Dream's Over: Back to Reality

Silas Grant and I are renowned in our social circle for being a loving couple. However, a month before our wedding, he calls everything off. He wants to marry the poor student that my parents have been sponsoring.

I demand an explanation. He says to me, "Vivian will have to marry that cripple if I don't marry her. You're the kindest person I know, Serena. I'm sure you can understand why I'm doing this."

"Fine, then," I say.

Silas leans down to kiss my cheek. He holds me happily and says, "I knew you'd agree to this. Don't worry, okay? I'll divorce her once this matter is settled."

I push him away lightly and wipe his saliva from my cheek. Then, I pull out an invitation from my pocket.

He takes it. His smile freezes when he sees the names on the invitation.

"Serena… What is this… supposed to mean?" Silas asked.

"It's all there on the wedding invitation."

I met Silas' gaze with an unreadable expression, offering no further explanation.

He turned the wedding invitation over in his hands, scanning it again and again, before letting out a cold chuckle. "Really, Serena? Is this your idea of a joke?

"You're quite the actress, huh? Choosing the same wedding date as mine and your groom is even... Levi Harrison, that cripple.

"I know you're still upset, but I've told you. I helped Vivian out of a difficult situation. Once everything is settled, I'll divorce her. Is it really so hard for you to understand?"

Before I could respond, a soft knock sounded at the door.

Vivian Turner stepped in with her eyes rimmed with red.

"Silas, maybe we should just forget about all this. It's fine… I can marry Levi. It's just that I…" She trailed off, and her face was etched with quiet sorrow.

Silas' gaze softened after seeing her pitiful expression. He stepped toward her, placed a comforting hand on her back, and comforted her with unbearably gentleness. "Don't say that. I told you I'd help you, and I will."

I had no interest in hearing how Silas was going to coax Vivian. I'd given him the wedding invitation—there was nothing else left to say. Besides, I had other business at the office.

Without another word, I stepped around them and headed for the door.

"Serena, where are you going?" Silas called after me.

I didn't answer.

Behind me, Vivian's soft, pitiful voice floated through the room, followed by Silas' low murmurs of reassurance.

He wasn't going to come after me.

Even though I had already made up my mind to let him go, the reality of it still left a dull ache in my chest.

Silas and I had known each other since childhood. We grew up side by side, and our friendship naturally evolved into something more. Our families were close, so our parents started planning our wedding when we reached adulthood.

But Silas was ambitious. For the past few years, he had used work as