Chapter 1

On our wedding night, Adam said he was going out to buy cigarettes.

I waited for him all night in our bridal suite.

At three in the morning, my best friend, Sophie Young, sent me a photo.

Adam was outside his ex-girlfriend's apartment, braving the pouring rain to bring her medicine.

I didn't cry or make a scene. I was eerily calm.

The next day, he came back, his suit soaked, carrying ninety-nine roses in his arms.

When he opened the door, the roses tumbled to the floor.

Because the bridal suite was full of people.

My dad, my mom, my lawyer, Mr. Warren, and my friend from the county clerk's office.

On the table were the divorce papers and the full video of him delivering medicine in the rain.

I smiled and said, "Done playing doctor? Good, let's sign the papers."

His legs gave out, and he fell to his knees on the rose petals.

*****

The door closed.

With a soft click.

Adam Carter turned back and smiled at me.

Adam said, "Honey, I'm going downstairs to buy a pack of cigarettes. I'll be right back."

I nodded. "Okay."

I still hadn't changed out of my red reception dress; the silk clung to my skin, cool against me.

The bridal suite was quiet.

The food on the table was barely touched and already cold.

On the wall, our giant wedding photo showed us grinning like nothing could ever go wrong.

I sat back on the couch, watching the clock on the wall.

The minute hand went around once.

Then it went around again.

Two hours slipped by.

The wind outside started to pick up, rattling the windows.

I picked up my phone, about to call him.

The screen lit up, and a WhatsApp message popped up.

It was from Sophie.

A photo followed right after.

It was nighttime, pouring rain, the streetlights casting a hazy glow.

A man was holding an umbrella, sheltering a woman close under it.

That man was Adam.

I stared at the side of his face for a long time.

The photo was so clear, every detail stood out.

The concern etched on his face was genuine.

The woman's face was buried in his chest, so I couldn't see her.

But I knew exactly who she was.

Vanessa Wynn.

His ex-girlfriend.

My phone buzzed again, Sophie had sent another message.

Sophie wrote: [My friend just took this, he's outside his ex's apartment.]

I didn't reply.

My finger hovered over the screen.

It felt like a cold hand had seized my heart, making it stop for a split second.

Then it started pounding even harder, thudding against my chest.

It hurt.

But I didn't cry. Not even a single tear.

I turned off my phone and set it down on the coffee table.

I got up and walked over to the window.

Raindrops slammed against the glass, streaming down and blurring the world outside.

Just like my life at this moment.

My whole world felt just as blurry.

I stood there for a long time. Until my legs went numb.

My mind felt both empty and overflowing.

Three years of dating, his proposal vows, every moment from our wedding today, memories flickered through my mind one after another.

He once said, "Claire Sutton, I'll spend my whole life making you the happiest woman in the world."

His whole life.

Turns out, his "whole life" only lasted eight hours.

From the moment the wedding ended to the second he stepped out for cigarettes.

Suddenly, I couldn't help but think how absurd it all was.

I let out a low, bitter laugh.

The cold hand that had been squeezing my heart slowly let go.

The chill faded, replaced by a strange, eerie calm.

It was the eerie stillness that comes after a storm.

I walked back to the coffee table and picked up my phone.

I didn't even bother to open Adam's messages.

Instead, I scrolled through my contacts until I found "Dad."

I hit call.

After three rings, he picked up.

"Claire? Why are you still up so late?" My dad sounded tired, but his voice was gentle.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady.

I asked, "Dad, were you sleeping?"

My dad said, "Not yet, was just about to. What's wrong? Did Adam give you a hard time?"

I said, "No."

My voice was steady.

I said, "Dad, I need your help with something."

My dad said, "Go ahead."

I asked, "Can you get in touch with Mr. Warren and have him come to my place first thing tomorrow?"

There was a brief silence on the other end.

My dad's no fool.

He caught on right away.

"What did he do?" My dad's voice turned cold.

"Nothing," I said. "I just need some legal advice."

I didn't want to unload all this drama onto my parents on my wedding night.

This was something I had to deal with myself.

I'll handle it on my own.

"Alright," my dad said, not pressing for details. "I'll get in touch with him right away. Claire, remember, no matter what happens, your family will always have your back."

I said, "I know, Dad."

After hanging up, I called up Sophie.

"Hey, Claire? Are you alright? Please don't cry!" Sophie sounded really worried.

"I'm not crying," I said, heading to the fridge. I grabbed a bottle of cold water, twisted off the cap, and took a big gulp.

The icy water slid down my throat, clearing my head a bit.

I asked, "Sophie, is there any way your friend could get a video?"

Sophie was stunned.

Sophie asked, "A video? What do you need a video for?"

I said, "I want the full video, in HD, clear enough to see every face and every move."

Sophie faltered. "Claire, you..."

I said, "I want him to lose everything, his reputation, his dignity, and walk away with nothing."

My voice was quiet, but every word was cold as ice.

On the other end, Sophie went quiet.

After a few seconds, she sounded like she'd made up her mind.

Sophie said, "All right. Just wait. Even if I have to tie them to a lamppost myself, I'll make sure you get all the video you need."

I said, "Thanks."

"Don't be so polite with me!" Sophie paused, still worried. "Are you really okay?"

I said, "I'm fine."

I glanced out the window. The rain outside was pouring even harder now.

"I'm more than fine," I said, almost daring the world to doubt me.

After hanging up, I went back to the couch.

I didn't sleep a wink that night.