" ... finding your own true los Being cheated on is something no man wants to hear about from someone else , especially from a woman he barely knows . Unfortunately , my subtle hint went right over his head . He just smiled , his handsome , almond - shaped eyes holding a charm that could bewitch anyone . A blind man , it turned out . " My true love is right here with me , " he said . " You should save that toast for yourself . " But thinking back , wasn't I just as blind ? Teddy was willing to break from his family for that actress . And my own heart had been shattered into a million pieces by Max . 5 The wine went down easy , but the delayed punch of the cabernet was brutal . Before I knew it , I was completely wasted . I was clinging to Teddy , a mess of tears and laughter , cursing Max one minute and myself the next . Teddy gently pushed me away , his tone teasing . " If Max saw you holding onto another man like this , " he drawled , " he wouldn't take you back even if you begged him on your knees . " The memory of the past seven years , of me always being the one to swallow my pride and beg for reconciliation , flooded back . Fueled by alcohol , all my pent - up frustrations came pouring out . " This time , I'm the one who doesn't want him ! " I slurred . " Even if he gets on his knees and begs me , I'm not going back ! " " You mean it ? " Teddy's voice was intense , his gaze burning . Sprawled on the sofa , I didn't see the galaxy of stars glittering in his eyes . I just mumbled , " As real as it gets . " In the hazy space between dream and reality , I felt a warm pressure on my lips . 09:54 Chapter 1 09:54 100 An electric tingle traced paths across my skin . Instinctively , I responded to the seating heat , giving in to the passion . When my mind finally cleared , it was noon the next day . My entire body ached , as if it had been run over by a truck . My eyes fell to the floor , where a tangled mess of clothes lay discarded . Then I saw him . Lying next to me , bare - chested , was Teddy . His long lashes rested on his cheeks , deep in sleep . A few faint , rosy marks - kisses - were scattered across his muscular chest . Flashes of the night before ... My mind exploded . Did I just have a one - night stand with Teddy ?! Whatever his girlfriend was doing last night , they were still together . What did that make me ? How was I any different from her ? If word got out that I'd broken them up , the gossip would bury me alive . Holding my breath , I carefully lifted Teddy's arm from around my waist . Like a thief , I tiptoed around , gathered my clothes , grabbed my phone , and fled my own apartment . 1 I didn't feel safe until I was speeding towards my office , the gas pedal pressed to the floor . I just had to hope that when Teddy woke up , he'd be just as eager as I was to forget last night's insane mistake . " Ms. Lin , Mr. Cole is waiting for you in your office , " my assistant whispered , her eyes wide with fear . " He was ... really angry earlier . " She must have caught the brunt of his temper . I walked in . Max was leaning against my desk , arms crossed . My suitcase was on the floor beside him . He saw me and his face hardened into a scowl . " Cara , you've got some nerve , blocking my number ! " He gestured to the suitcase . " Here's the rest of your stuff . You can move back in once Ava's feeling better . " A bitter laugh escaped me . " The engagement is off . Why would we need each other's numbers ? Please do me a favor and block me too . " Max's eyes flashed with surprise , then irritation . " What kind of game are you playing now ? I've told you before , you can't compete with Ava . In my life , she will always come first . " " If you want to be Mrs. Cole , you'll learn to behave . " 6 I couldn't take it anymore . " Mr. Cole , was I not clear enough ? " " We . Called . Off . The . Engagement . " " Who you put first has absolutely nothing to do with me . Do you understand ? " I enunciated each word of that last sentence . He froze , his gaze locking with my cold , indifferent stare . For the first time , Max lost his compo- sure in front of me , his mask of superiority crumbling . A vein pulsed in his neck as he pointed a trembling finger at me . " Cara ! If you think I have the time or patience for your little push - and - pull games , you're dead wrong ! This is your one and only chance . Either you play along and wait until Ava's better for our engagement , or you get out of my life and never show your face again ! " Without a word , I bent down and picked up the files he had angrily swept to the floor . " Just as long as you stop showing up here and throwing tantrums , Mr. Cole , I can guarantee you'll never see me again . " He was so used to me fawning over him that my blatant disregard was more than he could handle . He stormed out , slamming the door behind him . " Don't come crawling back to me like a pathetic dog , " he snarled . " I'm sick of watching you beg ! " 09:54 Chapter 1 His words were like a thousand tiny needles piercing my heart . Even though the love was gone , seven years of my life , a heart offered on freely , being trampled on like this ... it still hurt But I didn't have much time to wallow . My phone began to explode with calls and texts from Teddy " So you just eat and run ? Classy . " " Is this how you treat your lead investor ? " " Was I that bad last night ? " " You have three minutes to answer your phone , or I'm coming to your office ." My heart hammered against my ribs as I read his messages . I was terrified . In a panic , I did the only thing I could think of I turned off my pho ne . Last night wasn't my idea , but ... I hadn't exactly said no . Teddy was reckless . He feared nothing and no one . I wasn't like him . My business was just taking off , I had too much to lose . I couldn't fight him , so I had to run . I booked the next flight to Paris . The visa was originally for my honeymoon with Max . Now , I was using it to escape a different kind of entanglement . Chapter 2 Chapter 2