Dumped at Our Engagement, I Wed a Billionaire

1: 1

Harvey Stephens's savior had staged another suicide.

On the day of our engagement, she left behind a farewell note.

As long as you're happy, I have no regrets.

I hope fate stops tormenting us in the next life. I'm leaving. Forget me.

Before this she'd jumped into the river ten times, slit her wrists six times, swallowed pills five times...

And every single time she came out of it unharmed.

Still, Harvey dropped me and rushed out like a madman to play along with her.

"Nora Barnes, Minnie saved my life, after all."

"Her feelings for me run too deep. I drove her to this, so I have to take responsibility."

"Once I've talked her down, I'll come back and marry you."

I watched him go without any expression on my face.

Marry me?

The marriage alliance between me and the Simmons family had nothing to do with Harvey Stephens at all.

......

The male lead had suddenly bolted from his own engagement, and my parents' faces had gone stiff.

Herbert Stephens and Eve Stephens forced out a few dry laughs and some words of apology.

"Harvey's such an immature boy. We'll straighten him out the second we get home!"

"Nora, dear, don't hold it against him. He said he'd come back."

I looked at the two of them smoothing everything over.

"So when is he coming back?"

Neither of them said a word. They both lowered their heads.

The mood in the room congealed into something awkward.

Herbert and Eve couldn't take it. They mumbled something about urgent business and made their exit.

The table wasn't just my parents and Harvey's. A few close relatives were seated there too.

The way they just walked out left me humiliated in front of everyone.

Harvey had also made me lose completely to Minnie Henson.

My mother's face was still dark.

"Nora, if you marry a man like this, how am I supposed to feel at ease?"

"Today is your engagement day, and he abandoned you for another woman. Are you still not giving up on him?"

I said nothing, running my thumb over my phone.

Should I give up?

This wasn't the first or second time.

At the beginning, I too was afraid Minnie might actually kill herself.

Even when Harvey went to her, I felt nothing about it.

I just took it as saving a life.

But as it kept happening, all I ever saw was Minnie, perfectly fine after each so-called suicide.

And Harvey, always dropping me in front of everyone to go and sit by her side.

I felt like I was being played every single time.

Even knowing Harvey would come back to me, it still hurt.

Every time before, I'd hoped he would turn back and look at me, just once.

If he had, I would have taken him back again.

But I would never be the one he favored.

Now, I was a little tired.

My parents' words were still circling in my ears.

"If you ask me, call off this engagement. Who do the Stephenses think they are?"

"Nora, think hard about the Simmons alliance again. There's no need to hang yourself on one tree."

"That's right. That boy is very fond of you, and his parents keep bringing it up with us."

"..."

The phone in my hand suddenly buzzed. Harvey.

I opened it, and the first thing I saw was a set of photos.

A selfie angle, taken by Minnie, and the setting was a bed.

The pictures were a little blurry, but I could make out the back of Harvey's head.

He was holding Minnie, comforting her.

Empty pill bottles were scattered across the nightstand.

So this time it was pills.

Some impulse made me tap on the live photo.

The sound came through, clear as anything.

"Minnie, don't hurt yourself. I'm really scared..."

The next live photo.

"As long as you're okay, I'll do anything."

I didn't watch the rest. It was recalled before I could.

The dialogue box showed him typing, then a single line came through.

"Sent that by mistake. Don't take it to heart."

I stared at that line for a long time, not sure what I was thinking.

Finally, I lifted my head and looked at my parents.

"Mom, Dad, let's go to the Simmons family right now."

2: 2

The car pulled up outside the Simmons mansion, where Colin Simmons and Leona Simmons were already waiting at the door.

They welcomed us in, all smiles.

The dining table was already set with cooked dishes, and a figure stirred in the kitchen and stepped out.

"This was all rather sudden, so we didn't have much to prepare. You'll have to make do."

Simon Simmons untied his apron and looked over at me with a smile.

I froze for a second. I hadn't expected it to be him.

Simon had been a year ahead of me in school, and we hadn't crossed paths much.

After graduation, we'd barely kept in touch.

From what my parents had said before, the Simmons son liked me a great deal.

But I couldn't think of when Simon could possibly have fallen for me.

We sat down at the table, and Simon walked us through the dishes he'd made.

My parents were thrilled, grinning ear to ear.

The flavors were clearly done to my taste.

Especially the lemon shrimp.

Harvey used to say he was allergic to seafood, and to accommodate him, I never once ate seafood with him.

It was only later, sharing a table with Minnie, that I found out.

Even if he didn't eat it, the people who liked it could still order it.

But Harvey had never once asked whether I liked it, whether I wanted to order it.

Let alone peel the shells for me the way Simon was doing now.

By the end of the conversation, both sets of parents were more than satisfied.

Simon's whole attention was on me.

Watching whether I'd eaten enough, noticing which dish I felt too shy to reach for.

It was the most satisfying, most comfortable meal I'd ever had.

"I'd say these two get along just fine. Why don't we move things along a little?"

Leona laid her hand over mine, her eyes warm.

"Nora, would you be interested in going to look at wedding gowns first?"

"I have a friend who runs a bridal salon, and she just got a new shipment in. I've been having her hold it for me!"

My mother jumped right in.

"Go, you absolutely should, and you might as well get the wedding photos done while you're at it!"

I was a little surprised. I hadn't expected them to settle it this fast.

Simon caught my unease and stepped in to smooth things over.

"There's no rush. We'll go by what Nora wants. I'll be ready whenever."

He gave me a gentle smile.

In that moment, without thinking, I turned my hand and closed it around Simon's.

"Let's go. I'd like to try on gowns too."

Before, I'd told Harvey plenty of times that I wanted to find time to look at gowns, to take wedding photos.

But every time, Minnie cut in first.

"There's no rush to get married. Minnie's life is on the line."

"You can't really be so cold-hearted that you'd just leave her, can you?"

So it turned out the one who truly wanted to marry me, who truly kept me in his heart, was someone who couldn't wait a single moment.

So it turned out all those years Harvey and I wasted were a mistake.

With my yes, they were overjoyed.

My mother especially was relieved, feeling I'd finally come to my senses.

Leona was so excited she talked us into going right then, no matter what.

She even dragged her friend, who'd already clocked out, back to open the shop.

Both families drove over to the bridal salon, where the owner pulled out a row of gowns to show and describe.

They even got as far as talking about a date for the photos after the gown was chosen.

I was just about to say it might be too fast.

My phone buzzed again. A message from Harvey.

"Nora, where are you?"

"I'm sorry, it was my fault. I'll redo the engagement party."

"Don't worry, I've already talked it over with Minnie. She won't be so reckless next time."

Watching the messages pop up one after another, I typed just a few words.

"No need."

3: 3

Harvey didn't reply for a long time.

All I saw was the typing dots appearing and disappearing.

At last a single question came through.

"Nora, what do you mean?"

Just then, Leona called me over to try on the gowns.

I switched off my phone and didn't answer.

I tried three of them. The first two were heavy and elaborate.

But I still preferred the third, lighter and easier to move in.

The whole time I was trying on gowns, Simon looked after me down to the smallest thing.

He noticed when I was thirsty and poured me water, and he kept a dry towel in hand to dab the sweat from my skin.

If he sensed I was uncomfortable, he'd call a shop assistant over at once to adjust the dress.

All of it was affection I had never once felt from Harvey.

Once the gown and the suit were settled, we talked it over together and picked next week to shoot the wedding photos.

Everything moved along smoothly. Colin and Leona helped book the venue.

Simon was helping my parents look at suitable formalwear.

Only then did I have a moment to pick up my phone, and I saw that Harvey had called several times because I hadn't answered him.

I scrolled back up through the messages.

"Are you angry? Because of what happened with Minnie today?"

"Nora, I know it makes you uncomfortable, but you can't be so petty."

"Minnie didn't do it on purpose. She just can't control her emotions."

"Don't sulk. It'll upset Minnie if you're like this, and she doesn't want to come between us."

"Minnie already lost me because of you. Do you really want her miserable on top of that, over us fighting?"

I gave a cold laugh, not knowing where Harvey found the nerve to blame me.

Since he was questioning it and wanted another engagement party.

Then I'd give him one.

"Fine. I'll pick a new place. You just show up."

I sent Harvey the time and location where Simon and I were shooting the wedding photos.

Harvey was finally satisfied.

"I knew it. You've always been reasonable."

"I'll bring the ring I had made for you. I said I'd marry you, and I don't go back on my word."

A few minutes later, Harvey added one more line.

"I can't get away these next few days, though. Minnie just got better and needs someone with her."

I switched off my phone and didn't respond.

Because I knew Harvey wouldn't come.

Soon enough, the day of the photo shoot arrived.

Five minutes left before the start time.

And Harvey's last message was still the one from fifteen minutes ago: "Almost there."

The stylist fixed my hair one last time.

The photographer led us to the spot he'd chosen.

"All right, we're starting now!"

"Bride and groom, come a little closer, a little more intimate!"

Simon glanced at me, then carefully slid his arm around my waist to draw me in.

I laughed softly and leaned naturally against his chest.

Simon's breath went ragged all at once, his ears turning red.

The photographer was pleased and clicked the shutter a few quick times.

"Yes, that's it! That's the feeling!"

The shoot with Simon lasted two hours.

At the end the photographer even took a big group photo of both families.

I took off the dress and the headpiece, and finally the shoot was done.

But there was still no message from Harvey on my phone.

He never showed up either.

A pity. I didn't get to see the look on his face.

And Harvey, too, had missed his chance to know the truth.

That evening, both our families had a meal together again.

Only then did Harvey send me a message.

"I'm sorry, Nora. Something came up on my end and held me up."

I typed with no expression.

"Did Minnie try to kill herself again?"

It was a long while before the other side replied, as if he were very busy.

"Don't blame her. This time it was a car accident, and it was really serious."

I raised an eyebrow. I hadn't expected a new trick.

4: 4

I didn't reply after that.

The others had already started discussing which dates would be good for a wedding.

Simon glanced back at me several times to gauge my reaction.

Afraid I'd think it was all too fast, he looked ready to open his mouth and make excuses again.

I gave him a reassuring look.

I wasn't against marrying Simon. I wanted to settle down soon too.

In the end, they agreed on a date ten days out.

I looked at the date.

It was the same day Harvey and I had originally talked about.

Even now, Harvey was still there at Minnie's side, with no idea that I'd changed my mind long ago.

I thought of the promise Harvey had made me.

Wait for him to marry me.

Wait for him to make me his wife.

I had waited and waited. Now it would never happen.

After dinner, we each went our own way home.

Since I had my own place, I took a cab back alone.

When I reached my door, I found two people standing there.

More precisely, one standing and one being held up.

Harvey saw me, and something flickered in his eyes.

"Nora, you're finally back. We've been waiting a long time."

He steadied Minnie and turned her to face me.

"Minnie knows she held us up again, so she insisted I come apologize to you."

"She's got an injured leg and she's still this thoughtful..."

The tenderness in Harvey's eyes was impossible to hide.

I looked down at their tightly laced fingers.

There were rings on Minnie's ring finger and Harvey's both.

I recognized the style at a glance. It was the one Harvey had told me he was having made for me.

I never wore it. Minnie did.

Catching my gaze, Harvey drew his hand back a little.

"Minnie thought it looked interesting, so I let her try it on..."

I couldn't help a small laugh.

"A try-on that fits this perfectly. Looks like you two really are a match made in heaven."

Harvey frowned, put out. "Don't talk like that. You know it's you I'm going to marry."

Minnie pressed her lips together, looking wounded, then spoke up with stubborn resolve.

"Nora, I know you hate me, but Harvey is innocent in all this."

"I want you both to be happy too. I'll be there on your wedding day."

She looked on the verge of tears.

As if I were the one who had stolen the love of her life.

Harvey moved Minnie behind him.

"Nora, don't make things hard for her. We'll be family soon. I still hope you can be generous about this."

I nodded, picked up my phone, and sent Harvey a hotel location.

"The wedding's in ten days. I've sent the location to your phone."

Harvey blinked, not expecting me to actually be so gracious, his face lighting up with delight.

"Nora, I knew you'd understand me. I'll be there on time."

"I'm going to take Minnie back for her medicine now. We'll keep in touch by phone."

But the look on Minnie's face had soured.

She wanted to say something, and Harvey pulled her away by the hand.

Before they left, Minnie shot me a defiant look.

I didn't give either of them a second thought.

I was busy the next several days.

Ten days really was cutting it close, but luckily the Simmons family had prepared a great deal in advance.

Simon took me to buy the diamond ring, and we registered the marriage.

In between, Harvey only found a moment here and there to send me a few messages.

Before long, the wedding day arrived.

At the venue, the bridal photo of Simon and me was posted at the hotel's front doors.

Very sweet.

Guests and relatives took their seats one after another.

The ceremony began, and Simon and I exchanged rings.

That was when Harvey appeared, half an hour late.

He shoved the doors open in his suit and rushed in, his eyes locking straight onto me.

"Nora, what's with the poster at the door?"

"Why is he the groom?!"