Chapter 3
I stood there for what felt like forever.
My mind raced through everything.
My parents died when I was little, and I was shipped off to live with my uncle’s family.[]
My cousin bullied me constantly while my aunt turned a blind eye.[]
When I was too scared to speak up, Sienna Marlowe spoke up for me. When I was too scared to fight back, Sienna fought for me.[]
Academically, I was sharper than Sienna.[]
Every scholarship and prize money I earned, I split with her.[]
She was an only child who never cared much about school.[]
Senior year, I dragged her to study sessions every night, breaking down every concept until she understood.
I motivated her, painted dreams of our future together.[]
We both got into Columbia.[]
Sophomore year, I caught my boyfriend cheating.
The second Sienna heard, she stormed over to their hotel, beat the hell out of him, and tore into the other
After graduation, we shared a tiny studio apartment, both completely lost about our futures.
.0
Every night we’d huddle under the same blanket, spinning fantasies about getting rich and taking care of each other.[]
“If we make it big, we stick together.“]
“Share a bed now, share a penthouse later.“[]
We’d been inseparable since childhood. I’d long considered her family.
Maybe family doesn’t love you unconditionally, but I believed she
So when I was faced with her betrayal, I couldn’t even muster the strength to confront her.]
The same person who once fought my battles and destroyed a homewrecke
for me had become the homewrecker in my life.
My complete trust had been repaid with brutal betrayal.[]
As left the Meridian, the moon hung high overhead, and I felt cold to my
core.
I thought back to how Chase and I began.[]
At twenty–five, I’d clawed my way up to chief designer at New York’s top wedding plannin
firm.
I was setting up for Griffin Hale’s estate wedding.[]
So I Svid 1 part at the Altar
15.4%
After pulling an all–nighter supervising the setup, my blood sugar crashed and I collapsed headfirst into a two–foot fountain.]]
Chase happened to be walking by and pulled me out.]
The image of him carrying me in his arms, water dripping from his hair, looking at me with those intense eyes–I fell for him instantly.
I found out about his wealthy background and his reputation as a player, which made me keep my distance.[]
But Chase cleaned up his act and spent a full year pursuing me seriously.
His pursuit was respectful, thoughtful, and genuine.]
That New Year’s Eve, I went back to my hometown to visit my parents‘ graves, and my phone died.]
After three hours of no contact, Chase panicked that I’d had another hypoglycemic episode and collapsed somewhere remote. He drove hundreds of miles to find me.[]
I found him standing in a field wearing nothing but a thin shirt, craning his neck, helplessly wiping away tears as he called my name desperately.
That’s when I thought: Mom, Dad, this is the one I want.]
Through three years together, I never felt Chase’s love fading.[]
He’d kneel down in crowded department stores to help me try on shoes.
He’d hunt down herbal remedies for my cramps and personally brew them for me.
e.[
Before meeting his parents, he’d prep them thoroughly so I wouldn’t face a single doubt or slight.[]
He’d bring me to high–society events and proudly introduce me to everyone.[]
“This is my fiancée, Vivienne Alcott, chief designer at ArtGreen. You can call her Miss Alcott.“]
“She’s incredible–won countless design awards. She designed Princess Josephine’s wedding of the century. People
services two years out.”
are
booking her
“Actually, bookings start the year after new invitations!”
t because
next year we’re getting married–and we’re going
all
out!
You’ll
His love was so intense, so perfect.[]
Which made this flaw so hideous and devastating.[]
I went to a hotel and cried my heart out.[]
I kept telling myself–so what if I got backstabbed? So what if I got played?[]
We hadn’t had the ceremony yet, hadn’t signed the papers. It wasn’t too late.
I could disappear, get far away from this place.[]
Get far away from these monsters.]
Chapter 3
But I wasn’t the one who did
anything wrong. Why should I be the one
slinking away in
shame?
I was going to get revenge.
And
what needed examining
was my judgment and discernment,
not my sincerity and
kindness.[]
I did nothing wrong.[]
I was fine.]
