Chapter 1
I saw the photo just as Lucas Grant was holding me from behind, his chest bare. Sabrina Reed was wearing my custom engagement ring—the one he'd designed for me.
His voice was drowsy against my neck. "What's so interesting?"
I locked my phone and met his gaze. My smile felt tight. "Did you ever pick up that diamond ring you ordered for me six months ago?"
He nuzzled my neck and replied lazily, "Oh, that. Sabrina's wearing it. She needed something for last night's event. You'll get it when she's done."
My smile vanished. I pushed his hands away.
His face immediately darkened with irritation.
He said, "Bridget, if you want our wedding to happen, don't be difficult.
"It's just a ring. You'll have it back.
"Don't you realize the real priority here?"
*****
Lucas' sharp features were mirrored in the floor-to-ceiling window.
The smile faded from his lips as he sat down on the couch.
When I didn't say anything for a while, he frowned again, his impatience showing.
"Bridget, Sabrina's just a schoolmate from college. Do you really have to be this jealous?" he said.
I pressed my lips together, forcing a smile after a long pause. "I'm sorry. Don't be mad."
Whenever we fought, I was always the one to give in. It had become second nature to me—and to him, too.
His expression softened a little as he pulled me back into his arms.
Late at night, his steady breathing brushed against my ear, but sleep was nowhere to be found.
My mind kept going back to that photo I'd seen on my feed.
It showed Sabrina's fine fingers were laced tightly with someone else's, and I instantly recognized the watch on that wrist. It was the Patek Philippe Lucas wore every day. My heart clenched.
I didn't sleep a wink that night.
Three days later, I finally got the ring back. There was a note stuffed inside the box.
It read: [Lucas and the ring will be mine eventually.]
The sloppy scrawl was instantly recognizable. It was Sabrina's.
Before I could even get angry, my phone started ringing.
Chaos erupted from the other end. A crowd was chanting, "Kiss! Kiss!"
"Luke and Brie, kiss!" someone shouted.
I lost track of how long I'd stayed on the line.
When the call finally disconnected, I realized I'd clenched my fists so hard that my freshly done wedding manicure had snapped, and my palm was a mess of blood and broken nails.
My hand shook as I lifted it, and only then did the pain hit me.
Tomorrow was supposed to be our wedding day, so tonight Lucas threw one last wild party to blow off steam.
But somehow, I ended up going to the party myself. Lucas was right in the middle of a crowd of people in revealing outfits, his arm draped around Sabrina, grinning like he didn't have a care in the world.
Both he and Sabrina were flushed and tipsy.
Someone noticed me standing at the door and blurted out, "Hey, Bridget..."
The whole place went dead silent.
Sabrina's eyes were glazed from the booze as she looked at me, stunned for a moment before her pretty face turned beet red. "Bridget, you're here. Wait, it's not what it looks like. We were just playing a stupid game, and this was the punishment for losing..."
She put on a show of panic, but I could see the smug satisfaction and challenge flickering in her eyes.
Sabrina was Lucas' junior back at Riverdale University. They were the golden couple on campus. Everyone thought they'd end up together.
But then Sabrina went overseas for her studies, and the two of them drifted apart.
In the end, I was the one who won Lucas over, and now our wedding was just days away.
But ever since Sabrina came back, everything had changed.
Lucas rubbed his forehead, frowning at me. "Bridget, what are you doing here? Checking up on me?"
I bit my lip, swallowing my embarrassment, and walked over to him. "You've had too much to drink. Let me take you home."
I tried to take his hand.
Lucas shoved me away. "Don't touch me!"
Sabrina put on her best fake concern, her voice syrupy sweet. "Don't be upset, Bridget. You just came because you care about Lucas, right? Seriously, it was just a misunderstanding. Don't take it the wrong way, okay?"
The people nearby tried to laugh it off, tossing out excuses, but Lucas just acted like he couldn't care less.
His attitude stung like a slap in front of everyone, and all my pent-up frustration boiled over. "A misunderstanding? What kind of game requires you two to be that close? Why don't I join? Let me play too."
I blinked back tears, scanning the room. "So, who wants to play with me?"
I grabbed some guy by the collar. "You. You'll do. Let's play."
Lucas' face was thunderous as he smashed his wine glass, shards scattering everywhere. "Bridget, enough. Just go home. Now."
The whole place went dead silent. I locked eyes with Lucas, neither of us saying a word.
He still had that look, just waiting for me to cave like always.
My mind was all over the place, replaying those sweet moments we used to share.
In the end, I was the one who gave in.
"Just one more chance. Tomorrow is our wedding. Everything will be fine," I told myself.