Chapter 1

The day I served as Sophie Miller's bridesmaid, Sophie suddenly handed me an envelope stuffed with cash.

Sophie looked at me with pleading eyes and said, "Lily, Jack got held up with an emergency and he won't make it in time for the ceremony. I need to borrow your boyfriend to stand in as the groom."

I watched my boyfriend, Henry Shaw, exchange rings with the bride, and his face lit up with happiness as he pulled her into an embrace and kissed her. The whole church erupted in applause, but I stood frozen at the altar.

After the ceremony ended, Henry tried to explain everything away. He shrugged and said, "The officiant told me what to do, and I just followed along. You accepted Sophie's money, so I had to make it look real.

But I never agreed to any of this.

In the months that followed, people kept pulling me aside with the same accusation. They would whisper, "Lily, why do you keep meeting up with Sophie's husband? Are you trying to steal him from her?"

Henry heard the rumors, but he never defended me. He stayed silent every single time.

I stared at the silver wedding band on his ring finger. He refused to take it off.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in years. My mother picked up on the second ring, and I took a deep breath before speaking.

I said, "Mom, you were right all along. Love doesn't pay the bills like a career does. I'm ready to come home and go through with that arranged marriage so I can inherit the family business."

*****

Silence hung on the other end of the line for a few seconds before my mother's cold voice came through. "Fine. Someone will pick you up in a month."

I hung up and sniffled hard, wiping the tears from the corners of my eyes.

Henry walked up behind me, and his voice cut through the air. "You stormed off just because I wouldn't explain myself? That's incredibly rude."

I was afraid that if I opened my mouth, I'd break down crying.

I tried to walk past him and go back inside, but he blocked my path.

I thought he might apologize or at least explain himself, but instead, he said something that made my blood boil.

"Go in there and apologize to everyone so we can smooth this over. Sophie's here too, and you don't want to make things awkward for her, right?"

I yanked my arm away from him and let out a bitter laugh. "Henry, who's actually your girlfriend here?"

He didn't even hesitate. "What's gotten into you lately? You're my girlfriend. You've always been my girlfriend."

"Then why the hell should I be the one apologizing?"

I turned and marched back inside, fuming as I dropped into a seat in the corner. Apologize? Why should I apologize when I didn't do anything wrong?

Henry walked in a moment later and acted like nothing had happened, but he glanced at me with a frown.

One of Sophie's coworkers waved him over with a bright smile. "Why are you just standing there? Come sit next to Sophie! We're about to play dice."

I stared straight at Henry and watched him walk right past me to sit down next to Sophie.

The two of them settled in side by side, looking for all the world like a happy couple.

Sophie's face flushed red, and she lowered her head. Then she stood up, walked over to me, and took my hand.

"Lily, come join us," Sophie said. "Everyone's here together, so sitting by yourself doesn't feel right."

The people here were all Sophie and Henry's friends.

I'd come to Bayview City to be with Henry, running from an arranged marriage to chase real love instead.

The only people I knew were Henry and Sophie, and only the three of us knew about my relationship with Henry.

I gave a tight smile and scanned the room, catching the strange expressions on everyone's faces.

Henry kept his head down, playing with the dice in his hands, and he didn't even glance my way.

I pushed Sophie's hand away and said, "Nah, I'm fine here. I'd just be a third wheel over there."

Sophie awkwardly pulled her hand back and sat down next to Henry again.

They were laughing and having fun, and even though I'd meant that comment for Henry, all his attention was on Sophie.

I sat there feeling invisible and forgotten, and something cold settled in my chest.

The awkward, suffocating atmosphere was unbearable, so I left the room to get some air.

Suddenly, someone shoved me from behind.

"Hey, do me a favor and stay away from Sophie's husband," a girl sneered. "I've seen desperate girls before, but you're a whole new level of shameless."

Anger flared through me, and I shot back, "First of all, I didn't steal anyone's husband. Henry was my boyfriend first, and she's the one who stole him from me."

She laughed in my face and said, "You've got to be kidding me. They're married and you're claiming he's yours? You're living in a fantasy. That's pathetic."

I explained what had happened, but they all stared at me like I was an idiot.

They dragged me back into the room, turned off the music, and one of them asked Henry, "Henry, she's saying you're her boyfriend and that your marriage to Sophie is fake. Is that true?"

The room fell silent, and everyone waited for Henry's answer.

So was I.

I looked straight at Henry and said, "Henry, I need you to tell everyone today that I'm your girlfriend. You and Sophie were just a mistake."

The moment those words left my mouth, my heart started pounding.

Henry stared at me for a few seconds before he stood up and met my eyes, a smile playing on his lips. I thought he would explain everything. If he just explained...

I thought he would explain everything. If he had explained, maybe I wouldn't have to go back for that arranged marriage and inheritance deal.