Ch. Why Love Again Ch 1 Why Love Again Ch 1

Why Love Again 

Chapter One 

Fifty–five days. That’s how long it had been 

since my fiancé ghosted me. So, I called off 

the wedding. The one I’d been dreaming 

about for eight years. 

He was off in some Buddhist retreat, playing 

Florence Nightingale to his childhood 

sweetheart, Willow, who was supposedly 

battling depression. 

He even managed to get the Evergreen 

Temple, usually bustling with tourists, shut 

down for six whole months! 

Meanwhile, I was being hounded by reporters, 

thanks to his vanishing act. I was practically 

< 

Desperate, I drove up to Evergreen Temple, 

hoping to get some answers. 

He had his security guards escort me down 

the mountain, claiming my presence would 

disturb the serenity. 

It was the dead of winter. I collapsed at the 

foot of the mountain. Almost died. 

When I woke up, I saw him, Connor, 

personally planting acres of roses. Right there 

in the middle of the supposedly sacred 

grounds. Roses, the symbol of freakin‘ love. 

Six months later, he finally came down from 

his mountain, with Willow in tow. 

He filled our apartment, our supposed–to–be 

marital home, with the roses they’d planted. 

< 

I just stood there, watching him. Coldly. 

He had no idea I was about to get married to 

someone else. 

I was at Tiffany’s, picking out wedding bands, 

when I saw him. Connor. After half a year. 

The saleswoman was gushing about the rock 

on my finger, but I didn’t hear a word she 

said. 

I just stared at him, dazed. 

Connor noticed my ring. He walked over. His 

expression was…detached. 

“What are you doing here alone? I was 

< 

Yeah, right. My eyes landed on the Tiffany’s 

bag he was carrying. A diamond necklace. 

Not for me. 

For Willow. 

I’d overheard Willow batting her eyelashes at 

him yesterday. Said she wanted a diamond 

necklace for her birthday. 

And Connor, of course, was already making it 

happen. 

Anything for Willow. 

Me? I just wanted a wedding. Waited eight 

years for one. Never got it. 

So this time. Connor. I wasn’t going to wait 

く 

I subtly stepped away from him. I quietly 

slipped off my ring and asked the clerk to 

wrap it up. 

Connor instantly pulled out his credit card, 

ready to pay. 

Before I could correct the sales clerk, I 

caught sight of the prayer beads on his wrist. 

Willow posted a series of pictures when she 

officially announced her return to acting 

yesterday. One of the pictures was of the 

prayer beads. 

The prayer beads did not match the rest of 

the pictures. 

Some internet sleuth figured out they were 

unique to Evergreen Temple. 

L 

And suddenly, the shut–down of Evergreen 

Temple and the identity of the prayer bead 

owner were trending. 

Some paparazzi even got video footage of 

Connor and Willow coming down the 

mountain. 

You couldn’t see Connor’s face, but the 

– 

tailored suit and the license plate — all nines 

– 

gave it away. 

Everyone was congratulating her on landing a 

rich husband. 

I was a freakin‘ joke. 

I snapped back to reality. I stopped the 

saleswoman from swiping his card. 

く 

“Don’t worry, I was just trying it on. I’m not 

buying it.” 

Connor was staring at his phone, distracted. 

“Buy it. I have time this afternoon. We can go 

get our marriage license.” 

Marriage license? 

To him, our marriage was just a box to be 

checked. 

I didn’t want that kind of “love” anymore. 

I didn’t answer him. I walked out of the store. 

Connor followed. He seemed annoyed by my 

behavior. 

“Are vou mad about Willow again?”