At the wedding everyone was talking about, two grooms showed up.

Me, the actual groom-to-be, was forgotten. My bride, Ava, face flushed and shy, reached out her hand to Caleb, her supposed savior, who was down on one knee proposing.

He was wearing the expensive custom suit Ava had commissioned for me, holding the ring that was meant for me.

When I questioned her, her face filled with disgust, her tone dripping with impatience.

"A wedding is just some meaningless ceremony. The person I legally marry will still be you."

Well, if they were so madly in love, I should naturally step aside and let them be happy.

Turning my back on the wedding scene, I made an overseas call.

I said softly, "Pull the funding. I'll be leaving the country as soon as possible."

1.

At the incredibly lavish wedding venue, I, the groom-to-be, was left standing alone.

An endless firestorm of rage burned through my chest. My eyes were bloodshot, fists clenched tight.

My fiancée, Ava, wearing her wedding dress, looked down with a surprised smile at Caleb, who was on one knee, proposing to her.

The sight stabbed at my eyes, turning them red. The tightly wound thread in my mind finally snapped.

This wedding was the last chance I was giving her.

Before the wedding, she had sworn to me, promising to cut ties with Caleb completely and focus on being my bride.

The agony flooding my eyes met Caleb's blatant smugness and provocation. All my sincere feelings became a joke in that moment.

I laughed bitterly to myself. It felt like someone had ripped a gaping hole in my chest, letting an icy wind howl through it.

"Ethan, buddy, I'm sorry. I accidentally put on your suit. How could you be late on such an important day like the wedding?"

Caleb's attempts to smear me were still so pathetic.

But the willfully blind Ava couldn't see through him.

Seeing my cold expression, Caleb feigned fear and hid behind Ava.

She shielded him, looking at me defensively.

Her voice laced with anger, the eyes that once looked at me with tenderness now held no trace of love, only irritation.

"Have you caused enough trouble?"

"You show up late to your own wedding and have the nerve to question Caleb? Thank God he got here in time to save the day."

I let out a cold laugh and turned around, revealing the back of my shirt, stained dark and damp with blood.

Ava froze, her eyes widening slightly, a touch of red creeping into them.

She stared incredulously at my back, her voice filled with confusion, "What happened?"

Seeing my gaze fixed directly on Caleb, who was desperately trying to look calm, Ava's brow furrowed slightly.

She blurted out, "Impossible."

Caleb, full of dirty tricks, seized the opportunity, putting on an innocent face to defend himself.

"Maybe he was just late and splashed some fake blood on himself on purpose."

"Oh really? I get mysteriously knocked out from behind, making me late. You think the real culprit might get scared if I called the cops?"

Caleb's face instantly paled, his eyes darting around, unable to meet mine.

"Enough! I already agreed Caleb could handle this mess for you. I believe he's innocent."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ava publicly took Caleb's hand.

She signaled for the ceremony to continue. And I, the real groom, became a mere spectator at my own wedding.

Because Caleb had supposedly saved her life once, she was always at his beck and call, acting like his devoted wife.

Fine. I'd let them have each other.

2.

This time, I couldn't even be bothered to question her. My heart had gone completely cold.

Since she didn't cherish this seven-year relationship, why should I cling to it?

The back of my head throbbed where I'd been hit. I had risked my life to get to this wedding.

And she agreed to let another man marry her in my place, not worried at all about my disappearance.

It was always just me being foolishly devoted.

Just as I was about to leave, rows of bodyguards blocked my path.

"Hold him down. Make him watch and see what happens when he defies me."

Struggling was useless. The bodyguards forced me to my knees at the feet of Ava and Caleb.

Forming a grotesque human triangle.

The guests below, enjoying the spectacle, erupted into mocking laughter.

"Hilarious! Even a kept man has a temper?"

"If Ava hadn't been supporting him all these years, he'd probably be begging on the streets. Maybe some rich old lady would pick him up as a pet she could beat whenever she wanted."

"Ava gave him plenty of respect, and he still dared to ditch the wedding? He needs to be taught a harsh lesson."

Hearing this, Ava flashed a satisfied smile.

She bent down slightly, grabbing my chin, her tone dripping with contempt. "Behave yourself. You should be thanking Caleb for saving the day for you."

How could she humiliate me like this?

Tears streamed down my face, but then I started to laugh, my whole body shaking.

Seeing me like this, seemingly losing my mind, Ava casually looked away.

She deliberately made me watch as she and Caleb exchanged wedding rings, then embraced and kissed deeply amidst waves of applause.

Accompanied by my own enraged screams.

The kiss ended, their lips slightly red and glistening.

Caleb's eyes were full of lust. Seeing the anguish in my eyes, he pulled Ava even tighter.

His gaze towards me was pure provocation.

Ava waved her hand, signaling the bodyguards to release me. She ordered me coldly, "Behave yourself later. Run interference with the drinks for us. I won't hold being late against you anymore."

I suppressed the fury inside me, just wanting to get out of there quickly.

My heart, already riddled with holes, felt so tired.

I tried to walk away, but Ava blocked my path again.

"Are you deaf?"

My ice-cold gaze fell on their intertwined hands. A sarcastic sneer appeared on my lips.

"The illegitimate daughter and the homewrecker – a perfect match. You two deserve each other. Just stay locked down and don't ruin anyone else's life."

The mockery in my words made both their faces change instantly.

Ava, furious, pointed her finger at my nose, scolding, "Can't you stop being so petty? The wedding is just a meaningless ceremony! The man who will legally marry me, my lawful husband, will only be you, Ethan."

Seeing me flustered, Caleb's triumphant gaze filled his eyes. He eagerly added fuel to the fire, "Ava's right. The wedding is just for show, for outsiders."

"If you're still mad, you can hit me to blow off steam."

Saying this, Caleb leaned his handsome, pretty-boy face closer.

I smirked slightly and rewarded him with a loud, sharp slap across the face.

Caleb looked up, stunned, his cheek already swelling where I'd hit him. A flash of malice crossed his eyes.

His face gradually turned red. Clenching his teeth, he managed to force a smile.

Seeing him get hit, Ava flew into a rage and swung a slap at me.

After this, I finally saw through her cold, heartless nature.

With no lingering affection left, why would I just stand there and take a slap?

I dodged it, meeting her surprised gaze.

I tugged at the corner of my mouth and turned to leave the wedding venue.

Threatening words followed me from behind.

"If you dare take one step out of here, we're breaking up, effective immediately!"

She used to always use breaking up to control me, banking on my love for her.

But now I was planning to leave her world. The leverage built on love was useless against me now.

3.

I had given up my family, staying alone in this city, willingly devoted to Ava for seven years.

Only to be mocked by her friends and family as a kept man, a loser, leeching off a woman to survive.

This time, I was really leaving.

I dialed that familiar number.

Forcing down the surging, bitter emotions, I pretended to be casual, saying lightly, "Cut the funding. I'll be leaving the country ASAP."

In three days, I would completely disappear from Ava's world, never to meet again for the rest of our lives.

After getting my head wound treated at the hospital, I returned to the home I had personally decorated for us.

Forcing myself to stay awake, I threw away everything that belonged to me, just like myself – alone.

From now on, there would be no trace of me left in Ava's world.

Late at night, I curled up on the sofa, burning with fever, feeling miserable.

I was about to get up and turn on the lights, planning to go to the hospital.

In the darkness, the firmly shut front door opened. Two voices, panting with arousal, intertwined.

Even though I had warned myself internally, seeing the scene unfold before me still sent a shameful pang of pain through my heart.

Ava and Caleb were tangled together, their kissing sounds like claps of thunder striking deep into my soul.

I silently watched the passionate scene playing out.

"Baby, I can't wait anymore. Give yourself to me, please? I'll be good to you."

Caleb chuckled lewdly, eagerly trying to pull off Ava's clothes.

Ava made a show of protesting playfully, hitting him lightly a few times.

Clearly playing hard to get.

We dated for seven years, lived together for five. I had always cherished her too much to touch her.

I wanted to save that respect and value for our wedding night. But her?

She couldn't wait to bring someone back to our home, fooling around right there in the entryway. How pathetic.

Just as they were about to cross the line, I abruptly flipped on the lights.

It startled Caleb so much he almost went limp from fright.

I chuckled nonchalantly, clapping my hands in front of them.

"Quite the show tonight. Caught you red-handed, cheating."

My words stung Ava, her face paling slightly.

Being caught in such a private act, even her thick skin couldn't handle it.

Her lips trembled, her face turning from white to red.

Caleb pulled her into his arms, comforting her softly, then looked up at me, his eyes filled with hatred.

"Ava already broke up with you. This is her house. Get the hell out."

I had seen everything just now. My stomach churned violently.

Ava's nose was red from crying, but the words she spoke sent a chill down my spine.

"You've loved me for so many years. Can't you even tolerate this little thing?"

"Where else can you go if you leave me?"

"Just be good and listen. We'll go get legally married in a while."

'Be good and listen' again. She always wanted to control my thoughts, my soul, make me live like a puppet on a string.

I wasn't her pet.

I clenched my fists in anger, my body trembling uncontrollably.

A coldness escaped my lips. I stared intently at the face I had loved day and night.

Hating myself for being so blind, for falling in love with such a faithless woman.

Sorrow wrapped around my heart like dense wires, suffocating me.

I felt sick. My voice turned icy, "I agree to the breakup. From now on, we are strangers."

As soon as I said it, Ava's expression darkened instantly.

Caleb, however, looked thrilled, thinking he could finally latch onto the wealthy CEO.

Endless riches would soon be his.

"Ethan, I'm not discussing this with you. I'm informing you."

My head felt increasingly heavy and sick. I couldn't be bothered wasting my breath on her.

Ignoring her words, I turned to leave.

But they blocked the door. Ava's face darkened as she snapped at me.

"Listen to me! Go back to your room and stay there. What's the big deal? Everyone plays around sometimes. Just turn a blind eye."

Her brows furrowed, her eyes glaring at me with hostility.

Knowing I was weak, running a high fever in the middle of the night.

She ordered Caleb to drag me into the room and lock the door, only letting me out when I was ready to admit I was wrong.

Even my phone, my only connection to the outside world, was confiscated.

My forehead was covered in cold sweat. I curled up, feeling incredibly sick.

From the next room came sounds of moaning, like relentless raindrops, washing over my already shattered heart again and again.

4.

I drifted in and out of consciousness. I don't know how much time passed before the door finally opened.

Caleb kicked my head aggressively, his voice unable to hide his excitement.

"Well, look who's still alive. Be smart and get out of the way. Ava can only be mine. Even her first time was with me."

"You protected her for seven years, didn't even dare touch her, yet she willingly let me. As another man, I even feel sorry for you."

Finished speaking, Caleb leaned close to my ear, his laughter seeming to seep in from everywhere, constantly reminding me of this humiliation.

Not long after, Ava, clearly exhausted from her night's activities, walked awkwardly out of the room.

Burning with fever all night, plus the wound on the back of my head splitting open again…

I opened my mouth, my voice hoarse, calling to her, "Give me my phone. I need to go to the hospital."

Hearing my voice, Ava raised an eyebrow in surprise, looking down at me.

A satisfied smile appeared on her face again as she asked, "Learned your lesson?"

"I'm tired of this faking-sickness act. Get up and make us breakfast."

A wave of desolation washed over me. My cheeks were flushed red from the fever; anyone who wasn't blind could see it.

Consciousness faded again. The last thing I saw was Ava's enraged face as her hand came flying towards me in a slap.

It wasn't until the next day that I slowly regained consciousness.

I was lying on the cold floor. There was a patch of white dampness on my chest, smelling faintly of bitter medicine.

She hadn't even bothered to take me to the hospital, just poured some medicine down my throat and left me lying on the floor, not caring if I lived or died.

When I moved my jaw, a sharp pain shot through my face.

I pushed myself up from the floor and walked to the mirror. My face was swollen like a balloon.

Clear finger marks were imprinted on it.

I instinctively clenched my fists. Seven long years, I gave everything, yet I didn't even deserve basic respect.

My phone, tossed on the floor, vibrated a few times. I picked it up.

Caleb had sent several pictures and videos of him and Ava kissing, every message dripping with bragging.

They had gone on their honeymoon.

The honeymoon I had looked forward to for seven years, she casually gave it to another man.

The three days were up. This reunion, seven years overdue, had finally arrived.

I threw away the SIM card. The last moment before deleting my messaging app, my blurred vision focused on the pinned chat.

Seven years of love. Let it have a proper end.

[Goodbye!]

After sending the farewell message, I boarded the plane without looking back.

From now on, I was free as a bird. I would no longer be her caged pet.

5.

During the time I was unreachable, Ava received the farewell message and panicked, as if she had lost the most important person in her life.

She became obsessed, dropping everything to search for any trace of me.

Tears of regret streamed down her face.

Completely unaware of this, after a flight of over ten hours, I landed in a completely unfamiliar country.