"Let's postpone getting the marriage license!" Alden Graves blurted out on the very day he and Kaia Domont were slated to officially become husband and wife.

Without so much as a backward glance, he rushed off, spurred by the news that his adopted sister had returned from overseas.

It was in that moment of abandonment that the harsh truth dawned on Kaia. She'd always fancied herself special in Alden's life, but now she saw clearly that she'd never held the prime position in his heart. That place had long been claimed by his adopted sister.

Fighting back the sting of betrayal and hurt, Kaia stood tall and announced firmly, "The marriage license's off, and the engagement is null and void. I'm stepping aside so you can be with her." With those words hanging in the air, she spun around and walked away, her steps steady despite the turmoil within.

As expected, the onlookers were quick to judge. They smirked and whispered among themselves, convinced that Kaia was merely playing the age-old game of hard-to-get. They were certain she'd soon slink back to Alden, groveling for forgiveness just as she'd done countless times before.

But life had a surprise in store. At an opulent banquet, where the rich and powerful gathered to mingle, Lucien Graves, the formidable and influential head of the Graves Group, casually pulled Kaia close, his arm resting possessively on her shoulders.

Right in the presence of a stunned Alden, he drawled with a hint of mockery, "Hey, nephew, meet your aunt. Aren't you gonna be polite and say hi?"