Those five years of isolation taught me that love is just stupid."
Sarah frowned.
"You're only thirty."
"Exactly."
I leaned back.
"That's why my brain understands things better now."
Then I heard a voice behind me.
"Thirty?"
I turned around.
A young man was standing behind me.
He looked like he was in his early twenties, with black hair styled neatly around an incredibly handsome face.
But his smile...
His smile was annoyingly smug.
I stared at him.
"Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?"
He pulled out the chair beside us and sat down without being invited.
"I wasn't eavesdropping. I was simply listening to your fascinating conversation."
I glared at him.
"Is there really a difference?"
"Of course there is."
"What is it?"
He paused.
"I don't remember the difference. I'll tell you when I remember. Promise."
I stared at him for a full minute before turning to Sarah.
"Do you know him? This guy is crazy."
Sarah struggled to hold back her laughter.
"I don't know him."
The stranger placed a hand dramatically over his heart.
"My dear, how can you be so cruel to me?"
Then, without warning, he extended his hand toward me.
"Kain."
I didn't shake it.
He looked at his hand, then at me.
"Layla, you're so cruel."
I froze.
"How do you know my name?"
He smiled.
"I heard your friend call you."
"You're seriously such a nosy brat."
"And you're aggressive, Auntie."
My eyes widened.
I stood up angrily and grabbed my bag.
"Sarah, I'm leaving. This place is full of idiots."
I heard his voice behind me.
"Orange looks good on you, Auntie."
I stopped.
Then slowly turned around.
"Mind your own business, child."
He laughed loudly, his voice deliberately irritating.
"I didn't say anything! You're the one who said you were getting old because you turned thirty."
I took a deep breath.
Then I walked away, cursing him under my breath with every step.
Sarah ran after me.
"Layla! Please, wait!"
I turned toward her angrily.
"What now?"
She stopped beside me, trying to catch her breath.
"That guy... I swear, I didn't bring him here."
I grabbed her hand.
"I know, idiot. You didn't do anything. But he made me so angry. I was afraid I was going to commit a crime in that café."
Sarah laughed breathlessly.
"He brought out the worst side of you in, like, two seconds."
I sighed.
"That annoying brat. He distracted me from my job search."
"Oh! I almost forgot."
Sarah suddenly smiled.
"I found you a job at a fashion show tonight."
I stared at her in disbelief.
"Really?!"
To be continued...
