Chapter 1

They called him "the guy who couldn't get his fiancée to the altar" around NovaFlight Dynamics.

Alex Miller knew it.

Thirty-two times.

Thirty-two times Jessica Thorne, his fiancée of seven years and a co-founder at NovaFlight, had canceled their City Hall wedding plans.

Today was supposed to be number thirty-three.

"Leo's stressed from work," Jessica had said over a rushed breakfast, not meeting his eye.

"He needs a break, a wellness retreat. Just a quick one."

Instead of their appointment. Instead of becoming Mr. and Mrs. Miller.

Alex had just pulled three all-nighters, his eyes gritty, his body aching, to finalize the engine designs for NovaFlight' s big satellite launch.

The launch was critical, their next funding round depended on it. His designs.

He nodded, too tired to argue. What was one more time?

The pre-launch celebration party buzzed around him that evening.

Alex leaned against a wall, a lukewarm drink in his hand, feeling like a ghost.

Jessica, radiant in a new dress, was across the room, lavishing attention on Leo Maxwell.

Leo, the charismatic junior engineer, technically inept but Jessica' s clear favorite.

She laughed, a bright, false sound, and then Alex saw it.

Jessica picked a canapé from her plate and fed it to Leo.

Leo, who smirked, catching Alex's eye for a fleeting second.

This, from Jessica, who always, always insisted on "maintaining professionalism" in the office.

The hypocrisy was a bitter taste in Alex' s mouth.

Later, Leo sauntered over, a smug grin plastered on his face.

He flashed a new luxury smartwatch.

"Gift from a mentor," Leo said, his voice dripping with false modesty. "Pretty neat, huh?"

It matched the one Jessica had bought last week, the one she' d claimed was a "personal investment."

Alex just stared, the exhaustion making the scene surreal.

Jessica didn't even glance his way.