The Groom She Left in Ruins

In just a few years, on the back of my resources, the Pierce family's small firm transformed into an industry titan.

I gave him my all, and sometimes it still felt like it wasn't enough.

I never imagined that the moment Sienna reappeared, I would lose so completely.

"You want to call off the wedding? Fine! Now that Sienna's back, I can finally be with the woman I truly love! Audrey Davenport, you brought this on yourself!"

...

He tried to intimidate me with a glare, but I just laughed.

Did he really think I would still be at his beck and call after all this?

Just as he was about to storm off, a call about Sienna cut sharply and urgently through the silence.

"Yes, I'm her partner. What is it?"

Whatever was said on the other end of the line made the color drain from Nolan's face, and he staggered back a few steps.

"Start the treatment! Use the best of everything! I'm on my way!"

After hanging up, his gaze darted toward me, a flash of something that might have been guilt in his eyes.

"Sienna's condition has worsened. She needs an extremely rare Swiss heart surgery slot, and the one you've been holding just opened up. Give it to her!"

I couldn't help but sneer, my words sharp and deliberate. "And why would I do that?"

That surgery slot was incredibly precious. I had pulled countless family strings to reserve it for my mentor.

Did he think I would just hand it over at his command? He was delusional.

Nolan's face paled, but then he let out a cold laugh.

"Audrey, is this all just a ploy to force my hand? Fine. You win. We'll get married after Sienna recovers. Satisfied? Now give me the surgery slot."

He acted as if he were granting me a monumental favor, barely concealing the annoyance in his voice.

Seeing me unmoved, Nolan's voice turned venomous.

"Otherwise, you can walk down that aisle alone tomorrow! Imagine the headlines: Groom Ditches Davenport Heiress at the Altar. Your family will be the laughingstock of New York."

I looked at the wild, self-destructive light in his eyes and scoffed at the absurdity of it all.

Make the Davenport family a laughingstock?

Who the hell did he think he was?

I turned to leave when a text from my assistant buzzed urgently on my phone.

Behind my back, Nolan had already contacted the Swiss clinic in my name. All he needed was the final biometric authorization from my phone.

Nolan cornered me in the parking garage, pinning me against the cold concrete wall.

"Please, authorize it. Sienna can't wait. Can't you just do this one thing for me? The transfer is already in process. Sienna will be so grateful. And that stubborn old mentor of yours… he’s ancient. What difference does one more surgery make at his age?"

I cut him off with a slap, the sound echoing in the garage. He staggered back, clutching his cheek, his eyes wide with shock.

"You hit me? Audrey! You..."

I ignored his sputtering and turned to leave, but he snatched my phone, forcibly grabbed my hand, and pressed my thumb against the screen to approve the authorization.

My phone was ringing nonstop. Just as I was about to turn it off, a new call made me freeze.

I took a deep breath to calm myself.

I answered the call to the teasing voice of venture capitalist Rhys Montgomery.

"Miss Davenport, are you quite sure tomorrow's wedding is still on?"

I sighed wearily. "When it comes to a commitment like marriage, Mr. Montgomery, I don't take it lightly."

"Really?" He clicked his tongue softly. "From where I'm standing, you've been quite fickle about your choice in men for several years now."

I rubbed my temples while waiting at a red light, my voice steady.

"On critical matters, my head is clear. Besides, I need the Montgomery family's financial channels, and you need my tech resources. Our marriage is simply a prudent business decision."

After a brief silence, Rhys's tone turned serious.

"I have no intention of marrying a woman who might run back to her ex at a moment's notice. Imagine the headache of dividing our assets every time that clown has a meltdown and you go running."