Chapter 1

I pleaded with Chris Newton ninety-nine times before he finally agreed to marry me, so I could fulfill my mom's final wish.

But we waited for him at the wedding venue all day, and even when my mom passed away with regret in her heart, he never showed up.

Meanwhile, his childhood friend, Violet Nichols, posted a photo on her social media. She was wearing the wedding dress I'd custom-made, leaning shyly against his shoulder.

The caption read: [First couple photoshoot! I'm so lucky to have a guy who fulfills all my wishes.]

I called him in a rage, demanding answers, but Chris couldn't care less.

He said, "Violet wanted to do a couple photoshoot. Since we had a wedding dress on hand, we borrowed it. Besides, it's just one time I stood you up. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? Forgive me this time, okay?"

This was the hundredth time he'd stood me up.

I let it slide ninety-nine times, but this time, I was done with it.

By the time I finished dealing with my mom's funeral, it was already deep into the night.

Out of habit, I unlocked my phone. The chat with Chris was still empty. He didn't reply.

But on my social media feed, Violet had posted more than twenty updates.

She and Chris were dressed in a white wedding gown and suit, snapping photos in the park, on the lawn, at the aquarium, and at the amusement park.

They took dozens of sets, looking every bit like newlyweds on a wedding photoshoot.

Our mutual friends were all commenting below.

[Wow, the childhood sweetheart story just became real!]

[I'm so happy!]

[See? I told you Violet and Chris are meant to be. Phoebe is just the other woman.]

*****

Everyone in the comments was cheering, and it felt like a slap in the face.

To them, Chris and Violet were the perfect couple who finally ended up together. But what about me? After seven years as Chris's girlfriend, did I even matter?

It seemed I was nothing, after all.

After all, I'd begged Chris ninety-nine times before he finally, and reluctantly, agreed to marry me.

But with just one request from Violet, Chris changed his mind in an instant.

He grabbed the custom-made wedding dress and suit, rushed over to her without hesitation, and spent the whole day by her side, playing the perfect boyfriend for their couple photoshoot.

Meanwhile, I waited for Chris for eight hours, only to get a few empty excuses in return. He couldn't even spare me thirty minutes.

I took a deep breath and texted Chris. [We're done. Let's break up.]

Chris called me right away, sounding clearly annoyed.

He said, "Can't you stop being so petty? Yes, I didn't make it today. So what? Why can't you let it go for once?"

For seven years, Chris always ditched me whenever Violet wanted him, ninety-nine times in total.

But I loved him, so I kept forgiving him, kept giving in, kept letting it go.

This was the hundredth time. I was done forgiving him.

I said, my voice rough and shaky, "Chris, I'm serious. I saw all the photos you took with Violet. Shouldn't I leave so you two can be together?"

Chris's voice suddenly rose. "Why do you always have to think the worst? Nothing is going on between Violet and me.

"Violet lost her parents in a car accident when she was a kid. She has separation anxiety. If no one's with her, she could have an episode. Can't you have a little empathy?

"And your mom wanted to see us get married, right? What's the big deal? We can have the ceremony again in a few days."

I had lost count of how many times I had heard this excuse.

Every time Chris and I went out, Violet would call and pull the "I'm not feeling well" card, and he'd drop everything to rush to her side.

Did Violet seriously not have any other friends? Was Chris supposed to be some magic fix for all her problems?

Honestly, it felt like Violet was always finding ways to take Chris away from me.

Chris never thought he was doing anything wrong, which was ridiculous. He kept abandoning me for Violet, time and time again.

Even today, when all I wanted was to fulfill my mom's dying wish and marry Chris, he still went straight to Violet without a second thought.

I gazed at my mother's urn on the table, the silence stretching on and on before I finally spoke, my voice barely above a whisper. "My mom has passed away."

The line went suddenly quiet, and Chris's voice turned gentle.

He said, "Phoebe, I had no idea. Hold on, I'll come to you right now and stay with you."

The clock on the wall crept from one to three, but the house stayed empty.

Chris never came back.

Just then, Violet updated her social media feed again.

In the new photo, she was holding a sparkler, smiling brightly at the camera.