At the height of my career, I stepped away from the research world and married my fianc, Leland LaVeau.
But right when everything was at its sweetest, I found out he had a childhood sweetheart he absolutely hateda girl he grew up with.
She used to rip up his love letters, change his college applications behind his back, and even take private photos to ruin his reputation.
Every time those things came up, Leland would grit his teeth, like he wished she would disappear forever.
But on the day of our first wedding, when she deliberately slashed her wrist at the venue, the usually calm and composed Leland went pale. His eyes reddened, and without a second of hesitation, he left me standing there and scooped her up to rush her to the hospital.
The second time, she drugged herself with an aphrodisiac, ran straight to the wildest bar in the city, and forced Leland to detox her with his own body.
And there I was again, alone on the lawn, standing in the pouring rain for an entire day, ending up the biggest joke in our circle.
This circus went on ninety-eight times. And every single time, Leland enabled her.
Every single time, hed promise, Next time, Ill give you the perfect wedding you deserve.
But then, the night before the ninety-ninth wedding attempt, I overheard his childhood sweetheart confronting him outside the study.
Drop the act, Leland. You think I dont know? You got close to Charmaine just so her mother would donate her heart to me! You even staged that accident. You ran her mother over on purpose!
Then her voice grew more frantic.
After all these years, are you really still not willing to admit it? That the person youve loved has always been me?
Just as she turned to leave, Leland suddenly grabbed her and pulled her into his arms.
His breath was hot, thick with years of suppressed longing.
I admit it, he said. From the very start, youre the only one Ive ever loved.
Tears streamed down my face. But I didnt confront them.
Instead, I quietly left, went back to my room, and dialed my senior, Galen Morroway.
You told me before about that research project that requires wiping my identity and living on a closed island for five years, I said. Im joining. See you in a week.

After I found out that Leland, my long-time fianc, killed my mother for the sake of his childhood sweetheart, I didnt hesitate for a second. I called Galen, who had been trying to recruit me for ages.
Galen, that Lone Star Project you kept inviting me to join Im saying yes now.
On the other end of the line, his voice clearly perked up, but he still reminded me, This experiment is strictly confidential to the outside world. Youll have to erase your identity, and the base is on a completely isolated island. According to the agreement, you wont be allowed to leave for five years. Are you sure you want to join?
I didnt even think. Im sure, I confirmed immediately.
Alright. Then wait seven days. Ill send someone to pick you up.
I nodded lightly. Mm. See you in a week.
The moment I hung up, my body just gave out and I collapsed onto the floor. As all the memories of the past years with Leland resurfaced, I felt like the punchline of a very cruel joke.
Back then, I was the rising star of Earth Sciences, a prodigy in the research world, yet I chose to retire at my peak.
All because Leland filled the entire Santa Barbara coastline with 9.99 million crystal roses and proposed to me.
It was also the first time I learned from Lelands friends that he had a childhood sweetheart he grew up with but basically hatedShanna Auclair.
She used to tear up all the love letters in his drawer, force-kiss him in front of girls who had a crush on him to scare off anyone else in school who wanted to confess.
During the SAT applications, she even secretly changed his choices to match hers, causing him to miss out on the university hed dreamed of for years.
The most outrageous thing she ever did was when she drugged him, took intimate photos of the two of them, and spread them everywhere in their circle, completely ruining his reputation.
After the scandal broke, her parents immediately sent that troublemaker daughter of theirs abroad to hide until things cooled down.
When I found out, I couldnt hold back my frustration. I went straight to confront Leland.
But the moment he heard Shannas name, he showed pure disgust and disdain.
Just hearing her name ruins my day, he said. Good thing that vicious woman left the country. If she knew we were about to get married, who knows what shed pull on me.
Seeing my uneasiness, he pulled me into his arms and kissed me gently to reassure me.
Babe, dont listen to peoples nonsense. All that crap is in the past. I only have you in my heart now, he reassured me. Were getting married soon. From now on, theres no place for her in my life.
Hearing his explanations again and again, I finally settled down.