Chapter 1Victoria Montgomery was the darling of Manhattan's Upper East Side—flawless on the dance floor, brilliant on the piano, an artist, and a natural at working any room.
But after we got together, she turned into a stay-at-home wife.
Running herself ragged with housework.
Everyone said I'd landed the perfect "rich-girl head-over-heels-in-love" type.
But I'd already seen her texts with her best friend:
"Your first love, Sebastian Vaughn, is coming back."
"I know. I'll break up with Lucas Grant as soon as I can."
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At our college reunion, I was holding a wine glass in one hand and chopsticks in the other when Victoria peeled a shrimp and dropped it into my bowl.
This was the same spoiled princess who had never taken care of anyone in her life.
But with me, she'd broken every old habit.
At first, her friends thought she was just "playing" the perfect wife for a while.
But after three years together, she only grew softer, sweeter, more devoted—shocking everyone who knew her.
A classmate clinked glasses with me, smirking.
"Lucas, Victoria treats you like gold."
At that, Victoria glanced up at me and smiled—a warm, dreamy look in those perfect eyes, like I was the only man in the world.
And yet all I felt was a tight ache in my chest.
I forced a faint smile, tossed back the wine in one gulp, and went back to eating—never touching the shrimp.
Drink after drink came my way until I was slouched in my chair, woozy but still gripping my glass.
Victoria plucked it from my hand and turned to the group with that polite society smile of hers.
"Lucas is a little drunk. I'll drink for him."
The table erupted with teasing.
"Lucas, man, you hit the jackpot! She peels your shrimp and drinks for you?"
"Your wife loves you to death, dude."
Love me?
My eyes struggled to stay open.
The chandelier blurred overhead, and then her figure came into view.
Cool fingers brushed my cheek.
Her voice was soft, almost musical.
"Don't fall asleep yet—we still have to get home."
She was all tenderness.
Nothing like the icy goddess everyone else knew.
This… this was her loving me.
But if she truly loved me, why was her first reaction—when she heard her first love was coming back—to throw me away?
Chapter 2
Everyone knew Victoria loved me.
Before we were together, she was everything—ballroom, piano, painting, society events.
After we got together, she gave it all up, happily becoming the woman behind the man.
I didn't like her dressing too revealing, so she quit dance altogether.
Even her wardrobe changed.
If she met a new guy through work or friends, she'd text me immediately.
She didn't keep a single male contact in her phone—all so I wouldn't feel jealous.
Once, at a charity gala, some trust-fund jerk laughed in my face.
"A man who rides his woman's coattails? Pathetic."
Victoria's smile vanished.
She had him escorted out and pulled every dime of investment from his family's company.
Even when he begged me for mercy later, she just glanced at me and said, "I'll do whatever Lucas wants."
She even went to her father, asking him to give me a position in his company and cut me in on some shares—just so people would stop mocking me.
As my career took off, she faded completely into the background.
Only then did people realize—Victoria wasn't playing some rich-girl game.
She genuinely loved me.
She was the Upper East Side's prized princess.
I was just a broke college kid.
The first time I met her parents, her father eyed me with pure disapproval.
Victoria didn't even flinch.
"Dad, Lucas is the man I'm going to marry. He's my forever."
Only then did William Montgomery relax.
After that, he threw his weight behind me completely.
I was grateful.
I was moved.
I thought Victoria's love for me was unshakable.
On my birthday, she pulled off an elaborate surprise.
Looking right into my stunned face, she said,
"Lucas, I love you so, so much."
I hugged her so tightly I wished I could absorb her into my bones.
She was my light—guiding me forward.
But now… that light is shining on someone else.
"They say Sebastian's back in New York."
"I know. I'll break up with Lucas Grant soon."
The moment I saw those texts, I staggered back, my chest hollow.
Victoria came out of the bathroom, slipping her arms around my waist.
"What's wrong?"
I shook my head. Couldn't get a word out.
It felt like someone had carved me open.
She searched my face, concern written all over her.
"Lucas, you look pale. Tell me what's going on."
Her hand tightened around mine.
"We're supposed to be each other's person. Always."
Chapter 3
By the time the reunion wrapped up, it was already past 1 a.m.
Victoria and I went back home.
She made me a bowl of hangover soup, propped me up on the couch, and waited until I finished before speaking.
"Lucas, I have to go out tomorrow. I'll have Ms. Rodriguez bring lunch to your office."
I nodded, swallowing the bitterness, forcing a small laugh.
"Sure."
She hesitated, then kissed my forehead.
"I'll be back the day after tomorrow."
"Be careful while I'm gone—don't cut yourself, watch for traffic when you go out…"
She went on and on until I finally cut her off.
"And what if I can't promise all that? Do you really have to go tomorrow, Victoria?"
Her eyes flickered with conflict.
After a long pause, she shook her head, biting her lip.
"I can't skip it, Lucas. It's a really important meeting."
I searched her face for… something.
But there was nothing to see.
She probably forgot.
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.
Every year before, she'd stay home waiting for me.
We'd have a candlelit dinner, exchange gifts.
After a long silence, I rasped out,
"Just… be careful on the road."
Her face lit up. She leaned in, kissed me quickly.
"Lucas, you're the best. You know I adore you."
The next morning, she was up before sunrise.
I watched her bustling around, and the moment she left, I grabbed my car keys and followed her.
She went straight to JFK.
The terminal was crowded.
I stayed a few yards behind her.
She never once looked back, eyes locked straight ahead, like she was waiting for someone.
And then—a tall, slim figure emerged from the arrivals gate.
Victoria lit up.
She ran straight into his arms, wrapped herself around his waist, buried her face in his chest, smiling like the world had just been made perfect.
The man wore a mask, but I knew exactly who he was.
Sebastian Vaughn.
Victoria's one that got away.
