Tugged the Wrong Heartstrings

After a decade of chasing Carter Worthington, I'm finally worn out.

Letting go of my unrequited love, I choose to embrace the man who has quietly loved me all along.

His name is Eli Loxley. Not only is he a skilled surgeon, but he's also Carter's stepbrother.

Although Eli spent his childhood living in Carter's shadow, he's the one who has captured my heart.

On the night I accept his heartfelt confession, he lights up the entire Marrowfield sky with fireworks.

He even buys a private island by the sea, where he proposes beneath a blanket of stars.

I believe this is the start of my happiness. But before our wedding, Eli disappears without a trace.

I end up finding him on a private yacht on the Redridge River, laughing and chatting with his friends.

"The only reason I pursued Anya was to get back at Carter.

"She's only enticing when she's out of reach. After sleeping with her, I realized she's nothing special.

"Marriage isn't what I'm after. But using it for payback? Now that's the real temptation, wouldn't you agree?"

I don't shed a tear. I slip the ring off my finger and toss it aside.

On the day of the wedding, the venue would stand empty.

The entire city of Oakmont would mock it.

After everything, I've decided to be the one who runs away as well.

But why is the one who didn't love me then now frantically pleading for me to return?

I'm afraid this chapter has closed. I won't turn back.

Main Story: Anya's POV

Seven days before our wedding, Eli Loxley disappeared without a trace.

I searched high and low throughout Marrowfield, but he was nowhere to be found.

On the third day, I heard rumors that he'd been spotted in Oakmont.

I booked a red-eye flight that evening. Soon enough, I tracked him down to a private yacht on the river.

As I approached the door, I heard his laughter from within.

"The only reason I pursued Anya was to get back at Carter," he said. "She's only enticing when she's out of reach."

I froze.

Eli's voice was sharp and clear, a stark contrast to the incoherent babbling of someone intoxicated.

A moment later, even harsher words slipped from his lips.

"After sleeping with her, I realized she's nothing special."

The sound of teasing laughter drifted through the door.

"Dr. Loxley, you're truly impressive. I can't believe you managed to win over the ice queen no one else dared to even approach."

Eli seemed to take pleasure in the praise. "Back then, she threw herself at Carter with everything she had. She even abandoned her pride and dignity.

"She might look like a flirt, but in reality, she's ridiculously naive. What a shame," he said nonchalantly.

"A shame? What exactly do you mean?" someone asked.

Eli exhaled a thick puff of smoke. "Well, it's a shame that I was the first man she slept with, but not the first one she