"Abby! I just saw your fiancé Gabriel at the OB-GYN!"

Abigail Sterling was standing in front of the mirror, the hem of her white gown cascading quietly around her like a dream. Even without a trace of makeup, her delicate features were stunning enough to take someone’s breath away.

Her phone buzzed. Glancing down, she tapped the screen and opened a message from her best friend.

In an instant, her expression shifted. The soft smile vanished, and her gaze turned sharp. Just the thought of the man she was about to marry made her heart go cold.

The wedding was only a week away.

She shot a look at the boutique manager. Catching her cue, the manager discreetly motioned the others to leave, and soon, the room emptied out.

Once alone, Abigail casually played with her manicured nails, her tone cool. "Was he alone?"

"No, that homewrecker Diana was with him!" Tessa spat through the phone.

A wry smile crept across Abigail’s lips. "So they went to an OB-GYN clinic… Don't tell me Diana’s pregnant?"

"Diana’s pure trouble, and Gabriel's trash too! Abby, you can't go through with this wedding!" Tessa fumed.

Watching her best friend rage on her behalf, Abigail elegantly sipped from her glass. "She always shows up when things are going well for me. No surprise there. Why are you getting all riled up?"

Tessa sighed with frustration. "Popping up now? She’s clearly here to stir the pot."

Abigail’s voice went cold. "Enough for now."

"Where are you headed?" Tessa asked quickly.

"The tea shop’s closing soon. Gotta run."

And with that, the call ended with a dull beep.

Abigail stood before the mirror again, staring at the pristine wedding dress hugging her figure. Slowly, her fingers tightened around the fabric at her chest.

A sharp rip cut through the silence.

The expensive gown was now a pile of shredded silk on the floor.

From a distance, the shop staff watched in stunned silence. The chill radiating off her was enough to make no one dare approach.

As soon as she’d changed back into her own clothes, her phone buzzed again.

The screen lit up with Gabriel Rowland’s name.

She picked up only to hear his cold tone: "Come to the office when you’re done with the fitting."

Two full years.

Two years of him being caring, thoughtful, attentive.

And now this switch-up—just because she came back?

Abigail let out a mirthless chuckle and hung up without another word.Half an hour later.

When she pushed open the office door, Gabriel Rowland was standing by the window on a call.

The sunlight traced the sharp lines of his face, making him look like he’d stepped straight out of a magazine—clean-cut, polished, and incredibly hard to look away from.

Yeah, he’s got that kind of face—the talk of the whole city. Too bad things turned out this way.

Noticing Abigail Sterling walk in, Gabriel quickly ended the call: "No need to wait for me at lunch. That’s all."

He moved to the couch, his eyes cold as ice.

"Come here," he said, more like giving an order than a request.

Abigail met his gaze, calm but distant. She didn’t sit beside him like she used to, instead taking the seat directly across.

That subtle shift hit Gabriel harder than he cared to admit. His face darkened, the smell of smoke slowly filling the room as he flicked his lighter open with a sharp "click."

The strong scent made Abigail frown, and she waved her hand to clear the air instinctively.

Gabriel took a slow drag, then said coolly, "Diana’s back."

For a split second there was guilt in his eyes, but it disappeared just as fast, replaced with that same aloof look.

"We’ll need to push the wedding back."

Abigail wasn’t surprised—Tessa’s call had already braced her for this.

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

Diana shows up and suddenly the wedding’s on pause? Seriously?

"She’s very ill."

As he spoke, he pulled a folder from the drawer and handed it to her. "St. Peter’s University sent you an admission letter. You’re going overseas."

His tone had that fake kindness that made it sound like a favor but felt like exile.

Abigail glanced at the folder, lips pulling into a faint, bitter smile.

"Sending me away so I’m out of the picture, huh?"

Gabriel’s face hardened. "Didn’t you always want to go there? Now you’ve got—"

"Gabriel."

She cut him off mid-sentence, voice sharp.

Reaching out, she grabbed the folder and tore it apart right there. Bits of paper floated to the ground like snow.

The last scrap was still stuck to her hand. Without a second thought, she flicked it at him, hitting him right on the cheek.

The expression in his eyes turned dead cold.

Abigail let out a soft, mocking laugh. "No need to delay it. Let’s just cancel the wedding."

Why drag it out? Might as well make a clean break.

Gabriel stared at her, stunned into silence.

Cancel the wedding?

Was she out of her mind?