Chapter 1The Ten-Year Red Thread Burns to Ashes

My roommate, my brother, always went for the sweet, girl-next-door type. I was always drawn to the strong, sophisticated woman.

We used to joke that we’d never end up as rivals in love.

But three years after my girlfriend vanished, I saw her again. She was at my roommate’s wedding.

She was the bride. I was the best man.

A friend clapped me on the back, laughing as he recounted their love story.

“Her company went bankrupt back then, and she was about to jump off a roof. I was the one who saved her. I heard some other guy was clinging to her at the time, but I took her abroad to start fresh.”

“Pretty smooth, right, Liam?”

Leo was still talking, beaming, but I couldn’t hear a word. My mind went white.

Three years. Over a thousand days and nights. The love of my life had been hidden away for three whole years by the man I saw every single day.

* * *

I listened to my friend’s words, my legs feeling like they were about to give out. A tremor started in my hands and spread through my whole body.

Leo noticed my pale face and quickly helped me into the bridal lounge, his voice laced with concern.

“Liam, what’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?”

For three years, I had searched for Ava. I’d traveled to countless cities, questioned hundreds of people, plastered up missing person posters, filed police reports, and scoured the internet.

Even her own family had given up, convinced she was truly gone. I was the only one who believed she was still alive, the only one who never stopped looking.

I don’t know how many nights I spent standing on the edge of a rooftop, contemplating an end to the crushing despair.

And now, it was all a joke.

I looked down at the network of faded white scars that crisscrossed my forearms. A bitter sting filled my eyes, and my heart felt like it was being shredded.

Leo sighed. “You’re thinking about her again, aren’t you? Let it go, man. It’s been too long. You need to move on. You could find a great girl, just like I did, and start over.”

“I’ll get everyone together soon,” he added, trying to cheer me up. “I’ll have Ava introduce you to some of her friends.”

Just as he finished speaking, Ava walked in. She was wearing a magnificent wedding gown, her figure as stunning as it was three years ago.

The only thing that had changed was the way she looked at me. Before, her eyes held only me. Now, she gave me a fleeting glance before turning to adjust Leo’s suit.

Her bridesmaids followed behind her—the same friends who used to call me their brother-in-law. I remembered it all so clearly.

When they saw me, their eyes were filled with unspoken words, a flicker of pity and guilt.

A moment ago, I might have been able to delude myself into thinking she’d lost her memory in the fall.

But every one of her friends standing there was a silent testament to the truth. She hadn’t forgotten. She remembered everything.

She just didn’t love me anymore.

Leo gazed at Ava with pure adoration. “Honey, tell your friends not to leave tonight. We’ll have a big party, celebrate properly.” He shot me a meaningful look.

Ava gave a noncommittal nod, her eyes fixed on Leo. She never looked at me again.

It was as if we were complete strangers.

I slowly closed my eyes, the feeling of a giant hand squeezing my heart, crushing it, then tossing it into a fire.

The pain… it was unbearable.

I stumbled into the bathroom, my back sliding down the cool tile wall as a wave of agony washed over me.

My chest heaved with a pain so deep it felt physical, and a choked sob escaped my lips.

“Ava, how could you leave me…?”