After they left, I carried my grocery bag to the much larger house across from the small cabin.

Inside, a man was in the middle of a video conference.

When he saw me, he hit the mute button and smilingly took the bag from my hands.

"I told you to wait for me to finish so we could go together. Are you tired?"

I shook my head and followed him into the kitchen.

"I went to the market to shoot some footage. You cook. It's a fair trade."

The man stopped walking so suddenly that I bumped right into him.

He turned, bent down, and gently pinched my nose.

"You little rascal. When have you ever cooked a meal in this house?"

"I heard a lot of noise outside earlier. What happened?"

Thinking about what just happened, I pouted.

"Vincent Moretti showed up. He said he was here to take me back to Chicago. I taught him a little lesson."

The man's brow furrowed. "That boy, Vincent... it's good you taught him a lesson. He needs to be brought down a peg."

I looked at him, raising an eyebrow.

That's it?

He smiled slightly, then suddenly swept me up into his arms and carried me toward the bedroom.

"I know all about your past with him. I admit, I'm a little jealous. But you're with me now, and that's all that matters."

His lips were already closing in on mine.

His kiss was fiery and passionate, melting me bit by bit until I was completely lost in it.

The next time I saw Vincent was a month later.

It was at Emilia's engagement party.

She's my best friend, and she flew all the way from Chicago to Montana just to invite me.

I couldn't say no to her pleading.

Seeing Vincent and Isabella at the party wasn't a surprise.

The moment Emilia saw them, she became like a mother hen, pulling me behind her while she sent her fiancé, Marco, to deal with them.

Marco was not only her fiancé but also part of Vincent's circle.

She pulled me into a quiet corner.

"Vivian, I'm so sorry. I completely forgot they would be here."

I smiled and shook my head.

I grew up in the Moretti household; our social circles overlapped a lot.

It was perfectly normal for them to be here.

"It's okay, I stopped caring a long time ago," I reassured her. "After all, I'm a married woman now."

Emilia's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're married? When did this happen? How come I didn't know!"

"Six months ago."

Emilia stared at me for a long moment, then suddenly broke into a wide grin.

"You sneaky girl, I knew it! You're too good to be hung up on an asshole like Vincent."

"This is how it should be! We don't want a man like Vincent Moretti!"

As she laughed, her eyes suddenly filled with tears.

I knew she was happy for me.

When Isabella first appeared, Emilia had tried to warn me.

But I couldn't let go.

I was determined to crash into that wall, no matter how much it hurt.

Now, I've finally moved on.

After wiping her tears, she shot me a playful glare. "So, why didn't you bring your husband for me to meet? Am I not your best friend anymore?"

"He's out of town on business," I said with an apologetic smile. "He won't be back until later tonight."

"Next time, I'll bring him along and we can all have dinner together."

Emilia nodded, satisfied.

Suddenly, she grabbed my hand, led me to the center of the room, picked up a microphone, and got everyone's attention.

With a brilliant smile, she announced, "Everyone, I have some more good news to share today!"

She pulled me to her side and introduced me with a flourish.

"This is my best friend, Vivian Hayes. And she's married! Let's all congratulate her!"

Her words were met with dead silence.

Almost everyone at this party was from our circle in Chicago.

Many of them knew that the fiancée of the Moretti family heir, Vincent Moretti, was named Vivian Hayes.

But they had never heard about Vincent getting married.

Emilia, loving the drama, looked around and asked with a grin, "What's wrong? Aren't you happy for my best friend?"

Everyone snapped out of it and quickly offered their congratulations.

"Of course, we're happy, so happy!"

"Congratulations! We wish you all the best!"

...

Amid the chorus of well-wishes, I just smiled and nodded.

That's when Isabella walked up to me.

She was holding a glass of champagne, her face a mask of concern.

"Vivian, you've been in Montana all this time. Getting married so suddenly... have you been tricked by some ill-intentioned country folk? I know you're still mad at Vincent for sending you away, but he was only doing it for your own good."

"You're young. Please don't do something rash out of spite. Marriage is a serious commitment; you need to think it through."

"Isabella, are you always this nosy? Even if I married a pig, it would be none of your damn business."

I cut her off.

I really hated her.

She clearly despised me but always had to put on this saintly act, pretending to care.

It was the same back at the Moretti estate.

She played that part so well that I slowly became the outcast of the family.

And she became the kind, considerate woman everyone praised.

I've seen this act too many times. It's just disgusting.

Being interrupted, Isabella's eyes immediately welled up with tears.

And right on cue, Vincent walked over.