Wed the Stranger, Break the Lover

Chapter 1

Daisy had been locked away in a mental hospital by the very man she had loved most .

Desmond's gaze was sharp, cutting, almost.

"When you learn to behave and stop hurting Heather, I'll let you out."

Eventually, Daisy did fall silent. She gave in completely, but it wasn't Desmond she gave in to.

It was another man's arms that finally held her together.

The once-proud heir of the Thomas family now knelt in the dust, begging for even the smallest glance from the woman who had walked away.

"Miss Johnson, our wedding's next month," the man said gently.

"I hope you'll be on time."

When he left, Daisy Johnson just stood there, staring blankly at the marriage certificate in her hand.

If anyone had told her she'd one day marry a complete stranger, someone she'd known for barely ten minutes, she would've laughed it off as the most ridiculous thing in the world.

Because her heart had always belonged to one man.

Desmond Thomas.

The boy she'd grown up with. The man she thought she'd spend forever with.

And yet, here she was, living in a reality that felt like a dream gone wrong.

She forced herself to take a slow, steady step down the courthouse stairs.

Today was supposed to be her wedding day.

She should've been wearing white. She should've been beside Desmond.

But instead, he'd left her, again, for another woman.

And she'd become a joke, the punchline of every whispered conversation in their social circle.

This wasn't the first time, either.

Three times now, she'd been left at the altar.

At this point, why not just marry someone else?

From nearby, the cheerful chatter of couples echoed in her ears.

"Hey, isn't that Daisy?"

"She's here to register her marriage? Then that guy must've been President Thomas!"

"He waited five years and finally got the girl, what a love story. I'm so jealous!"

"First spoiled by her parents, now adored by her husband. Daisy must be the luckiest woman alive!"

The luckiest woman alive?

Daisy's lips curled into a bitter smile.

Once, maybe.

Once, she had been her parents' little princess.

Once, she had been Desmond's whole world, the girl he'd sworn to marry since they were kids.

Three years ago, she was in a car accident that left her in a coma.

Her father set up a charity fund, praying good karma might bring her back.

Her mother traveled from church to church, praying on bruised knees and aching legs.

Desmond had flown in top neurosurgeons from around the world just to save her.

But now?

All three of them, her father, her mother, and the man she loved, had poured all their affection into someone else.

A sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled up beside her.

The window rolled down, revealing Desmond's familiar face, still gentle, still devastatingly handsome.

"Daisy? What are you doing here?" he asked, eyes flicking to the courthouse behind her. His brows knit slightly.

"You… you didn't come to City Hall, did you?"

Daisy's grip tightened on the certificate. She tucked it behind her back, face unreadable as her gaze drifted to the woman sitting beside him.

Heather.

"I was just passing by," Daisy replied coolly.

Desmond's concern faded almost instantly. Of course she wasn't getting married, who could she possibly marry but him?

A flash of guilt crossed his face. The memory of abandoning her on what should've been their wedding day clawed at his conscience.

"Daisy, I… I'm sorry, "

But he didn't get to finish.

A faint whimper of pain came from the passenger seat.

Desmond's attention snapped to Heather. All apologies forgotten, he turned to start the engine.

"Heather's not feeling well. I need to get her to the hospital."

He glanced at Daisy one last time.

"Be careful on your way home."

And just like that, he was gone.

The Rolls sped off, ribbons fluttering in the wind, ribbons meant for their wedding car.

Only, now, it carried someone else.

Daisy stood frozen. Her eyes were empty, her heart strangely still as she watched the car disappear.

The little ceramic bride and groom ornament on the hood, once a sweet symbol of love, now felt like a cruel joke.

She thought she'd grown numb.

But the pain still found its way in, wrapping tight around her chest, leaving her breathless.