Chapter 1

After getting a second chance, when Holly, Barrett Clarke's little girlfriend, once again sent their sex photos to my family group chat, I didn't react the way I did before.

I didn't grab the fruit knife from the table and stab him in the chest.

I didn't freak out and threaten divorce when Barrett stood up for Holly.

I even stopped him when he pretended to call Holly to scold her.

I said, "It's alright. She's just too young, probably just messing around. No need to freak her out."

Barrett looked at me, clearly not expecting me to be so chill about it, suspicion written all over his face.

He asked, "What are you playing at now? Are you trying to mess with Holly behind my back again?"

I gave him a small, knowing smile. "Of course not. I just..."

I just didn't love him anymore.

After all, after Barrett and I got divorced, he went all in for Holly.

He ruined my dad's company and pushed him so hard that he ended up jumping into the river.

When I was diagnosed with stomach cancer and desperately needed cash, I went to him for help.

He made me get down on my knees like a dog and beg Holly for forgiveness.

But that ten dollars he tossed at me? It couldn't save my life, and it couldn't even give my dad a decent funeral.

So, this time, I didn't care about romance and dignity.

Money was the only thing that counted.

But my indifference just made Barrett clearly upset.

*****

Barrett gripped my hand, his voice low and annoyed. "Why aren't you mad?

"Didn't you say your dad has a heart condition and can't take any shock?

"She's really crossed the line this time. Why aren't you saying anything?"

When Barrett said that, I couldn't help but feel a sting in my eyes.

Last time, I really lost it.

My dad had a heart problem.

After Holly went totally off the rails and blasted those sex photos to my family group chat, my dad was so shocked and furious.

He had a heart attack on the spot.

He survived, but only barely.

After that, it was like he'd lost everything that made him who he was.

He was paralyzed on one side.

He used to be so proud and strong, but then he was stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

I just couldn't accept it.

The grief hit me so hard that my whole body started trembling.

But even then, Barrett was still backing Holly up.

He said, "How many times do I have to tell you? Your dad's heart attack was just a stroke of bad luck. Holly had nothing to do with it.

"Can you stop using such a lame excuse to go after Holly?

"Aren't you worried you'll end up cutting your dad's life even shorter?

"Florence, I'm telling you. I'm really in love with Holly.

"I thought my life was just going to be stuck in the same rut forever, but for the first time, I realized what real love actually feels like.

"So if you even think about messing with her, you'll wish you hadn't."

Rage just took over, and I totally lost it.

Before I knew it, I snatched up the fruit knife and drove it straight into Barrett's chest.

His blood splattered across my wrist, but even that didn't make me feel any better.

Even then, the anger wouldn't go away.

I yelled, "So, Holly is your soulmate now? What about me? I've been by your side since we were kids!"

When Barrett was eighteen, he stood under the wisteria and promised he'd love me forever.

His promise still rang in my ears.

But then, he'd changed.

What made him think he got to just change his mind like that?

And who said he could?

If Barrett said I couldn't touch Holly, then that was exactly what I was going to do.

I had never been anyone's doormat.

I tracked down Holly at her school and slammed those sex photos she sent into the principal's face.

Overnight, she was branded the school's biggest scandal, her name trashed all over the forum.

But that very night, Barrett stormed into my bedroom, his face cold and expressionless.

He forced himself on me, made me strip, and then leaked my nudes everywhere online.

I slapped Holly right across the face, in front of my dad and everyone watching, when she came back to provoke us.

Barrett didn't hold back. He set up a dirty deal that ruined my dad's company for good.

I finally snapped and told him I wanted a divorce.

But he'd already moved every last penny into Holly's name.

We grew up together as childhood sweethearts.

I was there for him through every tough moment, helping him build his company from the ground up.

But in the end, it all ended in divorce.

Not only did I walk away with nothing, but he also left me drowning in 30 million dollars of debt.

I got hurt so hard that I ended up with stomach cancer.

My dad didn't want to drag me down, so he gave me his last bit of cash, and then he was gone, just like that.

Later, when I tried to give him a decent funeral, I was hustling in nightclubs, mixing drinks, just trying to scrape by.

I was just there to hype up the crowd, doing whatever it took to survive.

But Barrett just wouldn't leave me alone. He showed up again, like a bad dream I couldn't shake.

He made me get down on my knees in front of Holly, drink with her, and beg for forgiveness.

He said as long as I apologized, he'd let me off the hook.