Chapter 1 · He Ruined Me, But Won't Let Me Go

Chapter 1

My Fiancé's Revenge Cost Me Everything—Except His Obsession

Three years after our breakup, I showed up at a gala in a knockoff dress—and ended up matching his date.

Everyone laughed.

Someone sneered, "Who would've thought? The Hayes family heiress wearing trash now."

He looked me up and down, his voice ice-cold. "Suits you. Both equally cheap."

*****

When Edward Grant arrived at the reception, there was a commotion at the entrance.

The host personally came out to greet him.

He had his arm around some gorgeous woman, soaking up the attention like he was born for it.

Life had really done a number on me. I didn't smile much anymore, and I'd developed these worry lines around my eyes that wouldn't go away.

But Edward? He looked better than ever, polished, magnetic, impossible to ignore.

His date spotted something and craned her neck to look around. She had this perfect posture, like a swan. "Ed, didn't you tell me this dress was exclusive? So who else has one?"

Everyone turned to stare at me standing in the corner, and I finally realized what was wrong.

Lily Monroe and I were wearing the same dress.

The comparison was painful.

She was young, beautiful, radiant with life.

Honestly, you could use every beautiful word you know and it still wouldn't be enough to describe her.

I felt all these eyes on me. Some people looked sorry for me, some looked entertained, and some just looked disgusted.

Edward glanced down at her and smiled like she was the most precious thing in the world. "You, obviously. I gave it to you."

Someone recognized me and clicked their tongue. "Wow, never thought I'd see the day. The Hayes family princess wearing a knockoff."

"Right? If you can't afford the real thing, just don't wear it. Why show up in a fake and embarrass yourself?" another added.

"Does she even realize what kind of event this is? She's completely washed up, so what's she even doing here?" a third sneered.

The whispers hit my ears like needles, sharp and cutting.

Kicking someone when they were down was just human nature. I got it. I really did.

So I dug my nails into my palm and kept my mouth shut.

Through the crowd, Edward looked me up and down, and his voice came out cold as ice. "Actually, it suits her perfectly. They're both cheap."

*****

Jack Warren had given me the dress.

I caught the flash of embarrassment on his face, but it disappeared fast. Then he grabbed my arm and dragged me over to Edward, plastering on this gross, fake smile.

"Tiff, apologize to Mr. Grant and Ms. Monroe right now. We didn't want to upset you. So sorry about this."

I knew I should yank my arm away. Hell, I should probably slap him.

That was what I wanted to do.

But I couldn't afford to.

Jack was my client, and I desperately needed this sale to go through. If he bought that property, I'd have enough to cover my mom's medical bills this month.

That was the only reason I'd agreed to put on this dress and come to this stupid gala with him in the first place.

I just never thought I'd run into Edward here.

Three years ago, after Edward and I broke up, I moved to Riverdale.

I thought I could start over. I really believed things would get better.

But the second he showed up, it all came rushing back—every twisted, horrible thing from that nightmare.

I dropped my head and clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms. The pain helped, at least. It kept me from falling apart in front of everyone.

Jack frowned and nudged me, obviously waiting for me to say something.

I forced my mouth into something like a smile and managed to get the words out under Edward's mocking stare. "I'm... sorry."

That seemed to satisfy Jack, and he jumped right in with his excuses. "My bad, everyone. She bought this dress herself and told me it was limited edition. Well, turns out Ms. Monroe has the same one."

He shook his head like he was disappointed in me. "Vanity's a dangerous thing, isn't it?"

Just like that, he made himself look completely innocent.

Lily wasn't even listening to us. She grabbed a little pastry from a passing server and held it up to Edward's mouth. "Ed, try this. It's really good."

Edward hated sweets. And he was kind of a germaphobe. He almost never ate anything someone touched with their hands.

But Lily was different, apparently.

He took a bite. "Yeah, it's not bad."

Jack and I trailed behind them like we were part of their entourage or something, and the two of them just kept being sickeningly sweet with each other.

Eventually, Jack got bored and dragged me away.

Chapter 1

My Fiancé's Revenge Cost Me Everything—Except His Obsession

Three years after our breakup, I showed up at a gala in a knockoff dress—and ended up matching his date.

Everyone laughed.

Someone sneered, "Who would've thought? The Hayes family heiress wearing trash now."

He looked me up and down, his voice ice-cold. "Suits you. Both equally cheap."

*****

When Edward Grant arrived at the reception, there was a commotion at the entrance.

The host personally came out to greet him.

He had his arm around some gorgeous woman, soaking up the attention like he was born for it.

Life had really done a number on me. I didn't smile much anymore, and I'd developed these worry lines around my eyes that wouldn't go away.

But Edward? He looked better than ever, polished, magnetic, impossible to ignore.

His date spotted something and craned her neck to look around. She had this perfect posture, like a swan. "Ed, didn't you tell me this dress was exclusive? So who else has one?"

Everyone turned to stare at me standing in the corner, and I finally realized what was wrong.

Lily Monroe and I were wearing the same dress.

The comparison was painful.

She was young, beautiful, radiant with life.

Honestly, you could use every beautiful word you know and it still wouldn't be enough to describe her.

I felt all these eyes on me. Some people looked sorry for me, some looked entertained, and some just looked disgusted.

Edward glanced down at her and smiled like she was the most precious thing in the world. "You, obviously. I gave it to you."

Someone recognized me and clicked their tongue. "Wow, never thought I'd see the day. The Hayes family princess wearing a knockoff."

"Right? If you can't afford the real thing, just don't wear it. Why show up in a fake and embarrass yourself?" another added.

"Does she even realize what kind of event this is? She's completely washed up, so what's she even doing here?" a third sneered.

The whispers hit my ears like needles, sharp and cutting.

Kicking someone when they were down was just human nature. I got it. I really did.

So I dug my nails into my palm and kept my mouth shut.

Through the crowd, Edward looked me up and down, and his voice came out cold as ice. "Actually, it suits her perfectly. They're both cheap."

*****

Jack Warren had given me the dress.

I caught the flash of embarrassment on his face, but it disappeared fast. Then he grabbed my arm and dragged me over to Edward, plastering on this gross, fake smile.

"Tiff, apologize to Mr. Grant and Ms. Monroe right now. We didn't want to upset you. So sorry about this."

I knew I should yank my arm away. Hell, I should probably slap him.

That was what I wanted to do.

But I couldn't afford to.

Jack was my client, and I desperately needed this sale to go through. If he bought that property, I'd have enough to cover my mom's medical bills this month.

That was the only reason I'd agreed to put on this dress and come to this stupid gala with him in the first place.

I just never thought I'd run into Edward here.

Three years ago, after Edward and I broke up, I moved to Riverdale.

I thought I could start over. I really believed things would get better.

But the second he showed up, it all came rushing back—every twisted, horrible thing from that nightmare.

I dropped my head and clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms. The pain helped, at least. It kept me from falling apart in front of everyone.

Jack frowned and nudged me, obviously waiting for me to say something.

I forced my mouth into something like a smile and managed to get the words out under Edward's mocking stare. "I'm... sorry."

He shook his head like he was disappointed in me. "Vanity's a dangerous thing, isn't it?"

Just like that, he made himself look completely innocent.

Lily wasn't even listening to us. She grabbed a little pastry from a passing server and held it up to Edward's mouth. "Ed, try this. It's really good."

Edward hated sweets. And he was kind of a germaphobe. He almost never ate anything someone touched with their hands.

But Lily was different, apparently.

He took a bite. "Yeah, it's not bad."

Jack and I trailed behind them like we were part of their entourage or something, and the two of them just kept being sickeningly sweet with each other.

Eventually, Jack got bored and dragged me away.