On my wedding day, I broke up with my fiancé

On my wedding day,when the officiant turned to my fianc Luke Henson and asked.

Do you take Miss Pruitt to be your wife, to stand by her all your days?

I smiled as I gazed at the man I loved, my heart overflowing with happiness,waiting for him to say those two words .

Just when I thought this was the happiest moment of my life,my fiancs assistant Eva Fox suddenly shouted and came rushing up onto the platform.

"Wait!"

She pulled out her phone, looking up at him, hopefully.

"Mr. Henson,Mr. Henson, our TikTok streak is about to hit thirty days. If we keep sending each other messages today, we'll keep the streak alive. Do you want to?"

The entire hall fell into an uneasy silence, every glance exchanging knowing looks because there wasn't a person there who couldn't hear what she really meant.

I held tight to my fianc's hand and begged him under my breath.

"Luke Henson, don't say 'I do' to her."

Luke brushed my hand away without hesitation.

"Eva's just a girl. Don't embarrass her in front of everyone."

He took out his phone and sent his assistant a heart, his eyes soft with indulgence.

"I do."

The whole hall broke into an uproar, everyone turning toward me waiting to see how the bride would react..

I gripped the hem of my wedding dress so tightly that my fingertips turned numb, forcing myself not to let the tears fall.

On the day I was supposed to hear my fianc promise me forever, I heard him say "I do" to another woman instead.

The assistant let out a delighted cheer and threw herself into his arms, pressing a kiss onto his cheek as if she were the one standing beside him at the altar.

"Thank you, Mr. Henson!"

The sound of her voice, the whispers around me, the mocking looks from the guestseverything blurred together. I could barely feel my own heartbeat anymore.

I stepped down from the platform alone. I didn't cry, I didn't argue, and I didn't ask him for an explanation.

I simply walked away and went to find my fiancs grandma Cheryl Henson.

The moment I saw her, I placed the contract she had once given me in front of her and spoke quietly.

"Cheryl, I won't be renewing the contract to take care of Luke."

Watching Eva's kiss land on Luke's cheek, the whole hall sucked in a sharp breath at once.

The sight struck me like a brutal slap, leaving my mind spinning and my body frozen in place.

I used every last bit of strength just to stay on my feet.

Luke quickly shoved Eva behind him, his eyes turning cold and guarded.

"Nanette Pruitt, Eva has a child's temper, she doesn't know any better. Don't you dare try to bully her."

My nails dug deep into my palms and all I could manage was a bitter smile.

"Luke, in our own wedding vows, you said 'I do' to another woman."

"You tell me. Who exactly is bullying who?"

Eva's eyes welled up instantly as she leaned into his chest.

"I'm sorry. I only wanted to hit thirty days on the streak with Mr. Henson. I didn't mean anything by it."

"Please don't read too much into it, okay? It's my fault. Don't be angry."

In just a few sentences, I became the villain in everyones eyes. The guests stared at me from below the stage, amused, mocking, and waiting for my downfall

The officiant hurried to smooth things over.

"The bride doesn't look well. Let's pause the ceremony for now."

Before I could get a word out, Luke was already guiding Eva toward the guest room backstage.

He handled her so carefully, as if she were some priceless treasure he was terrified of chipping.

I stood there alone on the stage, humiliated like a fool in front of everyone.

It felt like a piece of my heart had been carved out alive, every breath tearing at me.

Three years by his side, and this was the absurd ending it brought me.

In that moment, I knew it was over. I didn't want this marriage anymore.

My legs felt weak as I stepped down from the platform, but I forced myself to keep walking. I didn't want anyone to see me break.

I went straight to the lounge to say goodbye to Cheryl.

The door opened and she pushed herself up on her cane, anxious, gripping my hands tight.

"Sweetheart, I heard what that bastard did."

"You wait right here. I'm going to go beat him, and I'll set this right for you!"

Looking at the pain in her eyes, my nose stung and the tears nearly came out.

But I shook my head hard, my voice thick and rough.

"There's no need. I've already decided. I'm not marrying Luke."

The truth was, I should have made this decision long ago.

Three months ago, Luke hired Eva as his assistant.

When he first mentioned her, he came home complaining that she talked too much, that she was too troublesome, and that she was affecting his work.

But I saw it clearly. The man who was always really strict with subordinates never once showed that irritation toward Eva.

Instead there was a warmth I'd never seen in him before.

A month ago, he started staying on his phone with Eva every night, talking until it was late.

The man who used to only ever pick up the phone for work was now smiling at the screen, his expression gentle and almost tender..

When I couldn't stop myself from asking, he wouldn't spare me a proper glance.

"Eva's just a girl. She wants to keep our streak going every day, so I humor her. That's all."

Just a streak?

Does keeping a streak going take talking until the middle of the night?

I knew something was wrong. I knew the distance between us had started growing.

But I lied to myself. It was just a passing whim of his.

Until today, when he stood at our wedding and said "I do" to Eva, finally forcing me to face the truth I had desperately tried to ignore.

Cheryl looked at my reddened eyes, sighed with an ache, and stroked my hair.

"It's that bastard who doesn't deserve his luck. He isn't good enough for you."

She took a contract out of the drawer and handed it to me.

"This is the contract from back then. You keep it."

I had just reached out to take it when the lounge door was shoved open.

I looked up and saw Luke standing there. His face was dark with anger, and he pointed at me as if I were the one who had done something wrong.

"Nanette, the guests are still waiting."

"I only granted Eva one small wish. Do you really have to throw a fit and walk out, and make the Henson family to be laughed at?"

The moment those words left his mouth, something inside me went cold.

Before I could speak, Cheryl raised her cane and brought it down hard against his leg.

"You bastard, the one making the Henson family a laughingstock is you. Now hurry up and apologize to Nanette!"

Luke winced at the pain and, unwilling to back down, was about to argue.

Then his eyes caught the contract in my hand, before I could react, he stepped forward and snatched it away from me.

The moment he read the contents, his expression twisted with disbelief and fury.

When he saw what it said, his face went livid, and he flung the contract hard into my face.

The sharp edge of the paper cut across my cheek. A thin line of pain spread through my skin, followed by the warmth of blood sliding down my face.

I froze. Not because of the cut, but the look in his eyes.

The man I had loved for three years was looking at me like I was a villian who had deceived him.

"Nanette, so you stayed with me for three years because my grandmother paid you two hundred thousand a year?"

I could see scorn and disgust full of his eyes.

"A woman who stayed by my side for money, and you think you actually think you have the right to be jealous?"

I crouched down and quietly picked up the contract he'd crushed, my fingertips ice-cold.

Three years ago, Cheryl asked me to look after Luke, who was struggling with depression. Yes, we did sign a contract.

But back then Luke and I were complete strangers. I signed a contractI took the money, and in return, I helped him through his treatment. There was nothing shameful about that.

Later the two of us grew close, and we decided to marry.

I'd kept that old contract on purpose, and drawn up a new one,not as a business agreement, but as a promise that I would spend the rest of my life with him.

I'd imagined that today, at the wedding, Cheryl would give it to us as a special gift, a reminder of how our story started with a contract and eventually turned into love.

But now, all of it had become a joke.

I didn't want to explain a single word more.I simply looked at Luke, my voice calm despite the ache in my chest.

"Mr. Henson, you're right. We were in a contract relationship from the start. The contract's over now, so I should go."

With that, I turned and walked toward the door.

"Nanette, you wouldn't dare."

For the first time, panic flashed across Luke's face.

"If you set one foot out that door today, don't ever think about coming back!"

My steps stopped, and and a dull ache slowly spread through my chest..

Luke, the one who had pushed me away, step by step, had always been you.

Lukes mother Maureen Henson leaned against the door frame, and when she saw me stop, she rolled her eyes hard.

"Tsk. Can't bear to leave after all?"

"I said it a long time ago. Marriage has to be between equals."

"An orphan with no parents, clawing her way into the Henson family. What are you after if not the money?Stop pretending you're above it all.."

Ever since she returned, Maureen had never once thought much of me.

She doted on Eva instead, charmed by Evas sweet mouth and flattery, always waiting for the day she could replace me and make Eva her daughter-in-law.

A bitter laugh almost escaped me.

I lowered my eyes, a sneer tugging at my lips.

Where did she find the nerve to say I was after money?

Back when the Henson family was on the brink of bankruptcy, Maureen had made off with every cent in the house and run.

Mr. Henson had carried everything alone, worn himself down until illness took him.

And that was why Luke fell into severe depression.

Cheryl, afraid of setting him off, had never told him the truth about how his mother walked out.

Now that the Henson family had recovered. Maureen had returned after wasting away all the money she had taken, coming back to rely on the family she had abandoned..

The one who truly hungered for money was her.

But none of that was any of my concern anymore.

I stepped around her and walked straight out of the Henson house.

After a night's rest, I went to the hospital first thing the next morning and found the attending physician.

"Dr. Lambert, the two hundred thousand for the treatment has come through. Please, could you schedule my grandmother's last surgery."

Three years ago,Grandmother had been diagnosed with a heart condition . She needed one surgery a year, and the total cost came to six hundred thousand.

My grandmother and Cheryl were close friends. When they were young, my grandmother had once saved Cheryl's life.

When Cheryl found out about her condition, she wanted to simply hand over the money.

But my grandmother was stubborn and flatly refused.

At the time, I was studying psychology at university and had even given up a fully funded graduate opportunity abroad.

For two hundred thousand a year, I stayed to care for Luke and earn my grandmother's surgery money.

I'd planned to take her in for the surgery once the wedding was over. I never imagined it would end up like this.

Dr. Lambert looked troubled. He gazed at me and let out a sigh.

"Miss Pruitt, I'm truly sorry. There's no money left in your grandmother's account."

My mind went completely blank.

"That's not possible. The Hensons wired the money over first thing yesterday. How can it be gone?"

Dr. Lambert lowered his voice.

"This morning, Mr. Henson had someone withdraw the two hundred thousand straight out of the account."

My hands were shaking so badly that it took me several tries to get Luke on the line.

"Luke, why did you move the money out?"

He let out a short, contemptuous laugh.

"Nanette, and here I thought you were so tough."

"Turns out I just had to move the money and you couldn't keep up the act anymore?"

"That's my grandmother's surgery money!"

My voice broke, panic flooding through me.

"What gives you the right to take it?"

"The right?"

He gave a cold snort.

"Thanks to Eva reminding me, yesterday was the last day of the contract."

"You walked away before fulfilling the agreement. You didn't finish the agreement, so that two hundred thousand? You're not getting a cent of it."

A vast absurdity rose up in me.

Even if I didn't marry him,the three years I spent caring for him were real. Curing his depression was real, something I'd actually done.

What gave him the right to treat me like this.

I swallowed the anger burning in my throat, forcing myself to lower my voice , and begged.

"Luke, my grandmother can't wait any longer for the surgery. Please, just give me the money first"

Before I could finish, Eva's coy voice came through the other end.

"Mr. Henson, we're relighting our spark today. Don't waste your time talking to her anymore."

The call cut off.

I called again and again, but all I heard was the cold, mechanical busy tone. Luke had blocked me without hesitation.

I scrambled to my feet, ready to go straight to Cheryl and beg her to help.

A nurse came running.

"Miss Pruitt, it's bad, your grandmother's had a sudden heart attack,the doctors are trying to resuscitate her!"

I rushed into the room, only to see doctors and nurses surrounding the bed, fighting desperately to save her.

Her face was pale, and every breath came with painful effort.

A nurse handed me a phone, her voice choked.

"Someone just sent your grandmother a video and a message. She collapsed the moment she finished watching."

My hands trembled as I took the phone from her.

On the screen was yesterday's wedding footage, and one vicious line of text.

Broke old woman, sending your granddaughter to wait on Mr. Henson, dreaming she can marry into money. Keep dreaming!

My grandmother forced her eyes open, tears sliding down from the corners.

"Nan, I'm sorry, your grandmother was useless, I put you through so much"

My heart shattered at those words.

"No, Grandma..."

I grabbed her hand tightly, shaking my head as tears blurred my vision.

"It's not your fault, it's them, they're the bad ones, you're the best grandmother in the whole world!"

I pressed my face against the edge of the bed, crying so hard that my entire body shook.

"Please, Grandma don't leave me."

"Please, I only have you"

The doctors and nurses fought for her until the very last second. They tried everything they could.

But in the end, the sound I feared the most still came.The long, piercing beep from the monitor cut through the room.

It felt like a knife slicing through the last piece of hope I had left.

My grandmother was gone.

The only person in this world who had never abandoned me was gone.

I didn't know how long I stayed there, holding her hand, unable to accept that I would never hear her call my name again.

Then my phone rang.

"Nanette, since you only got close to me for the money, I'll give you a chance. A hundred thousand a year, and from now on you serve me personally."

"A woman like you, who can't do anything but wait on people, a hundred thousand is already a sky-high price. Don't be ungrateful."

A hundred thousand a year?

For three years, when his depression struck he couldn't sleep a single night, and more than once he tried to kill himself.

I racked my mind to soothe him, sat with him through to daybreak, and pulled him out of the dark inch by inch.

And in the end, in his eyes, I was worth only a hundred thousand a year, fit for nothing but being a servant who waited on people.

My heart had already been broken too many times that day. This time, I felt nothing.

Without a single expression on my face, I blocked Luke's number and deleted all our messages.

Then I picked up my phone and called my university advisor.

"Professor, three years ago I gave up the chance to do my graduate studies abroad. Is it still open to me now?"

There was a brief silence on the other end before his voice filled with surprise and happiness.

"Nan, of course, I've kept your place for you all along."

"I always believed in your talent for psychology. Someone will come to take you to leave tomorrow."

After hanging up, I lowered my head and gently held my grandmother's hand.

But the hand that had held mine my entire life was already cold.

I held back my tears and whispered softly,

"Grandma, we're leaving this place, and we're never coming back."

I carefully gathered my grandmother's ashes and went to see Cheryl one last time.

I didn't tell her my grandmother had died, afraid it would hurt her. I only said we were planning to settle overseas.

I had just stepped out the front door of the Henson house when I ran into the three of themLuke, Eva, and his mother.

Maureen folded her arms and let out a sneer.

"Well, well. You couldn't marry your way into the Henson family, so now you're clinging to the old lady instead?"

Eva had her arm looped through Luke's, and she pretended to counsel me.

"Nanette, Mr. Henson's already giving you a chancea hundred grand a year. Just say yes. Otherwise, how are you going to survive all on your own?"

Luke swept a cold glance over me.

"I know Grandmother's fond of you. Since you can keep her happy, I'll make it two hundred thousand a year. Don't be a fool about it."

I looked at their ugly faces and felt nothing at all. My voice came out flat.

"No need."

Luke gave a cold snort.

"Nanette, my patience has a limit. Throw another tantrum trying to jack up the price and I'll throw you out on the street."

I stared at the three people standing in front of me. Their faces were full of arrogance, contempt, and satisfaction.

Strangely, I felt nothing anymore.My voice was calm,almost emotionless.

"No need."

Luke's expression darkened immediately.

"Nanette, my patience has limits."

"Don't keep putting on this act just to raise the price. If you walk away now, don't blame me when you end up on the streets."

I looked at the man in front of me, the man I had once spent three years trying to save.

And for the first time in my life, I regretted ever pulling him out of that darkness.

Eva's eyes darted around, and she took a step forward.

"Mr. Henson, she's still sore about the wedding day. Let me talk to her."

She leaned in close, the smile on her face remained gentle, but the words she whispered were cruel enough to freeze my blood.

"Nanette, that videoI sent it. That grandmother of yours, the one with the heart condition. Did I manage to scare her to death?"

For a second, the entire world went silent.

My body went cold, and then a wave of rage surged through every inch of me.

She was the one who killed my grandmother!

I swung my hand and slapped her hard across the face.

"You monster,!How dare you!"

Eva immediately covered her cheek and fell into Luke's arms, tears filling her eyes."Mr. Henson, "Mr. Henson I was only trying to help, and she hit me to blow off steam!"

Luke's face darkened at once. Without a second thought, he raised his hand and slapped me back, hard.

The force sent me straight to the ground. A sharp pain spread across my cheek, and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

"Eva was only trying to help you, and you dare to hit her!"

Luke's face was twisted with rage. Before I could even react, he grabbed a fistful of my hair and dragged me toward the basement.

The pain shot through my scalp, but it was nothing compared to the coldness I felt inside.

"I've clearly spoiled you rotten. You can stay down here and think about what you've done!"

His voice was filled with anger, as if I were the one who had betrayed him.

He dragged me down step by step, ignoring the blood at the corner of my mouth.Then the iron door slammed shut behind me.

The heavy sound echoed through the basement before the lock clicked into place.

I stood there in the darkness for a long moment, leaning against the cold wall, slowly forcing myself back onto my feet.

My body hurt everywhere, but my mind had never been clearer.

I saved the recording on my phone. Every word Eva had just said, admitting she'd killed my grandmotherI'd caught all of it.

I held the phone tightly in my hand.So this was what they had done to me.

They took away my grandmother, destroyed my dignity, and thought they could bury the truth along with me in this basement.

They were wrong.

I would make sure every single one of them paid the price.

Just then the iron door swung open.

Two days later, Luke came down to the basement again, working it out in his head.

Two days without food, and Nanette would have given in by now. She had stayed by his side for three years.She cared about him more than anyone.Once he offered her three hundred thousand a year, she would stop being angry and come back.

That was what he believed.

But the moment he opened the basement door, the confidence on his face disappeared.

The basement was empty.

For some reason,his heart lurched and his hands and feet trembled beyond his control.

As if something important had left him for good.

What Luke didn't know was that his depression had never truly healed.

Years ago, his mother's leaving had been one of the things that triggered it.

And my sudden disappearance was like a key, unlocking those buried, painful memories all over again.

Late that night, the villa was dead silent.

Luke lay in bed, turning over and over, unable to sleep. His head ached worse and worse, as if it would split open, and countless painful memories came flooding back.

His father's death, his mother's abandonment, Nanette's leaving...

The depression seized him.

His eyes turned red, he lost control and rushed into the living room, snatched the fruit knife off the table, and pressed it to his own wrist, his gaze crimson with madness.

Eva screamed in fear and hid in the corner, trembling.

But in that moment, Luke suddenly remembered.

Every time he lost control before, it had always been me who came running to him.

She never cared about her own safety. She would gently take the knife away, calm him down, and stay beside him until the darkness passed.

She had been the one person who could reach him when no one else could.

The only person who made him feel like he wasn't drowning alone.

A terrifying realization struck him.

He went searching for Cheryl like a man gone mad, his voice was broken, filled with a fear he had never felt before.

"Grandmother, where's Nanette? Where did she go? Why isn't she back yet?"

"Bring her backI'm willing to marry her!"

Cheryl shook off his hand, her eyes full of disappointment and coldness.

"Nanette left long ago. She's gone abroad for graduate studies, and she's never coming back."

ClangThe fruit knife slipped from Luke's hand and hit the floor.

Luke's face turned pale, as if all the blood had drained from his body.