Chapter 1

On my wedding day with Ned, someone suggested we play a game. They wanted to blindfold him, then have him touch each girl's face and guess which one was me.

The room lit up right away. People laughed and cheered. "Just kiss her with your eyes closed!" someone shouted. "Guessing is no fun."

I stood in the middle of my bridesmaids, my heart racing as I waited for him to find me.

But then Ned reached out, cupped my best friend Ellen's face, and kissed her.

For a second, the laughter died down. People stared, confused, and then rushed forward to pull him away.

But he was kissing her passionately, as if he meant it. No one could separate them. In fact, he and Ellen held on to each other even tighter.

The best man yanked off Ned's blindfold. The second Ned saw Ellen's face, he froze and let her go.

"I'm sorry, Amber," he said quickly. "I made a mistake. I'll go rinse my mouth right now."

I stepped forward and stopped him. Then I tore off my veil and threw it onto the floor. "No need. Let's just get divorced now."

Five years ago, I ran into a fire to save him. The flames left my face badly burned. Even if he could not see, all he had to do was touch my face. He would have known it was me.

And the one who came up with this little game was Ned. The same Ned who, five years ago, had stood in front of me, staring at my scarred face with tears in his eyes.

*****

"Amber, are you really going to divorce him over something so small? With a face like that, who else is going to want you besides Ned? If you can't let it go, why not get even? Let a few of us hug you and kiss you."

One of the groomsmen behind Ned reached out and tried to grab my waist. His eyes were playful, but there was something sick underneath.

This wasn't the first time they had humiliated me like this.

And it wasn't the first time Ned had pretended not to see.

Suddenly, Ellen covered her face and ran out, crying. Maybe Ned didn't even notice. From beginning to end, his eyes had been on her.

The last time I saw that kind of worry on his face was five years ago, when I came out of surgery.

"Why aren't you going after her?" I asked, stepping in front of him to stop him.

Ned frowned, clearly torn. "Amber, I didn't mean it like that. All our friends and family are here today. Can you just give me some respect? Think about the bigger picture.

"I swear, there's nothing going on between Ellen and me. What do I have to do to make you believe me?"

People around him immediately started chiming in, backing him up and telling me that I was overreacting.

Then a scream cut through the noise from the living room. "Help! Miss Titterington cut her wrist!"

Ned's face went pale. He shot to his feet, shoved past everyone, and ran straight toward the kitchen.

The promise he had just made hit me like a slap.

He rushed out so fast that his phone slipped from his hand and hit the floor.

The screen was still on. It showed a chat between him and Ellen.

[Let's end this with one last kiss. Kiss me in front of Amber tomorrow. I promise I won't bother you again after that.]

Ellen had sent it just a minute before coming into my room.

Ned had replied almost instantly: [Okay.]

Ned had replied almost instantly: [Okay.]

That single word tore through the last fragile piece of my heart.

"I really tried to accept it, but I just couldn't. If it weren't for that fire five years ago, if Amber hadn't run in to save you, I should be the one you're marrying." Ellen lay on the kitchen floor, clutching a fruit knife.

Her eyes were red and swollen, her voice raw from crying. She looked up at Ned as if she were about to fall apart.

When she saw me walk in, she struggled up and then dropped to her knees, crawling toward me. "Amber, I'm begging you. Please let him go. Okay?

"Ned doesn't love you. The person he really loves is me. He married you because you saved him. He felt guilty, and that's all.

"Didn't you notice? He never looks at your face when you two sleep together. It's because your scars disgust him.

"And those stains on your sofa and carpet? That's because he couldn't even get aroused with you. He needed me to help him finish."

It was like she had nothing left to lose. Every word she said was cruel, raw, and meant to hurt.

I stood there, completely frozen. It felt like the blood in my body had turned to ice.

I looked at Ned.

He didn't explain. He didn't deny it. He didn't even look at me.

Ellen pressed the knife harder against her wrist. The cut grew deeper. Blood burst out, spilling onto the floor.

Around me, relatives whispered. Their voices felt like needles stabbing into my ears.

Ned rushed forward, scooped Ellen up into his arms, and ran out like he had lost his mind. "Move! Everyone, move! We're going to the hospital!"

Right before he left, he glanced at me. "Amber, I'm sorry. I'll make it right."

With someone's life on the line, everyone quickly found excuses to leave.

Ned, Ellen, and I had grown up together in the same orphanage. None of us had parents.

A moment ago, the room had been full of people. Now, it was empty.

Only the pool of blood in front of me remained.

My legs gave out. I collapsed onto the floor. I picked up my phone and called a number I hadn't touched in ten years. "Dad, I'm ready to come home. Please send the butler to pick me up."