Part 1The Echoes of a Shattered Seven-Year Love

I dated Liam Carter for seven years, until his first love, Serena Sterling, returned.

When the earthquake hit, the chandelier came crashing down, and without a second of hesitation, he dove to save her first.

I was hit, losing my memory. When I woke up, I looked at him and asked, "Who are you?"

He looked at me and said, "I'm your brother."

I glanced at the guy standing next to him—his best friend—and told him: "Since you're my brother, you have to help me pursue Julian Hayes."

He thought I was just playing hard to get, so he agreed.

Until I pursued Julian all the way to the altar.

Liam crashed the wedding reception like a rabid dog.

I looked at him and said, "Brother, did you come to attend my wedding?"

A wave of overwhelming grief washed over him, and he closed his eyes in agony.

"Don't call me brother. I'm not your brother. Aria, you belong to me. I forbid you from marrying anyone else."

* * *

Liam broke his promise to accompany me to the awards ceremony.

I was initially very disappointed, but thankfully, he called and told me to meet him at The Golden Lounge for a gathering.

I thought he was throwing a celebration party for me. After all, I had just won the Best Actress award I had been dreaming of for years that night.

It wasn't until I arrived that I realized the party had absolutely nothing to do with me.

It was a welcome-home party for Serena Sterling.

She immediately came over and hugged me. "Aria, long time no see."

I nodded politely, pushed her away gently, and shifted my gaze to the man sitting on the sofa. I asked, "So, why did you break your promise today?"

He paused mid-smoke, flicked his ash, and said nonchalantly, "Serena hasn't been back in seven years. I just went to pick her up from the airport. Doesn't the awards ceremony happen every year?"

So, his broken promise was just to pick up Serena from the airport.

A bitter mix of resentment and sorrow spread through my chest.

Yes, the awards ceremony happens every year, but it took me seven years to finally hold that trophy.

I wanted to share my joy with him the moment I received it. But the second I held the trophy in my hands...

I searched the bustling crowd for his face, only to find him nowhere in sight.

Do you know how disappointed I was?

He didn't care at all.

On the scale in his heart, would I always weigh less than Serena Sterling?

Even though I was the one who had stayed by his side for the past seven years.