Why Love Again
Chapter One
Fifty–five days. That’s how long it had been
since my fiancé ghosted me. So, I called off
the wedding. The one I’d been dreaming
about for eight years.
He was off in some Buddhist retreat, playing
Florence Nightingale to his childhood
sweetheart, Willow, who was supposedly
battling depression.
He even managed to get the Evergreen
Temple, usually bustling with tourists, shut
down for six whole months!
Meanwhile, I was being hounded by reporters,
thanks to his vanishing act. I was practically
<
Desperate, I drove up to Evergreen Temple,
hoping to get some answers.
He had his security guards escort me down
the mountain, claiming my presence would
disturb the serenity.
It was the dead of winter. I collapsed at the
foot of the mountain. Almost died.
When I woke up, I saw him, Connor,
personally planting acres of roses. Right there
in the middle of the supposedly sacred
grounds. Roses, the symbol of freakin‘ love.
Six months later, he finally came down from
his mountain, with Willow in tow.
He filled our apartment, our supposed–to–be
marital home, with the roses they’d planted.
<
I just stood there, watching him. Coldly.
He had no idea I was about to get married to
someone else.
I was at Tiffany’s, picking out wedding bands,
when I saw him. Connor. After half a year.
The saleswoman was gushing about the rock
on my finger, but I didn’t hear a word she
said.
I just stared at him, dazed.
Connor noticed my ring. He walked over. His
expression was…detached.
“What are you doing here alone? I was
<
Yeah, right. My eyes landed on the Tiffany’s
bag he was carrying. A diamond necklace.
Not for me.
For Willow.
I’d overheard Willow batting her eyelashes at
him yesterday. Said she wanted a diamond
necklace for her birthday.
And Connor, of course, was already making it
happen.
Anything for Willow.
Me? I just wanted a wedding. Waited eight
years for one. Never got it.
So this time. Connor. I wasn’t going to wait
く
I subtly stepped away from him. I quietly
slipped off my ring and asked the clerk to
wrap it up.
Connor instantly pulled out his credit card,
ready to pay.
Before I could correct the sales clerk, I
caught sight of the prayer beads on his wrist.
Willow posted a series of pictures when she
officially announced her return to acting
yesterday. One of the pictures was of the
prayer beads.
The prayer beads did not match the rest of
the pictures.
Some internet sleuth figured out they were
unique to Evergreen Temple.
L
And suddenly, the shut–down of Evergreen
Temple and the identity of the prayer bead
owner were trending.
Some paparazzi even got video footage of
Connor and Willow coming down the
mountain.
You couldn’t see Connor’s face, but the
–
tailored suit and the license plate — all nines
–
gave it away.
Everyone was congratulating her on landing a
rich husband.
I was a freakin‘ joke.
I snapped back to reality. I stopped the
saleswoman from swiping his card.
く
“Don’t worry, I was just trying it on. I’m not
buying it.”
Connor was staring at his phone, distracted.
“Buy it. I have time this afternoon. We can go
get our marriage license.”
Marriage license?
To him, our marriage was just a box to be
checked.
I didn’t want that kind of “love” anymore.
I didn’t answer him. I walked out of the store.
Connor followed. He seemed annoyed by my
behavior.
“Are vou mad about Willow again?”
