Chapter 1

At my thirty-second birthday party, the childhood friend I’d loved for nine years was taking bets.

The bet was on how hard I would cry.

He had no idea I’d been married for three weeks.

“She’ll cry,” Logan said.

He pinned a stack of cash beneath his champagne glass. “Five minutes. That’s how long before she begs me not to marry someone else.”

Someone spotted me.

The laughter faded.

Logan turned without a trace of embarrassment.

He simply raised his glass, as if this were still the birthday surprise he’d promised me.

“Claire. Perfect timing.”

The ballroom was filled with our families, college friends, and people who had known us for years.

At least three of them had their phones pointed at me.

Last night, Logan had texted that he wanted to settle things between us at my birthday dinner.

I hadn’t mistaken it for a proposal.

For nine years, he had offered me plenty of maybes and somedays. Never a yes.

I had come because my mother had planned the dinner. I also intended to tell our families that I was married.

My husband was supposed to help me do it.

Logan tapped his glass.

“Now that the birthday girl is here, let’s begin.”

He held out his hand. When I didn’t join him, his smile tightened.

“Everyone knows Claire has had feelings for me for years.”

A few people laughed.

“Some of you even thought we’d end up together. So I want to make sure she doesn’t misunderstand me again.”

My mother rose from her chair.

“Logan, this is her birthday.”

“That’s why I won’t keep lying to her.” His voice was painfully gentle. “She deserves the truth.”

Then he looked at me.

“Claire, I’m not going to marry you.”

More phones appeared.

“Not now. Not ever.”

The words still hurt. Not because I wanted him anymore, but because he could have said them in private.

He had chosen my birthday.

“Are you finished?” I asked.

His brow furrowed. He had prepared for tears, not questions.

A side door opened.

Sienna walked in wearing ivory. Logan went to her at once and wrapped an arm around her waist.

“One more announcement,” he said. “Sienna and I are engaged.”

Applause filled the room.

Someone at the nearest table cursed and pushed his money toward Logan. The winners laughed the loudest.

They hadn’t only bet on whether I would cry.

They had bet on whether I would beg Logan to change his mind after seeing Sienna.

She came over and took my hand.

“Claire, I hope you understand. We never wanted to hurt you on your birthday, but Logan thought hiding this would be crueler.”

She had packaged my humiliation as kindness.

“You’ve always been strong,” Logan added. “You’ll be fine in a few days.”

He was right about one thing. I had always recovered.

When he rejected me, I made excuses for him.

When he dated other women, I still helped his mother whenever she was sick.

When he called after midnight, I never asked why he couldn’t remember me during the day.

My strength had become his permission to hurt me without consequences.

I pulled my hand from Sienna’s.

“Congratulations.”

Her smile slipped.

Logan stared at me. “That’s it?”

“What else were you expecting?”

“At least stop pretending you don’t care.” He lowered his voice. “This is embarrassing enough, Claire. Don’t make up something ridiculous just to save face.”

I glanced at the cash beneath his glass.

“I’m not the one who should be embarrassed tonight.”

Several people lowered their phones.

Logan’s expression hardened. “I know you’re hurt. But every time I reject you, you can’t invent some bigger story.”

I had promised Damian we would keep our marriage private until next week, when his new position became public.

If I spoke now, we would lose the quiet announcement we had planned.

If I stayed silent, Logan would get to decide what everyone believed.

I picked up an untouched glass of champagne and walked to the center of the room.

“Don’t worry. I won’t interfere with your engagement.”

“You’d better not,” Logan said.

“I won’t.” I met his eyes. “Because I’m already married.”

No one applauded.

Then Logan’s friends burst out laughing.

He laughed with them, pulling Sienna closer.

“You’re married?”

“Yes. Three weeks ago.”

“To whom?”

“My husband will be here soon.”

Logan set down his glass and held out his phone.

“Then call him.”

He pressed the speaker button and pushed the phone into my hand.

“Do it now,” he said. “Let’s see what man is willing to admit he married you.”