Chapter 1Ditching My Husband for His Rich Younger Brother

After three years of secret marriage with Julian Ryder, he told me he would give me a surprise at his new company's launch party.

I thought he was finally going to announce me as his wife to the world, but instead, he took his first love's hand.

With tears in my eyes, I demanded answers, only to receive his ruthless mockery:

"It's been three years, Evie. I've been sick of your face for a long time."

A month later, holding his half-brother's arm, I showed up at the Ryder family gala.

The massive diamond ring on my ring finger blinded him with rage, while the handsome, younger brother beside me smirked contemptuously at him:

"It's been three years, Julian. Honestly, I'm tired of calling her my sister-in-law anyway."

* * *

"The best surprise for my beloved."

Under Julian’s latest Snapchat story, our mutual friends were leaving comments like crazy.

"No way, man! Keeping it a secret from Evie to pull off something this romantic?"

"Are you finally going public? Congratulations!"

The picture on his story showed a romantic sea of 9,999 red roses and a massive, custom-made diamond ring.

It was in my favorite color—a rare, natural purple diamond. It was crystal clear. It must have been incredibly hard for him to find one of such high quality.

Looking at the Snapchat story, I couldn't help but smile.

We had a huge fight last month. Julian hadn't texted me for over two weeks, and he hadn’t even come home.

I thought he was giving me the silent treatment because of our argument.

But it turned out he was secretly preparing a surprise for me...

Tomorrow was the press conference for the public listing of the Ryder Group's new subsidiary.

This was also Julian’s first major media interview since securing his position as the sole heir of the Ryder family.

For Julian to prepare something so grand, was he planning to publicly reveal my status as Mrs. Ryder?

After three years of secret marriage, my wait was finally paying off.

I hugged my pillow, lying in bed, imagining Julian standing in the spotlight tomorrow, proudly announcing to the world:

"She is my legal wife, Evelyn!"

He would hold my hand and kiss my forehead gently.

I couldn't help but screenshot his Snapchat story to look at it again and again.

He actually forgot to block me from seeing it. What an idiot.

I wanted to text him to ruin his "little surprise," but then I thought about how busy he must be at the office.

Since he was being so sweet, I decided to forgive him a little early. I would buy a nice dress and wait for tomorrow's surprise.

The next day, I wore a stunning red evening gown and sat in the VIP section, watching the confident, handsome man on stage from afar.

He looked sharp, and his voice was deep and steady, just like the day I first fell for him.

"Today, I want to publicly announce someone very important to me."

"Without her, I wouldn't be standing here today."

The spotlight followed him as he walked down the stage, coming right toward my row.

My heart raced, and I shyly reached out my hand, waiting for him to take it.

But he only gave me a cold, passing glance, walked right past me, and grabbed the hand of Seraphina Vance, the heiress of the Vance family.

"Will you marry me, Sera?"

He slipped that beautiful purple diamond ring onto Seraphina’s finger, his eyes filled with a deep tenderness I had never seen before.

It was a perfect fit.

The camera flashes from the media went wild.

"It's the Vance heiress! What a perfect high-society match!"

"When is the wedding, you two?"

Seraphina's expression turned from shock to pure bliss, a beautiful blush creeping up her cheeks.

"This is so sudden... I'm not even prepared..."

The Ryder and Vance families were both elite powerhouses in New York, but there had never been any rumors of them dating.

The reporters went crazy, instantly surrounding the two of them.

In the chaotic crowd, someone stepped on my red gown, leaving a dirty footprint on the fabric. My hand remained frozen in the air.

Under the bright camera lights, the sight of him and Seraphina looking so in love was so blinding that tears started rolling down my face.

I stood there like a pathetic clown, while they were hailed as a match made in heaven.

The surprise was never meant for me. The man I loved was abandoning me to marry someone else.