Dumping Ex And Spoiled by Mr. Hopkins

She, Lexie Baily, was finally getting married to Callum Wallace.

The wedding music kicked in, and there she was, Lexie, in her stunning white wedding gown, strutting down the carpet towards Callum at the other end.

Callum, all decked out in a white suit, basking in a golden glow, giving off that gentle and refined vibe. He was still the man that had Lexie at hello.

They'd been in love for three years, highs and lows. And now, she got her wish.

The only regret was her family wasn't exactly giving their blessing to this marriage. Life's not always a wish-granting factory, is it?

As Callum held her hands, Lexie's eyes got misty with tears of joy.

The priest up on the stage said, "Groom, do you willingly take this woman before you as your wife, to establish the covenant of marriage with her? Love her, care for her, respect her, accept her, and be faithful to her until the end of your life, in sickness and in health, for any other reasons?"

Lexie tried to hold her excitement in check, looking at Callum, hoping for a clear "I do."

Callum's face, though, wasn't exactly a picture of joy. He seemed hesitant, lacking that usual wedding buzz.

And then...

"Cal, something's wrong!" Jillian Wallace, with tears clouding her eyes, burst in from outside, cutting off Callum. She was choked up, like a helpless child. "Abbie, she... she..."

A chill ran down Lexie's spine. She nervously eyed Callum, subconsciously squeezing his hand.

Abbie's name held a lot of weight for Callum, and Lexie knew it too well.

Abbie was Callum's unattainable goddess, the love of his life.

When the Wallace family hit a rough patch, Abbie gave up Callum for a chance to go abroad. In a fit of pride, Callum broke up with Abbie and chose Lexie.

But a month ago, Abbie popped back into the picture.

Callum's face changed instantly, his voice betraying panic. "What happened to Abbie?"

"Abbie's bleeding a lot, and they can't stop it. The doctor says she might be in serious danger!" Jillian said.

At that, Callum let go of Lexie's hand and bolted out.

"You can't go!" Lexie stepped forward, gripping Callum's hand. Her body shook uncontrollably, eyes fixed on him. "Callum, today's our wedding ceremony. Are you really leaving?"

The whispers and side-eye glances from the audience felt like blades to her heart.

With teary eyes, she pleaded, "Callum, please. Can we at least finish our wedding vows?"

"Abbie got hurt because she's trying to save me from a car accident. I can't leave her alone," Callum tried to shake off Lexie's hand but found her unusually persistent.

His expression darkened, and a hint of hostility crept into his gaze. "Lexie, don't pretend this marriage means anything to you. It's just a deal. Play your role as Mrs. Wallace, and stay out of my affairs!"

A deal...

Lexie's eyes widened. She stared at Callum's cold, resolute face, the shock in her eyes slowly turning into a faint mockery.

Suddenly, a scornful curve appeared at the corner of her mouth, and a soft voice tinged with sorrow said, "So, you think our relationship was just a deal?!"

"Yes!" Callum's response was clear, no hesitation.

Lexie's heart squeezed, like it got smacked hard, pounding with a heavy ache.

Callum threw out a quick apology and left in a hurry.

Lexie stood there, eyes on Callum as he disappeared. Her heart felt like someone took a blunt knife to it, making it tough to breathe.

A chill ran through her, starting from the soles of her feet.

When Callum took over the Wallace family business, they were on the brink of going bankrupt with a broken financial chain.

He swore the current shaky state of the company couldn't guarantee her a secure future but promised marriage once things got steady.

For years, she kept that promise in heart. Worked hard and used her family connections to help him climb from nobody to somebody, all to get her family to accept him and marry him soon.

But, the great shock to her - after three years side by side, it was just a "deal" for him.

In this love game, she was the only one who fell hard, from start to finish.

She gave three years, but to him, it was a joke.

Lexie bit her lip, trying to hold back tears, but they spilled out like beads off a broken pearl necklace.

Her eyes reflected a profound sadness that seemed to permeate every aspect of her being.

Jillian, close by, saw Lexie crying and smirked. "Lexie, seriously, if it wasn't for your non-stop chasing, my brother wouldn't have settled for a country girl like you, with zero education and no family pedigree. Do yourself a favor, just leave the Wallace family before we kick you out!"

Lexie, hearing Jillian's heartless words, felt a chill. "Remember, without me, there wouldn't be this Wallace family as it is."

"Bullshit!" Jillian pointed at Lexie, mad. "You think you're a big deal? Without you, the Wallace family would still thrive!"

Lexie's heart hurt. Was this how the Wallaces saw her?

"Enough! Let's wrap it up for today." Callum's mother, Melina Wallace, looking fed up, stood and walked toward Lexie like she'd seen something disgusting. "Look at yourself. You're an embarrassment, and the Wallace family can't be linked to you!"

After that, Melina put on a fake smile and greeted the guests.

Lexie just stood, seeing everyone bail, turning what was supposed to be her dream wedding into a total joke.

Why did she end up like this? She gave him her true love, and what did she do wrong to deserve this?

Just because she fell for a man who didn't love her back?

Lexie slowly shut her eyes, tears rolling down again.

Thirty minutes later, Lexie wandered on the empty street, like a lost soul without a home.

It started raining. Soon, the drizzle turned into a downpour.

She scanned around, and except for a bus stop not far away, there was no shelter. She ran barefoot towards it.

Unfortunately, when it rains, it pours. Sharp stones cut Lexie's bare feet. She winced, gritting her teeth, hobbling to the bus stop.

Beep—

A loud honk echoed through the quiet street.

Watching the approaching vehicle, Lexie widened her eyes, pupils trembling intensely.