Chapter 1

On the day James Carter and I got engaged, his childhood sweetheart, Emily Wynn, made a scene at our engagement party.

She went so far as to slash her wrist.

The engagement ceremony was ruined.

I was exhausted.

Outside the emergency room, everyone was in a frenzy, including James.

But my face stayed cold and tired, untouched by the chaos around me.

"She's out!" someone shouted.

The light above the emergency room flickered off, the doors swung open, and a doctor in a white coat stepped out. "She's fine. We saved her."

I saw everyone finally breathe a sigh of relief. So did I.

I slipped off the white veil, held it in my hand, and walked over to James, my dress sweeping the floor behind me.

James saw me coming, grabbed my hand, and gave me a tired smile. "Glad she's okay."

Yeah, it was a relief. If something had happened, James wouldn't be able to live with it. Neither would I.

After all, I was a person who wouldn't make someone die because of my love.

James, at his parents' urging, went with Emily to her hospital room, while I slumped against the wall in the hospital corridor, feeling utterly defeated.

Soon, four people stood in front of me.

Emily's mom, Linda Wynn, had red eyes. "Claire, I know you're a good girl, but you've seen how much Emily loves James. If you and James keep seeing each other, maybe one day she might not make it."

Emily's dad, Howard Wynn, looked at me with open hostility. "Emily and James grew up together. We always thought they'd end up together.

"James is caught up in youthful impulses by choosing you now. When he grows up, he'll realize Emily is the one for him."

James's mom, Catherine Carter, looked at me with pleading eyes. "I know this isn't fair to you, but could you step aside and let James and Emily have a chance?

"I know my son. He pretends not to care, but it's tearing him apart inside. They've shared a bond since childhood."

James's dad, William Carter, glared at me, his face full of anger. He said to Catherine, "I never wanted them together in the first place.

"You kept insisting young people should make their own choices, and you always indulged him. None of this mess would've happened if not for you."

All four of them were united in one thing: making me break up with James.

James and I had been together for three years now.

Whenever James and I got a little closer, Emily would fall apart.

She'd taken sleeping pills in an attempt to end it all more than ten times.

She'd climbed onto the rooftop seven times and slashed her wrist five times.

Every time, James was eaten up with guilt and self-blame.

We had to keep our relationship a secret, always hiding from everyone.

It felt like we were underground operatives, sneaking around to be together.

I was like a lover always hidden away, never allowed to step into the light.

We finally managed to get engaged in secret.

But out of nowhere, Emily showed up and slashed her wrist.

Guys were a dime a dozen. I didn't know why she acted like he was the only one on earth. She made a scene by trying to end it all.

She must be seriously messed up in the head.

Honestly, they didn't have to push me. After what happened today, I was already scared out of my wits.

I was terrified that Emily might actually die. I'd never be able to forgive myself.

I was also scared that Emily might not be all there mentally.

And what if James, her childhood sweetheart, ended up messed up like her?

I wasn't about to take that gamble. I cared way too much about staying alive.

But breaking up was something I needed to tell him directly.

"You don't need to convince me. I was already planning to break up with him." I got up, bracing myself with both hands. "Since Emily's okay now, I'm heading home. I'm so tired."

Under the stunned gazes of the four parents, I walked unhurriedly toward the exit.

Back at the house we bought together, I lay down in bed without a shred of guilt.

With what I said today, those four would pull out all the stops to make sure James stayed with Emily.

Sure enough, James didn't come home all night, and he didn't call.

Since we were breaking up anyway, I didn't care if he came back or not.

Back in college, James chased after me for four whole years. He said I was his first love.

After graduation, he moved to my city to be with me.

Seeing how persistent he was, I finally gave in and agreed to be with him.

If I'd known he had a childhood sweetheart who was constantly on the verge of doing something crazy, I never would've agreed to be with him.

There was no way in hell I'd ever agree to be with him.

Three days later, James finally came back.

He looked utterly exhausted.

When he saw me, there was a wounded look in his eyes. "Claire, I'm so tired."