MoboNovel Lite
Chapter 1
After nine years together, my boyfriend suddenly changed his Instagram handle to “TinyLittleLove.”
I asked him why.
He said nothing.
Until his assistant, using the same nickname—Tiny—sent me a photo of the two of them, all cuddled up.
That’s when I understood.
I calmly saved the photo, then opened my mom’s contact.
Sent her one sentence: “Mom, I’ve decided to come home and go through with the engagement.”
She video-called me instantly: “Sweetie, then we’ll set the wedding for the end of the month!”
“Alright.” That means Jace Vanderhorn and I have exactly fifteen days left.
“Great, sweetheart! We’ll set the wedding at the end of the month! I even had a spiritual coach pick the date—it’s supposed to bring good energy!” My mom was over the moon. I just nodded and mumbled, “Okay.”
After we hung up, I sat there staring at my phone. Jace walked out of the bathroom, towel around his neck, a little anxious.
“Did you say… marriage license?” He thought I was pressuring him again.
“It’s nothing,” I brushed him off.
“Just some paperwork I need to update.”
I grabbed my bag to leave, but as I passed him, I caught a strong whiff of perfume.
He noticed my expression and rushed to explain,
“Some lady was spraying perfume samples on the street.”
“I just tried one—not realizing how strong it was.”
The excuse was terrible.
I smiled and let out a soft “Mm-hmm,” walking straight into the bedroom.
Jace hates shopping. He wouldn’t stop for a street sample even if someone paid him.
And that perfume?
Definitely designer—and definitely for women.
Not something he would try willingly.
After nine years, I can read every one of his lies like a children’s book.
But the truth is, I’ve been lying to myself, too.
An hour ago, I saw Zoey Calloway’s latest Instagram story.
She and Jace were smiling for the camera, surrounded by friends, standing in front of a massive birthday cake.
She had a six-carat diamond ring on her finger—the one he gave her.
Zoey used to be a regular girl at a community college.
I hired her because she was from Jace’s hometown—I wanted to do him a favor.
Big mistake.
I opened the old texts she sent me. Pure provocation.
“Sloane, Jace, and I grew up together.”
“He’s always loved me.”
“You’re the other woman,”
“You stole nine years that belonged to me.”
“He never loved you, and he’ll never marry you.”
“He never even gave you a ring, did he?”
“How about this one—think six carats is big enough?”
Four years of college.
Five years building a startup together.
Nine years with Jace.
And not once did he propose.
Sure, I used to bring it up—sometimes in anger.
He’d always say, “I want to give you the wedding of your dreams, but I’m not there yet.”
“Just give me a little more time.”
I told him I didn’t care about the wedding; we could just go get the license.
Just something—anything—to show we were real.
But now?
Now he has all the money and power to throw the grandest wedding imaginable.
He just doesn’t want me to be the bride.
Nine years.
And now we’ve only got fifteen days left.
Chapter 2
It was 11 p.m., and I’d just finished getting ready for bed. Jace, already lying down, suddenly got a call.
He jumped up fast and stepped out onto the balcony.
A few minutes later, he came back in and said, “Something came up at work—I have to fly out for a last-minute trip.”
He didn’t even look me in the eye.
I let out a soft “Oh,” and kept my eyes on my book.
“Will you be back by the 18th?” I asked.
“The 18th?” He froze, then suddenly seemed to remember. “Oh—right, our ninth anniversary!”
“Of course I’ll be back by then.”
“Good.” I smiled faintly.
But I didn’t mean to celebrate our anniversary. I planned to break up with him that day. End things, clean and final.
He left just after midnight, right as the date flipped on the calendar. Technically, that left me 14 days until the wedding my mom had arranged.
Day by day went by.
On the 18th, I didn’t get a text, a call, not even a voicemail from Jace.
But I did get a travel vlog from Zoey on her Instagram. She looked carefree and glowing, laughing at some resort. Behind her, I instantly spotted Jace. He was wearing the trench coat I gave him last year for our anniversary.
Before I even finished the three-minute video, my phone rang.
“Sloane, I’m so sorry. Things blew up over here. I really can’t make it back. Let’s do our anniversary another time, okay? We’ve got all the time in the world.”
“Sure,” I answered softly and hung up.
Outside, the leaves had started to fall. Winter was coming. And Jace and I were running out of time.
When the clock hit midnight, I tore the 18th off the calendar. Only 12 days left until I fly home to meet my fiancé.
Five days passed.
Jace’s location stayed abroad—he clearly wasn’t planning to return.
When there were just five days left, he posted a story tagged at the city airport. Meanwhile, I had nearly packed everything, ready to board my own flight in five days.
Four days to go.
I stepped out to toss some things I didn’t want to take.
Out of nowhere, someone grabbed my ankle. I looked down.
Zoey. Her eyes were red and puffy. She clung to me, sobbing, “Sloane, you have everything. Please… just let me have Jace. He’s been waiting for you to break up with him first. His company’s doing great—he can’t afford a scandal. And… I’m pregnant.”
The second she laid her hand on her belly, I froze. So now they even have a child. Jace, if that’s how you feel, why not tell me sooner?
I gave her a bitter smile and pulled my leg free.
“Whoever the father is, go to him. This has nothing to do with me.”
“But hey,” I added. “Be careful. My ‘today’ could be your ‘tomorrow.’”
“I helped him start his company, stood by him through it all—and he still betrayed me. You think a baby’s gonna keep him loyal?”
Then I walked away. Didn’t even turn back.
Back home, I sat quietly and looked around. Every plant, every photo, every detail in this place—I chose it all.
I used to dream of building a home with Jace. Now, I couldn’t stand a single piece of it. I ripped every plant out of the pots and dumped them in the trash.
That’s when Mom called.
“Sloane, your flight’s booked! In three days you’ll meet your fiancé!”
“I know, Mom.” My voice was flat. I was exhausted.
She hesitated.
“Did Jace hurt you again?”
“No,” I lied. He didn’t hurt me. He wasn’t even there.
“Sweetheart, that man was never good enough for you. When you’re back, I’ll pull every cent out of his company. Let him crash and burn.”
For the first time in days, I actually smiled.
“Okay.”
Three days left between me and Jace Vanderhorn.
Chapter 3
Back when Jace first started his company, it was my mom who gave him his first investment. He literally got down on his knees and swore,
“If I ever hurt Sloane, may I never know peace.”
There was a time when he truly loved me. But that was all before he made it big.
Maybe it was from cleaning out everything that once had my name on it, but I passed out on the couch.
In my dream, we were back on campus, the day we first met. But when I woke up, the big house was empty. Just me.
I looked at the clock–6 a.m. My flight was early the next morning, so I’d have to leave around the same time. Which meant… 24 hours left before I said goodbye to Jace for good.
But he still hadn’t come home. Not once, since returning from his trip, had he set foot back in our place. I decided it was time to just call him. End it directly.
“Sloane, what’s up?”
Is he answering this early? That was rare. Right before I could say anything, I heard another voice–an older woman’s.
“You again?”
“Getting breakfast for your girl? You’re such a sweetheart!”
6 a.m. breakfast. He never once bought that for me.
The rest of the call was a blur. He hung up fast.
Then came the text: “Sorry, just got out of a meeting. I’ll be home this afternoon.”
A breakfast meeting at a food truck? Sure.
By 8 a.m., Zoey had posted again: “The one who gives you a diamond might not love you. But the one who gets up at 6 a.m. to bring you breakfast definitely does.”
Perfect. She had the diamond and the breakfast.
I wish them well.
I got up and started packing. Didn’t take long–I’d already thrown out everything I didn’t want. There’d be no trace of me left in this house.
At 6 p.m., Jace actually showed up. One of the rare times he actually kept his word. But by now, I had just 12 hours left before my flight home.
He was carrying a gift box.
“Sloane, I’ve been slammed lately. I’m sorry. I got this for you–it’s for our anniversary.”
It was the designer bag I’d mentioned liking once. Sure, I loved it. But anyone with a credit card can buy a luxury handbag. Not everyone gets up at dawn for breakfast runs. And I knew the difference.
“Thanks,” I said, flat and cool.
Jace let out a relieved laugh. “I knew you’d love it.”
He pulled me into a hug and kissed my forehead.
“Sloane, once this craziness dies down, I’ll take you to Scandinavia. You always said you wanted to see the Northern Lights.”
“Mm.”
I whispered back. But I didn’t believe him. Not anymore.