Seeing Isadora sobbing uncontrobly, everyone assumed she must''ve been badly hurt in the ident.


    Someone rushed over, anxious. "Are you alright? Did you get hurt somewhere?"


    Isadora had scraped her leg; blood trickled down her shin. But what stung far more was the future she saw slipping away into darkness.


    She just kept crying, her voice breaking. "My college... It''s gone. I lost it all."


    Later, to make up for hitting her, Magnus promised he''d rece her lost college eptance letter.


    Isadora didn''t believe him. Who would?


    But the next day, to her utter shock, the dean of the most prestigious university in the city arrived in person, letter in hand.


    In that instant, Magnus—and that eptance letter-became the salvation of Isadora''s seventeen-year-old life.


    A yearter, she started college. While working a part-time job, she ran into Magnus again.


    Isadora had never chased after anyone before. If you could even call it "chasing?—it was more like offering her heart, raw and sincere, to the boy she''d fallen for at seventeen.


    Until one day-


    Magnus pulled up in his Rolls-Royce, finally stopping right in front of her.


    The tinted window rolled down, revealing his cool, distant face.


    "You wait here for me every day? What for?"


    Isadora blushed. "I-I don''t mean anything by it. I just wanted to see you."


    "You like me?"


    "... Yeah."


    Her answer was barely a whisper, trembling with hope.


    Magnus studied her for a long moment before asking, "How long do you think you''ll like me?"


    Isadora looked up, meeting his deep, unreadable eyes.


    "Forever."


    She shook away the memories.


    "People grow up, Magnus. For five years, I''ve loved you with everything I have. I gave this rtionship my whole heart."


    "And you? You just take my promise for granted. You assume I''ll always be waiting in the wings for you. In your eyes, my love must be worthless-how else could you hurt me so easily, so carelessly?"


    Her voice shook-not just because of the man in front of her, but because remembering five years of heartbreak and effort brought the sting of tears to her


    eyes.


    Magnus''s brow furrowed, irritation flickering across his face.


    He''d already promised to make her Mrs. Wainwright. What more could she possibly want?


    Just because he didn''t reply to every message? Because he didn''t always pay attention to her feelings? Because he spent certain special days looking after Elise?


    She''d start a fight over the smallest things.


    Magnus had no desire to argue again tonight. There was no point. Every time they fought, it ended the same way: harsh words, cold silences, both of them nursing fresh wounds.


    Forcing himself to hold back his frustration, he said, "Isadora, fine, fine—it''s all my fault, okay? Let''s just go and try on the wedding dresses today, alright?"


    Isadora watched him, her emotions-anger, disappointment, longing-suddenly doused by a bucket of ice water.


    She no longer cared to press him the way she used to.


    Oh? So it''s all your fault? Do you even know what for?


    If Magnus insisted on going to the dress fitting, fine. They''d go.


    But he''d better not regret it.


    Isadora and Magnus got into the car.


    They sat apart, separated by the center console, saying nothing the whole way.


    Isadora gazed out the window, not sparing Magnus a single nce.


    Magnus sat in the back, tugging at his tie, jaw tight, brow furrowed, face set in stone.


    They''d been together five years. Isadora knew him inside out. This was his impatient mood.


    But she wasn''t about tofort him-not this time.


    She was in no mood to y peacemaker. The way things were going, she''d probably just end up angrier anyway.