I Loved You Once, That's All

Three days before our engagement, Zach Jefferson called me. “We’ll need to postpone the engagement party by a month. That day is Sienna’s first concert since she returned, and I need to be there.

“It’s just a postponement. It’s no big deal.”

He had postponed our engagement three times that year.

The first time was because Sienna Lynch had been hospitalized with appendicitis. He said he had to take care of her and rushed over.

The second time, Sienna said she was feeling down. He was worried she might get depressed and immediately booked a flight to see her.

It was the third time.

I simply said, “Okay.”

After hanging up, I turned to the good-looking and refined man beside me. “Are you interested in marrying me?”

Later, during Sienna’s concert, Zach left her without hesitation. With red, teary eyes, he rushed to my engagement ceremony.

“Yulia, are you really getting engaged to this man?”

“Are you serious?” The man beside me looked at me. “After all, you two have been together for many years.”

I raised an eyebrow. “He had three chances to hold the engagement party with me, but he never valued them. Maybe he doesn’t love me that much.

“Since he doesn’t love me, why should I keep holding on to him? I should let him be with the love of his life and move on with mine.”

Joel Howard quickly stood up and reached out to me. “Then it’s settled. I’ll take care of the details of the engagement. You don’t have to worry about it.

“I promise that no engagement ceremony in Central City will be more extravagant than this one.”

I looked at him. He wore a custom suit that flattered his tall figure. He was good-looking and was the dream lover of every woman in my circle.

What mattered most was his sincere and determined gaze when he looked at me. It was something Zach Jefferson had never shown.

“Okay.” I smiled as I took his hand.

Back at the villa, I packed up everything in my room. Just as I was about to leave, Zach suddenly came back.

When he saw me, he immediately frowned. “What are you doing? Are you trying to run away?

“I only postponed the engagement by a month. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? You’re too old for this childish behavior.”

I answered calmly, “I just have a business trip.”

He relaxed his furrowed brow. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“There was a last-minute work issue. You’re busy too, so I didn’t want to bother you.”

He nodded and said, “By the way, Sienna might stay with us in a few days. She just came back and hasn’t found a place yet.”

He made it sound casually natural.

“Got it.” I indifferently pulled my suitcase toward the door. “I don’t mind. Let the butler take care of it. She can stay wherever she likes.”

He was briefly stunned before grabbing my arm. “You… When will you be back?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll let you know when I know.”

Feeling relieved, he let go of my arm and turned to text Sienna Lynch. He did not even ask where I was going on my business trip.

I moved back into my own house. The next day, I saw a photo of Zach picking up Sienna at the airport in the entertainment news.

In the photo, Zach was holding an umbrella for Sienna. He did not even notice his shoulders getting soaked as he tried to keep her dry.

The bold headline read [Mr. Jefferson’s Journey to Love Ends in Happiness], and the comments were full of praise.

[Wow! This is like a fairy tale!]

[I’m swooning! This is so romantic!]

[They make such a perfect couple.]

There were a few questions as well.

[I thought Zach was getting engaged?]

[What will his future fiancee think about this?]

But those comments got buried by the others.

I scoffed, turned off my phone, and answered a call from Joel.

“The engagement dresses and jewelry are ready. Do you have time to try them today?”

I was surprised. “Already?”

When he picked me up and we arrived, I found out he had hired the whole design team!

“Oh my, so you’re the bride-to-be?”

A blonde senior designer looked me over with a smile and teased, “No wonder Mr. Howard was in such a hurry. You’re so beautiful.”

Before I could feel embarrassed, they had me try on several dresses.

“These were made based on the measurements Mr. Howard gave us. Let’s see if they fit.”

I twirled around in the dress and was shocked to see it fit perfectly.

My ears turned red from embarrassment. I softly asked Joel, “How did you know?”

He smiled innocently. “Well, I just asked your mom.”

A few days later, I got a call from Zach. “Are you still on your business trip?

“Hurry back. Sienna just returned to the country and wants to get together with everyone. She specifically asked to see you.”

I frowned. “I’m still busy here. You guys can meet up without me.”

He sounded annoyed. “Can’t you put your work on hold?

“Sienna invited you, and you’re going to ignore it?

“Listen. Whether you want to come or not, you have to. If not, you can forget about the land in East District!”

I hesitated. I had worked hard on the building plans for that land, and they were halfway done. If Zach got upset, all my work would be wasted.

Fine, I would go. Our relationship was about to end, so I should take this opportunity to say goodbye.

I went to the hotel according to the address he sent me. The private room was already full of people. They were mostly Zach’s friends.

Zach and Sienna were sitting together in the middle. They purposely dressed in matching outfits, which made them look like a couple.

When Sienna saw me, she immediately stood up. “Yulia, you’re here.

“We’ve been waiting for you. Oh, did I take your seat? Sorry, I’ll move.”

Zach’s expression turned cold, and he stopped her. “Don’t move. It’s her fault for being late. She can sit in the back.”

“Sorry, Yulia.” Sienna sat on Zach’s lap with a troubled look. “Since Zach said so…”

I shrugged and pulled out a nearby chair. “It’s fine. I don’t mind.”

I was not going to care about what they did anymore.

Later, I went to the bathroom. When I returned, I overheard Zach’s friends talking.

“I think Sienna and Zach are the perfect couple. You’ve been together since childhood and have a strong bond.”

“Yeah, exactly. What’s so special about Yulia? She’s no match for Sienna.”

“Now that Sienna’s back, why don’t you two get back together?”

“Enough with that. Sienna is going to be a pianist.” Zach did not deny it and looked at Sienna with loving eyes.

How could I have fallen for a guy like him?

When I walked in, Zach’s friends were loudly praising him.

“I heard Zach bought a 200 million-dollar piano for Sienna’s concert. How generous!”

“Wow, such support! This must be true love!”

Zach looked down on me. His friends followed his example. They did not restrain themselves even when I was present.

“What do you mean by ‘support’? Sienna has the talent. She deserves it,” Zach said casually.

I looked down and smiled. Zach seemed to suggest that he and Sienna were indeed “true lovers.”

He then looked at me and added, “By the way, I’ve invested in the Jenkins family’s land too.

“Yulia, don’t worry. I’ll sign the contract when I get back.”

“Oh, I’ve heard about that,” someone quickly added, “But I heard you only invested 50 million.”

“Tsk, that’s just a quarter of the price of the piano!”

The room filled with quiet laughter. They were making fun of how little I had.

I could not help but laugh too.

What was I thinking before? Why did I waste time with someone like Zach?

Then, a woman pointed at the tiara on Sienna’s head and said, “Wow, Sienna, that tiara is gorgeous!”

She blushed and looked at Zach. “It’s from Zach. He gave it to me to wish me success for my concert.”

I immediately recognized it. It was the one I was supposed to wear at my engagement ceremony.

“Tsk, as expected from you, Zach. Always so generous.” I chuckled. “This was made from a sapphire that his parents bought at an auction ten years ago. It cost a fortune.

“It was supposed to be for their daughter-in-law. It looks like Zach really likes you, Sienna.”

The room instantly went silent. After all, I was still Zach’s future fiancee.

Sienna quickly reacted. Tears filled her eyes, and she tried to take the tiara off. “Sorry, Yulia. I know I don’t deserve something so expensive. I’ll give it back to you.”

She yanked it off and pulled some hair with it. A couple of tears dropped.

Zach was irritated and grabbed her hand. “When I give something, I don’t take it back. I gave it to you, so keep it.

“I want to see who dares to say otherwise!”

He turned to me with annoyance. “Yulia, why do you have to be so petty?

“Acting like my wife before we’re even married? Do you have no respect for me?”

I sneered and stood up. “I was just saying it casually. I never said it had to be mine. Why are you so upset?”

Sienna looked at me with a troubled look. “Yulia, I really love this tiara. Can I borrow it for my concert? I’ll give it back after.”

One of Zach’s friends, who had been supporting them earlier, spoke up. “Yulia, can’t you be more generous? You’re part of the Jenkins family.

“Sienna just wants to borrow it for a bit. Why be so stingy?

“You’re ruining the whole meal with this!”

I pushed the chair away. “I’m leaving. Enjoy your meal.”

My attitude probably angered Zach. He slammed the table and stood up. “Yulia, what’s with the attitude?!

“You’re going to be my wife! Can’t you even behave properly?!

“Apologize to Sienna right now!”

I almost laughed. “We’re not even engaged yet. What’s there to talk about?

“Sorry, let another person be your wife instead.”

Zach’s expression changed. He grabbed my hand and asked, “What do you mean? Are you calling off the engagement over something like this? Yulia, don’t you have any commitment?”

I pulled my hand away and opened Joel’s voice message. “Yulia, do you want lilies or roses for your engagement ceremony?”

“Lilies,” I replied. “They’ll match the engagement dress better.”

“What engagement dress?” Zach kept following me and grabbed my arm. “Yulia, have you already ordered the engagement dress behind my back?

“Are you that eager to marry me? How shameless can you be?”

I scoffed. “Please get this right. I’m the one getting engaged, not you!”

“Aren’t your engagement and mine the same thing? Everyone knows you’ve been dreaming of marrying me.”

My expression turned cold. “Zach, hasn’t anyone taught you how to respect others?”

Suddenly, the door slammed open, and a deep voice said, “Mr. Jefferson, please let go of my fiancee.”