Chapter 1

After the engagement party ended, I went to the lounge to look for Jared Shipley, but I overheard him talking to a friend while drunk.

He said, "I don't love Kristen Stovall. The one I want to marry was Erica Moreland."

His friend sighed. "Then why didn't you marry Erica? Why did you even get engaged to Kristen?"

Jared muttered, "My family wanted a proper match. They never would have accepted Erica into the family. Kristen likes me. Her background is good, and my parents approved of the match."

I lowered my eyes and swallowed the bitterness in my throat.

I did like Jared.

However, my family never lacked options for a marriage alliance.

*****

As I was about to lift my dress to leave, I overheard Jared's friend say, "Stop talking nonsense. What if Kristen comes in and hears you?"

I stopped in my tracks, wanting to see what Jared would say next.

Jared yelled out, "So what if Kristen hears? She's head over heels for me. Even if she finds out, she won't leave me.

"Man, you have no idea how hard this has been for me. When I was making the rounds with the toast today, all I wanted was for Erica to be the one by my side.

"Seriously, take it from me. Marry someone you truly love. Otherwise, you'll be miserable, just like I am."

Hearing that, I couldn't help but pull a smile that was even uglier than crying.

I never knew Jared had said yes to being with me, to getting engaged, all while feeling so miserable.

I scrunched up my nose, my eyes stinging with tears I refused to let fall.

As I walked out, I ran straight into a waiter.

The coffee I'd ordered for Jared spilled all over my designer gown, and the waiter started apologizing, flustered.

"It's fine. Don't bother making another cup. Just pretend I was never here," I said.

I'd asked for the coffee earlier because Jared had been knocking back drinks nonstop tonight.

I thought he was happy.

Now I realized just how pathetic I must have seemed.

The waiter tried to say something, but I hurried out before he could finish.

I sat in my car, staring blankly for a long time before finally making a call.

"Will you be my groom in my wedding two months from now?" I asked.

There was a long pause on the other end before a voice finally said, "Okay."

My grandpa's health was getting worse, and the doctors said he didn't have much time left. All he wanted was to see me walk down the aisle. As long as I got married, my uncles won't be able to get their hands on the inheritance my parents left for me.

So when Jared asked me to marry him, I agreed without a second thought.

But today, I finally realized just how much he had been hurting inside.

When I returned to the newly decorated home that was supposed to be Jared and my wedding nest, all I felt was emptiness.

Just days ago, I'd been happily chatting with the designer about how I wanted everything to look.

In the living room, a few big suitcases I'd had moved in were still sitting there, untouched. Now, it looked like I'd be moving them out again before I'd even settled in.

A cold numbness swept through my heart.

I had fallen for Jared the moment I met him, but being together was all part of the Shipley family's scheme.

At first, Jared was just distant and polite, but eventually he started to warm up to me.

I thought he was falling for me too.

*****

Jared called just as I was ripping down the oversized engagement photo in the bedroom.

I picked up, hearing his heavy breathing on the other end. He said, "They told me you already left. Why'd you leave without waiting for me?"

"I was tired, so I came back early," I said, keeping my tone flat.

He went quiet for a few seconds, then finally said, "I've got stuff to deal with tonight, so I'm not heading back. I'll come get you for breakfast in the morning."

"Okay," I replied.

Today was our engagement party, and Jared and I had planned to spend our very first night together in our new home.

After hanging up, I went back to my apartment and started searching for my passport.

But no matter how hard I looked, I just couldn't find it.

Then I remembered I'd taken it over to Jared's place last time, thinking it'd be easier when we went to get our marriage license.

But now that I wasn't planning to marry him anymore, it didn't make sense to leave it at his place.

*****

The next morning, I got up early and headed over to Jared's apartment.

Jared often crashed at the office to catch up on work, usually coming home to rest in the afternoon.

But when I opened the door, the first thing I saw was a pair of long legs.

Erica was standing there, wearing the shirt I'd bought for Jared, and our eyes locked.

So this was what Jared meant by "having stuff to deal with" last night.

"Kristen, um..." Erica looked at me, caught off guard, while the eggs in the pan were starting to burn.

"Where's Jared?" I asked.

"He... he's still sleeping," Erica said, biting her lip, a bit embarrassed, her face the picture of innocence.

Honestly, I couldn't even put into words how awkward this was: me, standing there while his secretary, dressed in his shirt, cooked him breakfast.

But after hearing Jared spill his heart out last night, there was nothing left in me but pain.

When I headed for the bedroom, Erica moved to block my path.