I really thought I was the main protagonist in a modern fairytale story. I had the looks, the money, the abilities, and the brains to back my claims.

As the daughter of a long line of heralded business tycoons, I had the wealth to buy anything I desired with just a snap of my fingers.

Men lined up at my door, stretching from the entrance of our private estate to the end of the public road leading to the city.

Women longed for my friendship, even those with the most jealous hearts, eager to bask in the glow of my seemingly perfect life.

And best of all, I had the most dashing and richest fiancé that every woman coveted – Cole Fay.

Cole's hair was a dazzling white snow, and his light blue eyes were as cold as the freezing waters of the Arctic, one of the few things I love about him.

He was undeniably handsome, and both men and women would fall at his feet just to catch a glimpse of his elusive smile.

Cole was the only son of business tycoon Cain Fay and multimillionaire investor Leanna Lee. His family owned multiple corporations spanning various industries, from mining and oil to jewelry, real estate, commercial establishments, and technological advancements.

They were the unbeatable merchants in the modern world, reigning supreme for decades. Needless to say, Cole would inherit everything under his name, a fortune so vast that it could sustain his future generations in luxury until the end of time.

And this man was mine!

The first time I laid eyes on him was when I was only seven years old, and from that moment, I knew he was the one for me.

While others were busy chasing me, I was busy chasing him. I pursued him relentlessly from childhood through high school, and finally, I convinced him to agree to be my fiancé.

It didn't matter if his reason was merely to fend off the hordes of annoying women who pursued him every minute of the day.

I was his shield and his excuse, and I didn't care as long as he was mine. I gained many enemies, especially among women, as I covered for him and protected him from their unwanted advances. Each day was a battle, but I wore my role as his protector like a badge of honor.

While I fought off his admirers, I deluded myself into believing that our bond was unbreakable. I thought that by standing by his side, I could eventually win his heart.

The looks of envy and hatred from those around me only fueled my determination. I basked in the belief that I was the chosen one, the heroine of my own romance novel.

But now, as I look back, I realize how stupid I was.

I was living in a fantasy, blind to the reality that Cole's affection was never truly mine. I was a pawn in a game much bigger than I could have ever imagined.

Now, with the clarity of hindsight, I see that I was never the protagonist. I was not even the villain or a side character . . . I was merely the cannon fodder in someone else's story.

The truth unraveled before my eyes: I was an orphan, raised as an ignorant girl to take the place of the real heiress of the Rosette family –– Sophie Rosette, who had been my maid since I was young.

To protect the true heiress of the elusive Rosette family, they took in an orphaned child and raised her to be the sacrificial pawn –– me.

I endured all the poison, bullets, and knives that were otherwise meant for their real daughter. I was the expendable decoy until Sophie came of age and could inherit everything under her name, safely and soundly.

And when that time came, my purpose was fulfilled. I was cast out and forgotten, stripped of my name and identity. My entire existence, built on lies and deception, was shattered.

The final blow came when I learned that my fiancé, my childhood friend, Cole Fay, was betrothed to Sophie. I, on the other hand, was banished to an unknown island and left to die, my existence erased from the world I once knew.

Desperate and broken, I set aside my pride and dignity and begged Cole to save me. I pleaded with him to take me back, to marry me, even if just as his mistress, to give me a name and a place in his life.

I clung to the hope that our shared history, our years of growing up together, meant something to him. Surely, he must have felt something towards me, even if it was just a little. Even if it was just as a friend. Even if it was just a tiny bit.

But when I looked into his eyes, expecting a glimmer of compassion, I saw nothing but cold indifference. His gaze was as icy as ever, and he uttered three words that crushed the last remnants of my hope. They weren't "I love you."

"Stop annoying me."

It was his famous line every time I chased after him. I thought it was cute . . . but now, I felt the full weight of his words.

Those words echoed in my mind, each syllable a dagger to my heart. In that moment, I realized the depth of my delusion and the extent of my worthlessness in his eyes. I had been nothing more than a tool, a disposable pawn in a game I never understood.

Cole didn't care about me.

Not one bit.

He was cold.

Too cold.

No amount of chasing and pursuing him my whole life could ever thaw his frozen heart.

The realization that he didn't feel anything for me was more shocking than discovering I was just cannon fodder.

I had truly believed that, after all the years we had spent together, I held some place in his heart. But it was a lie I had told myself, a comforting delusion to mask the stark reality.

But it was just me . . .

Alone and banished to Unknown Island, I felt the weight of my despair. The isolation and betrayal were too much to bear. I drowned myself in the sea, hoping to end the unbearable pain.

And when God saw the tragic comedy that was my life, He gave me a second chance.

This time, I vow to rewrite my story. I will live for myself, embrace my strengths, and cherish every moment.

I will forge my own path, independent and strong, free from the shadows of unrequited love.

And this time . . .

I will never love you again.

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