Lauren Shaw arrived at Yvonne Sung’s apartment and punched in the code with practiced ease.

There were just two weeks left until their wedding. She had come over to see if there was anything left to prepare.

She’d been infatuated with Yvonne Sung for three years, since graduating college. Not long ago, Yvonne Sung said he wanted to marry her.

Although the Sung family wasn’t as well off as the Shaw family, marrying Lauren Shaw was definitely a step up for Yvonne Sung’s side.

Her best friend had more than once accused her of being utterly lovesick, but Lauren Shaw was determined to hang herself on this crooked tree called Yvonne Sung.

The night he asked her to marry him, she was so excited she stayed up all night. There hadn’t been any fancy proposal—just a simple, ‘Will you marry me?’ from Yvonne Sung. That alone was enough to shatter her emotional defenses.

No doubt about it—she was completely whipped.

Yvonne Sung had given her the door code just a few days ago. This was her first time visiting.

She glanced around. Yvonne Sung’s place was simple and not particularly luxurious, but at least it was clean and tidy.

Thinking about how soon they’d be living together, sharing every day and night, made her almost giddy with happiness.

She heard movement at the door—Yvonne Sung must be back. She ran out of the bedroom to greet him, eager to surprise him.

But when he opened the door and saw her, Yvonne Sung froze in his tracks, stunned.

Lauren Shaw was just about to call his name when a woman appeared behind him.

‘Yuche, why aren’t you going in?’ The woman only noticed someone else was inside after stepping in.

Yvonne Sung’s brows furrowed in displeasure. ‘Why are you here?’ He sounded cold and more than a little interrogative.

The moment she saw the woman behind him, Lauren Shaw was shocked. She stared at him, her mind blanking out. ‘I just came to see if there’s anything missing—so I can get it ready.’

Yvonne Sung pressed his lips together, clearly in a bad mood. ‘You’ve seen enough, right? If there’s nothing else, you should head home.’

Lauren Shaw, who had been waiting for an explanation, could only look at him in disappointment. After all, she was his fiancée. Shouldn’t he explain what was going on?

She turned to the woman, asking offhandedly, ‘Is this your friend?’

The woman replied in a soft voice, ‘Miss Li, please don’t misunderstand. I’m Yuche’s friend. I just got back from overseas today and haven’t found a place to stay, so Yuche asked me to crash here for a few days.’

‘Here?’ Lauren Shaw’s displeasure was clear.

‘Shengsheng, Yana Quinn is only staying for a few days. She’s a girl, and it’s not safe for her to stay in a hotel alone. I’ve got several guest rooms—letting her stay in one isn’t a big deal,’ Yvonne Sung explained.

What nonsense about hotels being unsafe? What kind of logic was that?

‘No way! I don’t agree!’ Lauren Shaw refused without hesitation. Who knew what could happen between a man and a woman living under the same roof?

Yana Quinn’s face fell. She forced a smile at Yvonne Sung and said, ‘I think I’ll just go stay at a hotel, really—no need to trouble you.’

Feeling slighted, Yvonne Sung glared at Lauren Shaw. ‘This is my place—I make the decisions. Yana Quinn, you’re staying here tonight.’ With that, he brought Yana Quinn’s luggage inside.

Lauren Shaw felt a bitter pang in her heart. Still, she bit her tongue and didn’t leave, but instead sat down coldly on the sofa, staring at Yvonne Sung.

After moving the suitcase to a room, Yvonne Sung sat on the couch across from her.

‘How come I’ve never heard you mention you had a female friend before?’

Yvonne Sung’s irritation was plain. He snapped back, ‘And what business is that of yours?’

‘You’re my fiancé. If ten women move in with you, don’t you think that’s my business?’ Lauren Shaw’s voice rose.

Yana Quinn hurried out of the bedroom, trying to smooth things over. ‘Miss Li, please don’t be upset. Yuche’s only concerned about my safety. There’s nothing else going on between us—we’re just ordinary friends.’

Already fuming, Lauren Shaw found Yana Quinn’s words added fuel to the fire.

‘Miss Quinn, do you know Yvonne Sung and I are about to get married? You moving in like this just invites trouble and misunderstandings.’

Yana Quinn bit her lips, looking as if she might burst into tears at any second. The sight made Yvonne Sung’s heart ache.

‘Miss Li, it really isn’t what you think.’

Seeing Yana Quinn’s wounded expression, Lauren Shaw opened her mouth to say something, but Yvonne Sung’s face had already darkened. He snapped, ‘Lauren Shaw, how can your mind be so dirty? There’s nothing but innocence between Yana Quinn and me.’

‘I…’ Lauren Shaw stammered.

‘Apologize!’ Yvonne Sung demanded.

Lauren Shaw stared at him in disbelief. ‘Why should I apologize? I’m your fiancée. Am I supposed to welcome any woman who comes back with you with a smile?’

This was their first real argument since they’d met.

Yvonne Sung was about to speak when Yana Quinn suddenly dashed between them. ‘Please, don’t fight—it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have come here. Miss Li, I’m sorry. I’ll leave now.’ With that, she ran out the door, eyes brimming with tears.

Yvonne Sung shot Lauren Shaw a fierce glare. ‘You’ve really disappointed me.’ Throwing those words over his shoulder, he strode out after Yana Quinn.

For a moment, Lauren Shaw felt paralyzed, as if rooted to the spot.

How could he say she’d let him down? Wasn’t he the one who started all this? She was only speaking her mind from her own perspective—how was that wrong?

Besides, she hadn’t even gone overboard with what she’d said.

Forcing herself to keep her emotions in check, Lauren Shaw left Yvonne Sung’s place. The night wind was chill on her skin, making her shiver.

She took a deep breath, but tears pricked her eyes and spilled uncontrollably down her cheeks.

Her gut screamed that something was off between Yvonne Sung and Yana Quinn.

She was so lost in thought she didn’t see the person approaching, and collided headlong into him. Her high heel twisted, and she nearly fell.

A man’s arm shot out, steadying her by the waist before she could hit the ground.

His touch was warm at her waist, and she caught a faint, pleasant scent at the tip of her nose.

Once she’d found her footing, she looked up at the man. He was around six foot one, strikingly handsome, but his eyes held a coldness that warned people to keep their distance.

Their gazes met, and for a second, the man seemed dazed.

Lauren Shaw quickly looked away, her eyes lowered. ‘Thank you.’

‘Don’t mention it.’

He averted his gaze, shoved his hands in his pockets, and walked away.

Back at home, Lauren Shaw called her best friend, Claire Xu.

‘Qingqing, do you know who Yana Quinn is?’

Yvonne Sung’s buddy, Hugo Pierce, had grown up with Claire Xu, and she often got insider info about Yvonne Sung from him.

Claire Xu had heard about Yana Quinn long ago. But since Lauren Shaw was so lovesick, nothing anyone said ever got through to her.

Claire Xu was silent for a few seconds, her tone a bit hesitant: ‘Are you sure you want to know?’

She’d warned Lauren Shaw before not to be so invested in Yvonne Sung—he wasn’t worth it—but she just wouldn’t listen. Now it was time to face the truth herself.

‘Go ahead.’

Claire Xu sighed. ‘Yana Quinn was Yvonne Sung’s first love. They fought after college graduation, broke up, and she went abroad. Rumor has it she’s a small-time actress now.’

Then, as if something occurred to her, Claire Xu asked, ‘The wedding’s at the end of the month—what made you suddenly want to know about her?’

Lauren Shaw was quiet for a moment, trying to sound as calm as possible.

‘I saw Yana Quinn just now.’