Frost on Promises

I flew two thousand miles to surprise my wife. Instead, I was greeted with an invitation.

Welcome to the wedding of Mr. Xavier Grant and Ms. Mara Cole.

Her groom wasn't me.

But her wedding dress was one I had chosen, and the wedding plan was one I had designed.

When she saw me, she accused me of not knowing when to let go, claiming it was all just business.

Does a performance require passionate kissing?

I didn't argue. I just turned around and took a hard drive with me.

It contained all the original design drafts I'd created for them over the past four years.

What Mara didn't know was that three months later, at a bidding presentation, she'd be on her knees in the snow, bankrupt, begging me for ten dollars just to buy a meal.

Lucas POV

To surprise my wife, I flew to the island without telling her.

The taxi had barely stopped when the hotel's greeting system sent me a text message: "Welcome to the wedding of Mr. Xavier Grant and Ms. Mara Cole."

My hand froze around the gift box.

Mara Cole was my legal wife of four years in a secret marriage.

Xavier Grant was her first love from college overseas, and also the star designer at my studio.

Just last night, Mara had been packing her luggage.

"I'll be inspecting resort projects for a while. The clients are difficult to deal with, so I can't get away. I'll make up for our anniversary properly when I get back." She complained that Xavier was clumsy and needed her to look after him.

I believed her. Like an idiot, I helped her organize her clothes and told her she was working hard.

She was working hard, hard enough to organize a grand wedding between inspections.

I stepped into the lobby. White veils billowed in the cold sea breeze.

The dcor looked very familiar.

A month ago, I'd stayed up three nights straight in my study to draw up this exact plan.

At the time, Mara had leaned against the doorframe, holding coffee and pleading with me. "The client wants a dream wedding. Xavier's run out of inspiration. Help him out."

I joked that this design was worth fifty thousand dollars.

She hugged me and acted cute. "Helping him is helping me."

Turns out I was the free wedding planner for her own wedding.

"Sir, do you have an invitation?" The receptionist stopped me.

I was wearing a hoodie and jeans, carrying a small box, completely out of place among the suited guests around me.

"I'm an old friend of Mara's."

The receptionist stepped aside.

The banquet hall was brilliantly lit. Mara wore a mermaid-cut wedding gown and looked so beautiful she seemed like a stranger.

We'd been legally married for four years, but we'd never had a wedding or any celebration.

The reason was that we had to keep a low profile during the startup phase, and I was behind-the-scenes personnel who didn't need formalities.

Right now, she stood under the spotlight, gazing at the man across from her like he was the only one in the world.

Xavier Grant, nothing but an empty-headed pretty boy, spoke with deep affection. "Mara, we've missed so much. Today, I can finally hold your hand in front of our friends and family..."

Applause thundered. Guests murmured about what a perfect couple they made, praising Xavier's so-called brilliance. Some even claimed the island project was his work.

My nails dug into my palms.

Every award Xavier had ever won was something I had created.

His breakthrough work was my rejected draft. His award-winning design was something I'd destroyed my stomach staying up late to finish.

Even the stage beneath his feet was my creation.

In the front row sat Mara's mother, Diana, wiping away tears of joy.

She took the generous support payments I sent every month, and now she sat there without a care in the world.

Next to her sat my business partners, people who ate the afternoon tea I bought, now applauding as my wife married someone else.

Everyone in the world knew-except me, the fool left in the dark.

What inspection? What fake business marriage? All excuses.

I could see it clearly: the genuine happiness radiating from Mara's face.

The officiant called out loudly, "The groom may now kiss the bride!"

Mara turned her head. Her gaze cut through the crowd and landed on me.

Her smile froze instantly on her face.

She pushed away Xavier, who was about to kiss her, in panic. The bouquet in her hands fell to the floor.

"Mara?" Xavier looked confused.

Mara ignored him. She stared at me, her face deathly pale.

I looked at her and expressionlessly raised the delicate gift box in my hand.

Then, as she watched in horror, I let it go.

The box hit the floor. The necklace inside probably broke.

Just like this absurd four-year marriage.

I turned and walked out of the banquet hall without looking back.

Behind me came commotion and the rapid clicking of high heels on the floor.

"Mara! Where are you going?"

If this had been yesterday, if she had chased after me like this, I would have cried with emotion, thinking there was still a place for me in her heart.

But now, I just found it ridiculous.

Lucas POV

I hadn't even reached the elevators when someone grabbed my arm hard.

"Lucas! Stop right there!"

Mara was out of breath, holding up her wedding dress train, her updo coming loose.

There was no guilt on her face-only furious indignation. "Why are you here? Did you follow me?"

I laughed bitterly. I'd caught my wife at her wedding, and her first reaction was to interrogate me.

"Mara," I looked at her like she was a stranger, "what's today's date?"

She froze. "October sixteenth."

"Four years ago today, we registered our marriage. You said the company had something come up and left me on the side of the road. Today I flew two thousand miles to surprise you, and you gave me an even bigger surprise."

Mara's expression stiffened for a moment, then reverted to her usual assertiveness.

She straightened her hair, all business.

"Can you use your brain like an adult? This is a business strategy! The clients value family values. Xavier is our brand face. For a contract worth tens of millions, we had no choice but to put on an act."

"An act requires inviting your mother? Exchanging rings? Smiling that happily?"

"That's because we had to make it realistic! How else could we fool the clients if we didn't make it look real?"

Mara raised her voice. "Who do you think I'm working myself to death out here for? It's bad enough you don't trust me. Now you're sabotaging everything. If this project falls through, can you afford to compensate for it?"

She was even trying to turn this around on me.

"You've disappointed me so much. If you had even a little sense of the bigger picture, you wouldn't cause trouble at such a critical moment."

Watching her mouth run on and on, my thoughts suddenly drifted far away.

I thought back to four years ago.

Back then, I was recognized as a genius in the architecture program at a university overseas. I'd won international awards before even graduating.

And Mara was just an ambitious but mediocre rich girl.

She started a studio but couldn't land any projects. She cried in the rain out of desperation.

I was the one who shoved the design drawings I'd labored over for half a month into her hands and told her to enter the competition.

That one time made her famous overnight.

Later, she said she loved me. She said I was her source of inspiration.

I believed her.

I gave up the opportunity to pursue advanced studies at a prestigious architectural firm for her sake, willing to be the person behind her.

Over these four years, all the studio's core proposals came from me.

The credit always went to Mara or Xavier.

She always said I had an introverted personality and was suited to working behind the scenes and making money.

She also said Xavier had a good image, so he should be the public face.

So I became the nerd who only knew how to draw. In Xavier's words, an assistant.

They took my work and accepted awards.

They enjoyed the flowers and applause while I waited for her to come home with cold coffee.

I thought it was sacrifice. Turns out it was just pathetic.

The last trace of love in my heart went cold.

I looked at that haughty expression on her face, as if she thought she controlled everything and was certain I couldn't leave her.

But what's valuable in this industry isn't the studio-it's the person who creates.

"Are you finished?"

Mara frowned. "What's with that attitude?"

I looked at her calmly, suppressing the turmoil in my eyes.

"Mara, your dress zipper isn't closed properly."

She instinctively reached for her back.

I stepped back, creating distance. "Go back. Don't keep the groom waiting."

"You're done making a scene?" She looked suspicious.

"I'm done. Disrupting a wedding is immoral. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness."

I turned toward the elevator.

"Go back to the room and wait for me! I'll explain tonight!" she ordered from behind me.

No need. I don't need her love anymore either.

As the elevator doors closed, I took out my phone and looked at the date on the screen.

Today was our wedding anniversary.

I opened my messaging app and found a contact-Chloe, my college classmate and also a divorce attorney.

The last time I'd contacted her was four years ago.

She'd sent me a message cursing me out back then. "Lucas, if you're going to be someone's ghostwriter for a woman, don't call me your friend anymore."

I hadn't replied at the time.

My finger hovered over the screen. I took a deep breath and relied.

"I've made up my mind. Is it still possible to pursue my dream now?"

I waited a few seconds. The screen showed she was typing.

Chloe only sent back a voice message. I could hear wind in the background.

"Lucas, I've been waiting for this call for four years. Tomorrow at ten in the morning. Same old place."

I closed my phone and looked at my reflection in the elevator mirror.

No one knew that my dream was to open a design studio that was truly my own.

Back then, I hadn't been worn down by life yet. All I thought about was architectural ideals.

Later, I hid that dream away and had Chloe guard that small flame for me.

I thought I'd never rekindle it in this lifetime.

I exited the chat and casually opened my cloud storage.

Inside were all the original drafts and revision records from four years of working for Mara.

No matter how much I loved her, as a designer's professional habit, I had kept the source files.

Lucas POV

That same day, I went straight to the front desk to check out.

I threw the carefully prepared anniversary gift into the lobby trash can.

I was pulling my suitcase at the hotel entrance, about to hail a cab, when Mara chased after me.

She blocked the taxi door, her face iron-gray. "Lucas, where are you going?"

"Back to New York." I opened the car door and shoved my suitcase into the back seat.

"What are you throwing a fit about?" Mara lowered her voice, annoyance in her tone. "You just walk away like this-where does that leave my reputation?"

I paused, then turned to look at her.

"That's your banquet, not mine."

Mara grabbed my sleeve, her nails digging into my flesh. "Lucas! When will you stop? I already told you this is just an act! I didn't hold it against you earlier, and now you're pushing your luck?"

She took a deep breath, seemingly trying to suppress her anger.

"I know you're upset, but you need to understand my difficulties. Xavier is a public figure. The studio has relied on him as our public face these past few years. If things go wrong today, millions in prior investment will go down the drain. As a member of the company, can't you be more mature?"

Over these four years, whenever I tried to claim my rightful due, she would use "the bigger picture" to suppress me.

As if my unwillingness to sacrifice made me immature and childish.

I didn't even have the desire to argue.

"Mara," my tone was calm, "I'll have my lawyer draft divorce papers. For the specific property division, my lawyer will contact you."

Mara clearly hadn't expected that.

Her pupils contracted slightly, a flash of shock crossing her face.

"Divorce?" She crossed her arms and laughed coldly. "Without me, you can't even pay rent in New York. Your mother is still lying in a nursing home. Who's been paying her medical bills every month? You?"

One major reason I'd agreed to stay in the background was that my mother had suddenly fallen ill and urgently needed a large sum for surgery. Mara had provided that money.

That was also why, no matter how much she exploited me these four years, I'd silently endured it.

I felt I owed her.

But she seemed to have forgotten that over these four years, the drawings I'd produced, the projects that won bids, the value I'd created had long surpassed those medical fees.

"That's none of your concern." I opened the car door and got in. "This divorce is final."

Seeing I was serious, Mara's expression finally changed.

Her eyes turned vicious. "Lucas, don't regret this! According to the prenup, you won't get a single cent of the studio's shares! Since you want to make a scene, fine-make one! When you calm down and can't afford medicine, don't come crawling back to me!"

She pulled a document folder from her bag and slammed it onto the passenger seat.

"I was going to let you rest on the island for a couple days, but since you want to leave, go back and work! The Brooklyn library project-final draft is due next week."

"Xavier will be entertaining clients these next few days and won't have time to draw. Go back and finish the proposal. If you don't do it right, don't blame me when your mother's medication gets cut off next month!"

I looked at the folder on the passenger seat.

This was a key city project-also critical to whether Mara's studio could go public this year.

At a time like this, she could still take for granted dumping work on me and threatening me with my mother's life.

I picked up the document folder.

Outside the car, Mara looked at me with contempt, probably thinking I'd compromised for the money. "After you finish this project, I'll transfer fifty thousand dollars as your closing fee. Driver, go!"

She slammed the car door for me, then turned and walked away without looking back.

The car started. I opened the folder and pulled out the materials inside.

This was a project costing over a hundred million dollars. The design requirements were extremely high. Xavier had struggled with it for two months without getting approval. The client had already issued an ultimatum.

If I walked away now, I could vent my anger temporarily, but I'd lose all claim to the four years of work I'd put in and the benefits I deserved.

Besides, a simple divorce agreement wouldn't be enough to completely bring them down.

I needed evidence.

That evidence was all on the company's internal network, in Mara's safe.

I had to go back.

Not only that. I had to make this project absolutely flawless.

Because only if they thought I was still under their control would they reveal their weaknesses.

"Sir, to the airport, right?" the driver asked carefully. "That earlier... was that a fight?"

I resealed the folder and leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes.

"No fight."

I said calmly, "To the airport."

Lucas POV

Three days after returning to the company, I clocked in on time.

The office was covered in banners, and the front desk displayed a poster of Xavier and Mara kissing on the island.

Several female colleagues huddled together sharing chocolates, their conversation loud.

"Mara and Xavier have such a great relationship."

"The island wedding cost two million dollars. They really know how to spend."

I walked through the crowd toward my corner workstation.

My spot was next to the printer, my desk piled with discarded paper.

No one paid attention to me.

"Lucas is here?"

Derek walked over holding a box of chocolates and casually tossed it onto my keyboard.

"Mara said everyone gets a share. Brought back from the island. A few hundred bucks a box."

I didn't look at the chocolates. I pressed the power button on my computer.

Seeing I wouldn't engage, Derek turned to the female colleague beside him and raised his voice. "Some people are just born to do grunt work. We eat souvenirs while they have to work."

Laughter rippled around me.

I logged into the company's internal network.

Derek was Xavier's assistant. I ignored him.

I opened the Brooklyn Library folder.

The initial draft inside was logically chaotic and completely unusable.

Obviously Xavier couldn't handle the client and dumped this mess on me.

I turned off the auto-sync function and changed the file path to my private network drive.

This time, the company wouldn't have backup copies of the source files.

"How's the proposal coming?" Mara's voice came from behind me.

The room instantly went quiet. Colleagues lowered their heads.

Mara stood by my workstation, staring at my screen.

"Just started." I answered.

"Hurry up." She tapped the desk. "Friday presentation. Xavier has a sore throat, so you'll present."

In the past, Xavier always handled these occasions while I assisted from below.

Having me go this time-I guessed the project was too difficult and Xavier was afraid of exposing himself.

"Got it."

Mara pointed at the chocolates on my keyboard. "Why aren't you eating them? You think they're beneath you?"

"I don't like them."

She sneered and turned to leave, but stopped after two steps. "My mom's sixtieth birthday banquet is this weekend. If the proposal passes, I'll let you make an appearance."

Attending Diana's birthday party as her legal spouse had become a reward.

"No need," I looked at the screen. "I'm busy."

Mara's expression darkened. "Suit yourself."

She clicked away in her heels into the general manager's office.

Ten minutes later, Xavier arrived.

He walked straight to my workstation, bent down, and lowered his voice. "Did you watch the whole thing that day? My wedding was pretty good, wasn't it? Thanks for the rough draft."

I stopped my mouse and turned to look at him, mockery in my voice. "It was good."

Xavier looked triumphant and straightened up. "Work hard. That's the only place you're useful."

He patted my shoulder, whistling as he walked away.

I pulled out a tissue, wiped the spot on my shoulder he'd touched, and tossed the crumpled tissue into the wastebasket by my feet.

Lucas POV

I went to the break room with my water cup.

Derek was leaning against the coffee machine, holding a half-eaten box of gift chocolates. When he saw me come in, he shifted to block the doorway.

"Lucas," he looked me up and down, "I heard you went to the island? Why didn't you go in for a drink before coming back?"

I walked around him to get water.

Derek followed, leaning against the water dispenser. "Stop pretending. Everyone in the company knows you have a crush on Mara. Look at yourself. Xavier is an overseas student-he's got talent and looks. You're just meant to draw. It's complete wishful thinking."

The water overfilled and some spilled, scalding my hand.

I ignored him and turned to leave.

Derek called out loudly behind me. "Stop having these inappropriate thoughts. They're a perfect match. People like you can only be background decoration."

Back at my workstation, Xavier was sitting on my desk.

He was holding an architectural model in his hand.

It was a small model I'd carved by hand the year I first joined the studio, given to Mara as a birthday gift.

Later, Mara thought it was tacky and casually tossed it in the company's junk pile. I picked it back up and kept it in the corner of my desk.

Xavier was playing with it, disgust on his face.

"What is this piece of junk?" He looked at me as I walked back. "Lucas, your taste has always been this terrible. Having something like this on the desk lowers the class of the entire studio."

I put down my water cup and reached for it. "Give it back."

Xavier raised his hand, dodging me.

A smile played at the corner of his mouth. His wrist relaxed, and the model dropped into the trash can by his feet.

"No need to thank me." He dusted off his hands and jumped down from the desk. "I'm just helping you clear out the garbage. From now on, only keep work-related things on your desk. Don't clutter it with this nonsense."

Low laughter came from around us.

Xavier straightened his collar, didn't even glance at me, and walked away.

Lucas POV

At three in the afternoon, my phone rang.

I walked to the window at the end of the hallway to answer.

"Lucas," my mother's voice was a bit weak, "it's getting cold these days. You and Mara need to take care of yourselves."

I gripped the phone tightly. "I know. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. I just miss you both. Has Mara been busy lately? If she is, don't make her come see me. You young people need to focus on your careers."

My mother was always like this, afraid of causing me trouble.

I was about to speak when I heard the sound of high heels behind me.

Mara was walking out of the elevator with her arm linked through Xavier's, followed by several administrative staff who'd just finished a meeting.

She saw me.

I saw her too.

Mara stopped, her gaze sweeping over the phone in my hand, a playful expression crossing her face.

She didn't avoid the situation. She turned to Xavier and said,

"Xavier, this weekend is my mom's birthday party. It's your first time attending as my partner. I've already prepared your gift. You need to make a good impression."

Her voice echoed in the empty hallway.

Silence on the other end of the phone.

A few seconds later, my mother's puzzled voice came through. "Lucas? Was that Mara's voice just now? What is she saying about a partner? What first time?"

I felt blood rushing to my head.

Mara stood not far away and tightened her grip on Xavier's arm.

Xavier smiled cooperatively. "Don't worry, I'll make sure your mom is satisfied."

"Lucas? What's going on? Is Mara talking to someone else?" My mother's voice grew anxious.

I took a deep breath and turned away.

"It's nothing. She's rehearsing lines. The company has a theater activity recently."

"Oh, you scared me. I thought..."

"I have a meeting. I have to go."

Without waiting for my mother to say more, I hung up directly.

Behind me came the sound of Mara and Xavier's laughter.

They walked into the elevator.

I looked at the darkened phone screen, my fingers gripping it until my knuckles turned white.

I put away my phone and turned back to the office.

The progress bar on my computer had just finished. File transfer complete.

Mara, I'm going to give you a gift you'll never forget.