Chapter 1

After the car accident with my stepsister, the first person to arrive was my childhood sweetheart, Callum Puckett, the guy I'd been secretly seeing for two years.

But instead of coming to me, Callum rushed to save my stepsister first, leaving me bleeding out like I was completely invisible.

I grabbed Callum's arm, meant to tell him I was pregnant, but he pulled away like I was nothing to him.

"Sorry, Paulina. Tinley's not doing well. I need to get her to the hospital now. Just wait for the rescue team here," Callum said, barely glancing my way.

After the rescue team finally brought me to the hospital, I turned out fine physically. But the baby... was gone.

I went looking for Callum, wanting an explanation, but instead, I overheard him talking to a friend.

"You're actually lying to Paulina just to help Tinley? Isn't that pretty messed up?" his friend said.

Callum replied with a careless shrug, totally unfazed.

"So what? Tinley's always been the Hartman family's adopted daughter. She could never compete with Paulina, their spoiled real heiress," he said.

"That's why I have to protect Tinley. I'd do anything for her," he added.

So all that love he showed me was just fake.

When I got home from the hospital, I called my dad.

"Dad, can you help me erase all my info back home?" I asked.

My dad sounded super worried. "Why all of a sudden, Paulina? Is someone messing with you?"

My nose prickled, but I tried to hold it together and managed a casual smile. "I just want a fresh start, maybe as someone new."

"Alright, whatever you want, I'll make it happen. Give me three days," my dad said.

"But didn't you say you were bringing your boyfriend to meet me?" my dad asked.

His words made my heart clench. My voice came out hoarse. "We broke up."

"Out with the old, in with the new. You deserve someone way better," my dad said.

Then Dad continued, "I heard Tinley and Callum are together now—she said yes, and he's planning to pop the question to her in a couple days."

"Even though Tinley's not really our family by blood, this is a huge moment for her. As her big sis, you shouldn't miss out. Maybe being at the celebration will lift your mood, you know?" he encouraged.

A stabbing ache kept rolling through me, one wave after another. I found myself touching my stomach, and managed a shaky smile despite my pale face. "Sorry, I've got stuff I need to handle," I replied.

After I hung up, I heard the sound of the door unlocking.

I looked up and was met with Callum's smiling eyes.

"What are you going to handle?" he asked.

I stared straight into those dreamy, seemingly affectionate eyes. How did I never realize he loved someone else?

I replied without missing a beat, "You."

Callum raised an eyebrow, grinning as he pulled me into his arms. "Oh yeah? And how exactly are you planning to handle me? In bed, maybe?"

His hot breath brushed against my ear. Normally, that kind of closeness would've made me blush, but today, it just made my skin crawl.

I tried to push him away, but then I caught sight of hickeys peeking out from under his shirt collar.

My breath hitched, and I shoved him away with all my strength.

But I was so weak after losing the baby that I couldn't even hold myself up. Callum didn't move an inch, and suddenly the room started to spin. My legs gave out, and I tumbled backward.

Callum grabbed me by the waist, pulling me upright. Only then did he seem to notice how ghostly pale I'd become, his brows furrowing with real concern—or so it looked.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling sick? I'm taking you to the hospital," he said.

For a moment, his worried look almost fooled me—it was so convincing. But I knew better that he was just pretending.

I steadied myself and firmly pushed him away. "I'm fine. It's just that time of the month. All I need is a little rest."

Callum flashed a knowing smile. "Let me whip up some vital blend for you—drink it, then get some sleep, okay?"

He bent down, scooped me into his arms, and carried me to the bed, laughing softly. "You're hopeless at looking after yourself. What will you do when I'm not here?"

I tugged at my lips, forcing a smile. "I'll be just fine without you."

Callum froze for a moment, then pinched my cheek a bit harder than usual. "You're so heartless. You really think you can live without me? What you should be saying is, 'I'll always stay by your side, never leaving you.' Understand?"

With that, he just chuckled and walked downstairs, treating my words like some kind of joke, not taking me seriously at all.

But only I understood—every word I'd spoken came straight from my heart.

I'd been after Callum for five years, and we'd kept things secret for two.

He was pretty cold the first year, but this last year, we were practically glued together.

He started making me breakfast, coaxing me out of bed, and kissing me whenever I played cute.