Chapter 1 Standing Her Up at the City Hall? She Won't Marry Him![Gavin, I've landed. I'll be at the city hall in half an hour.]
A faint smile touched Violet Miller's lips as she pressed send on her phone.
Today was the day she and Gavin Braxton were supposed to get their marriage license.
Exactly five years had passed since they started dating in college, got engaged, and now, were scheduled to officially register their marriage.
She leaned back in the seat, the morning light softening her delicate features.
The taxi driver glanced at her smiling reflection in the rearview mirror and joked, "Hey miss, heading straight to the city hall to get hitched right after getting off the plane?"
"Yeah. Today's my lucky day. I made the appointment half a month ago," Violet explained with a smile.
The driver chuckled, "You young folks really care about your rituals. My daughter made an appointment for tomorrow!"
"Congratulations."
"Same to you!"
Yet, even after Violet got out of the cab, she hadn't received a reply from Gavin.
Her lips puckered in a slight pout as she dialed his number.
The phone rang for a long time before it was finally answered.
His voice was flat, unreadable. "Yeah? What is it?"
Violet's grip on the phone tightened. "Gavin, where are you? I'm at the city hall already. I just got our number, we're about—"
He cut her off abruptly. "Violet, I can't make it right now."
Her throat constricted. "What? But we agreed to do this today."
"Yeah, something came up. We can do it another day. The date doesn't really matter."
How could it not matter? She'd worked hard to get this specific appointment half a month ago!
"Gavin, are you on the phone? Everyone's waiting downstairs at the hotel for us to go for a coffee."
Violet's heart plummeted.
That was Luna Thorne's voice.
Luna, the girl who had been adopted by the Braxton family for eighteen years, was back?
Violet's fingers turned white around the phone, but before she could ask anything, the call was ruthlessly disconnected.
He'd told her he was tired and went to sleep early last night. Was he actually up all night with another woman?
A moment later, a text message popped up.
[Violet, was that you on the phone with Gavin just now? I just got back to the country. He threw me a welcome party last night, and we drank too much so he didn't go home. Please don't misunderstand.]
[We're having a coffee. Do you want to join us?]
Something heavy seemed to clog Violet's chest, making it hard to breathe.
She immediately sent a reply: [Give me the address. I'm on my way.]
*****
Outside Moonlight Café, Violet heard familiar voices from within.
"Gavin, isn't today the day you and your fiancée were going to get the license?"
"Heh, I heard she booked the appointment half a month ago just to register with you today."
Someone couldn't help but ask, "What's so special about today?"
"It's her lucky day."
"Tch, everyone knows Gavin doesn't love her. His heart has always only belonged to Luna."
Luna feigned shyness, lowering her head. "Stop talking nonsense. Gavin is like a brother to me."
Outside the door, Violet's face lost all color. She wanted to hear how the man she cared about most would respond.
The door to the café was slightly ajar.
She stood quietly outside, peering through the crack. She saw the man lounging lazily in his chair, his arm draped familiarly over the back of Luna's chair.
From behind, it looked intimately like he was holding the person he loved most.
His magnetic voice sounded slowly. "Luna, do you really only see me as a brother?"
"Gavin." The woman's voice hesitated. "Are you really not going to the city hall with your fiancée today?"
"Yeah, there is no fiancée anymore."
Gavin had noticed the woman beside him trembling slightly when others teased them.
His voice, low and mellow, reached her ears. "Luna, no one is more important than you."
This deep confession instantly caused an uproar in the room.
Only Violet outside the door felt a dull, aching pain in her heart.
So, she had never been able to melt this man's frozen heart.
She had always been his second choice. No matter how hard she tried, she could never be his number one.
Violet felt ridiculous, pathetic, and laughable.
Someone who had just gone out paused in surprise upon seeing Violet by the door.
"Uh, Violet, you're here too. Aren't you coming in?"
The door to the café was pushed open abruptly, and everyone inside noticed the pale-faced woman by the door without exception.
After a moment of frozen silence, someone spoke up to smooth things over.
"Uh, Violet's here! Would you like a coffee? Come in, join us!"
Gavin retracted his arm from the back of Luna's chair, his brow slightly furrowed. "What are you doing here?"
Violet took a deep breath and walked slowly closer. "Gavin, can't I be here?"
Luna immediately made to get up and offer her seat. "Violet, you're here! Come, sit, I saved you a spot!"
"Luna, don't move." Gavin pressed down on the woman's shoulder.
Violet's heart was pierced anew by his action.
"Yes, don't bother. I'm not here for coffee."
Gavin's voice turned low. "Violet, what exactly are you trying to do today? Didn't we agree to reschedule for another day?"
A mocking smile tugged at Violet's lips. "We're not rescheduling."
"What?" Gavin hadn't quite heard her clearly.
She took a deep breath and smiled brightly, "I said, we're not getting the license."
"You said it yourself, there is no fiancée anymore. Our engagement is off. I'll step aside."
Hearing this, Gavin was momentarily stunned.
He widened his eyes abruptly, his voice urgent. "What did you say?"
"I said, since she's so important, consider today's city hall appointment my wedding gift to you."
With that, Violet threw the tightly clutched queue number slip onto the ground.
"Violet Miller!" Gavin said her name through gritted teeth, a low warning. "Luna just got back. Can't we talk about this later?"
Someone sneered lightly, "As if she'd really call it off! Everyone knows she's crazy about Gavin! Hmph! If his grandpa hadn't objected, it wouldn't even be her turn to put on this act here."
Luna, feeling smug internally, panicked outwardly. "Violet, don't listen to their nonsense! Gavin and I are like siblings!"
Violet had heard the word "siblings" countless times.
But what kind of brother would skip his own marriage registration appointment for his "sister's" welcome party?
Violet's smile was profoundly sarcastic. "Heh, what a 'brother'. More like a 'lover,' right?"
A vein throbbed at Gavin's temple, anger coloring his features. "Enough! Violet, apologize to Luna right now!"
Violet raised three fingers. "I, Violet Miller, swear to God I will absolutely not register my marriage with Gavin Braxton. If I break this oath, may Gavin Braxton never have an heir!"
Chapter 2 I Can Go, But the Appearance Fee Needs to Be Paid Now
After dropping that bombshell, Violet turned and left, leaving the people in the private room staring at each other in awkward silence.
Someone chuckled awkwardly, "Heh, Violet sure knows how to joke."
"Don't be angry, Gavin. Just sweet-talk her a little another day, she'll probably be fine."
Someone else snorted disdainfully, "Sweet-talk? Why should he? Gavin, you absolutely must not spoil a woman. If you spoil them, they become hard to manage."
"Shut up!" Gavin's face was like ice. He was irritated listening to them chatter on.
Luna's heart tightened.
Since when did Gavin start defending that woman?
Had she started to replace her in the years she was gone?
Luna bit her lip, her voice soft and gentle. "Gavin, if you're worried Violet is angry, I can go apologize to her, okay?"
She poked his waist with her finger, her tone carrying a hint of a whine. "Don't be angry. Look, you've scared everyone."
When they were kids, she loved poking his waist under the table. Every time she did, Gavin would soften.
Sure enough, the stern lines on Gavin's brow relaxed slightly. "I'm not angry. Luna, I would never be angry with you because of someone else."
Luna sweetly lowered her gaze, her cheeks slightly flushed. "I feel the same, Gavin."
Everyone teased them, and the gloom brought by Violet's appearance instantly dissipated.
*****
Violet went straight to the marital home she shared with Gavin. This house was a wedding gift from Gavin's grandfather, Byron Braxton.
"Ms. Miller, you're back," Margaret Hale, the housekeeper, said, surprised.
Weren't they supposed to get the license today? Why was Violet back alone?
Violet went straight upstairs. She hadn't moved many clothes in anyway; one suitcase was enough.
Passing by Gavin's study, she noticed the tablet on his desk.
Once, when she was at his place, she wanted to use his tablet to watch a show, but he had flown into an inexplicable rage.
She thought he just disliked others touching his private things, but today she had clearly seen Luna playing with Gavin's phone.
Violet entered the study. Her slender finger pressed the button to light up the screen, prompting for a password.
She took a deep breath and entered Gavin's birthday first.
Not surprisingly, the password was wrong.
The second time, she entered her own birthday.
Of course, it was still wrong.
The third time, she wanted to try Luna's birthday. A friend had once mentioned she was born on the Autumn Equinox, and the moon that night was clear and bright, hence her parents named her Luna.
She looked it up on her phone; the Autumn Equinox that year was September 23rd.
Violet's fingertips trembled slightly as she entered 0923. Unsurprisingly, the password was correct!
Instantly, a bitter taste filled her throat.
There were no apps on the tablet.
Following her intuition, Violet opened the photo gallery.
The warmth finally drained from her fingertips. 3344 photos, all memories of Luna and him.
There were solo photos of Luna, and pictures of them together.
And her? He had always resisted taking photos with her. The only picture they had together was the engagement photo hanging in the bedroom!
How had he explained it then? He said he disliked having his photo taken. Yet, in these 3344 pictures, he was smiling brighter than she had ever seen him.
Violet turned off the tablet, as if she had never been there.
When Margaret saw Luna dragging her suitcase downstairs, she was curious.
"Ms. Miller, you just got back. Are you going on another business trip?"
She knew Violet was a lawyer who often flew all over the country, so she instinctively assumed Violet was heading out on another trip when she saw the suitcase.
Violet paused, merely uttering an "Mmm," before leaving expressionlessly.
*****
Gavin returned to the marital home the next day.
A full day and night had passed, and she hadn't sent him a single message.
Since when did she get the nerve to do that?
"Did Violet come back yesterday?"
Margaret shook her head. "Sir, Ms. Miller seemed to be on a business trip. She didn't say when she'd return."
Business trip or avoiding him?
Gavin didn't really care. She'd cool off on her own and come back eventually.
Besides, they were already engaged, and getting the license was just a matter of timing.
As for her saying they wouldn't get the license... Gavin clearly didn't take it seriously.
How could they not?
"Yeah, I see," he said and went straight upstairs.
The master bedroom hadn't been used; it was reserved for after the wedding.
He and Violet had each been staying in separate guest rooms, so he naturally didn't notice that the large engagement photo on the main bedroom's wall was gone.
Gavin had just sat down when he received a call from his grandfather, Byron.
"Gavin, did you and Violet get the license? I didn't see any news in our family chat group."
Gavin paused. "Grandpa, something came up that day. We didn't make it; I forgot to tell you. We'll do it after your birthday banquet."
"Get it done early, put my mind at ease."
"By the way, I heard Luna is back," Byron added.
Gavin knew well that Luna had gone abroad five years ago because Byron tried to arrange a marriage for her that she disliked.
He didn't know what Luna and Byron had discussed, but after Byron called off that arranged marriage, she quickly went abroad.
She didn't even tell him when she left.
That year, Gavin's relationship with his family was very strained. It only eased a bit after he got engaged to Violet.
"Seems like she's back," Gavin said, pretending indifference.
His attitude put Byron at ease. "Mmm. I'll have your father contact her. Now that she's back, living outside is inappropriate!"
"Gavin, no matter who comes back, I want you and Violet to get the license soon. Understand?"
Gavin's eyes darkened. "I understand."
After hanging up, Gavin pinched the bridge of his nose.
Tomorrow was Byron's birthday banquet. He looked at his chat with Violet; the last message was from the day he stood her up.
[Grandpa's birthday banquet is tomorrow. Are you back from your business trip?]
He waited an hour before she replied with a single question mark.
Annoyance simmered in Gavin's eyes.
[Violet, there's a limit to throwing a tantrum. Don't you know how important Grandpa's banquet is?]
Violet had just finished showering. Seeing the message, she laughed instead of getting angry.
[Mr. Braxton, we've broken up. I won't be attending the banquet tomorrow. Feel free to take whoever you want.]
Gavin lost his patience.
[Playing hard to get again? Who agreed to break up! Tomorrow at 7 PM, I'll pick you up! Violet, you know how well my grandfather treats you. If you have any conscience, you wouldn't upset him on his birthday, would you?]
Gavin was half-threatening, half-warning.
Violet scoffed coldly.
[I can go, but the appearance fee needs to be paid now.]
Attached was a screenshot of her PayPal QR code.
[Just mark it as "service payment".]
A faint anger simmered beneath Gavin's expression. He didn't understand what game Violet was playing.
But he didn't have time to banter with her. He directly transferred $100,000.
Violet withdrew the funds to her bank account right away, then texted: [Thanks!]
She couldn't be bothered to waste another word on him.
Chapter 3 It's Fine, I don't Want This Man Anymore.
Violet appeared at the villa exactly on time, wearing a pale purple dress.
Her slightly curled long hair was loosely tied with a white ribbon, hanging at the back of her head. Her skin was flawless, her bright eyes and pearly teeth framed her face with a striking, radiant charm, but there was an aura of cold detachment that surrounded her.
It was this pale purple dress that softened her sharp features a little.
Gavin had just opened the car door when he saw Violet walking into the courtyard.
It was the first time he saw her in a figure-hugging dress.
The tailored fit outlined every curve of her body, and for a moment, Gavin couldn't tear his eyes away.
She was beautiful, and there was a deadly allure to her that made his heart burn.
Gavin furrowed his brows, his tone stiff. "Go upstairs and change your clothes."
Violet scoffed lightly, "Why should I?"
"Today is Grandpa's birthday banquet. The way you're dressed..." He paused, "It's too attention-grabbing."
Violet gracefully opened the backseat door of the car. "That's the point. Next time, I'll dress more conservatively for your funeral."
"Violet Miller!" Gavin gritted her name through his teeth.
However, she didn't care at all and sat down in the back seat by herself.
Gavin entered the driver's seat, his voice cold as he commanded, "Come sit in the front seat. I'm not your chauffeur."
Violet glanced at the pearl earrings on the front seat blanket, her eyes darkened. "No, thanks. It's dirty, and I don't want to stain my dress."
Gavin wasn't sure if she was on her period or just throwing a tantrum.
But wasn't her period supposed to come at the end of the month?
The time was getting late, and Gavin couldn't afford to delay. As Byron's eldest grandson, being late would be unacceptable.
*****
Once he parked the car, Gavin extended his arm, waiting for her to take it.
Violet looked at him with disdain, but today was Byron's birthday banquet.
As he had said, Byron was the one who supported their engagement the most. She couldn't embarrass Byron today.
Violet took out a silk scarf from her bag and wrapped it around her palm before lifting her eyes. "Alright, let's go."
Just that one motion made the veins on Gavin's temples throb.
"Violet, don't go too far. Are you disgusted by me?"
Violet smiled and shrugged lightly. "Is it that obvious?"
"Then I'll be a little more subtle next time."
*****
Once they entered the banquet hall, they naturally attracted everyone's attention.
Gavin was a handsome man, with a tall, straight figure that made him the focal point of the room the moment he entered.
His starry eyes and sharp brows, his deep, chiseled features, and the faint smile on his lips all exuded an air of aloofness and indifference.
As the eldest son of the most influential family in New York, many people were eager to associate with him.
He gently patted the back of her hand through the silk scarf. "Be good. I'm going to greet a client. You enjoy yourself for a while."
Violet tugged her hand out sharply, the sweat from the silk scarf having made her palm sticky.
Gavin's expression soured slightly, but he had more important matters to attend to. His face remained cold as he turned and walked away.
No sooner had he left than the annoying "flies" started buzzing around.
"Hey, isn't that the fiancée that Mr. Braxton can't shake off?"
"Ha, didn't someone swear just a few days ago that she would never cling to Mr. Braxton?"
Violet glanced at the woman opposite her with a mocking smile. "Has he become infertile or something?"
The woman hadn't meant to insult Gavin, just to provoke Violet.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Oh." Violet's eyes filled with scorn. "Right, I did swear. If he's cutting off his descendants, that just means I've broken my vow. I have no idea if he's lost his fertility now... why don't you go test it out for me?"
"You!" The woman glared angrily.
The woman's friends next to her all widened their eyes.
Was Violet out of her mind?
Was she suggesting that someone try to seduce her fiancé?
"Humph, you can be arrogant now, but just wait until Luna arrives. You'll be ashamed of yourself!"
Violet had almost forgotten that, in such an important occasion, as the most favored adopted daughter of the Braxton family, how could Luna not be here?
*****
"Violet, I've been calling you for days, but you never pick up!"
Violet turned around slowly, seeing Cora Miller storming toward her.
She shifted her gaze to the lady beside her and saw her stepmother, Sienna Quinn, smiling as she spoke. "Violet, didn't you say you and Gavin were going to get your marriage license yesterday? Why didn't we hear any news in our family group chat?"
Violet withdrew her gaze and took out her phone. "Oh, sorry. I accidentally exited. You three are doing well, right? I guess my absence doesn't matter, does it?"
Her father, Sylas Miller, wasn't present today.
Since her mother passed away when she was three, and her father remarried three months later, she had realized that he had become no more than a father in name only.
"Violet, what do you mean? Can't you show a little more respect to my mom?"
Before she could respond, Cora's eyes brightened. "Luna's here! Mom, I'm going over."
Sienna smiled faintly, "Be careful."
"Haha, Violet, don't mind. Your sister is just a little hot-headed, and she's good friends with Luna. They haven't seen each other in five years, so it's normal for her to be a little excited."
"By the way, does Gavin know his sister's back?"
Gavin's love for his adopted sister was well-known in their social circle.
He spoiled her to the extent that it created an illusion—if Luna hadn't been adopted by the Braxton family, Gavin might have chosen her as his fiancée.
But no one dared say this to the Braxtons.
A few years ago, Byron had already clarified it, stating that Luna could only be a Braxton daughter.
Violet pursed her lips, remaining silent.
Sienna was still using her words to provoke her.
However, she was no longer the weak version of herself.
Sienna smiled upon seeing this. When she noticed the man walking quickly toward her from the other side of the banquet hall, the curve of her lips deepened.
"Violet, I didn't expect that after five years, Gavin is still so fond of his sister."
Violet's heart cracked a little more. "Yes. But Sienna, do you think Gavin knows that Luna's best friend also likes him?"
Sienna's face changed suddenly.
"Haha, Violet, you're really funny. Cora would never fight you for a man."
Violet smiled gently, "It's fine, I don't want this man anymore."
Sienna stared at her in surprise. "Violet, you..."
She glanced at Violet, then at the man behind her.
A man's voice cut through. "Violet, who are you saying you don't want?"
