Chapter 1
After splitting up with Caspar, I announced I was quitting the entertainment industry for good.
The whole internet was cheering, saying he was finally out of his misery.
He didn't have to deal with me leeching off him anymore.
It was trending everywhere with the hashtag: [Caspar Is Free].
I gave a bitter smile and deactivated all my accounts.
I vanished from the public for good.
Later, my diary somehow ended up getting aired on a variety show.
Only then did everyone finally learn the truth.
Loving Caspar was the only real mistake I ever made in my life.
*****
Four years after our divorce, Caspar was more famous than ever.
As his ex-wife, it was like I'd never existed. The public had totally forgotten about me.
On a variety show, the host brought up Caspar's new relationship after fans online begged for the scoop.
On screen, Caspar had a soft look in his eyes, a smile tugging at his lips.
He was practically glowing with happiness.
The comments section exploded with: [They're so perfect together!]
Just then, the host switched gears.
She said, "Everyone knows Caspar's first marriage didn't work out. I'm really curious...
"Is there anything you'd like to say about your ex-wife, Claire Evans?"
When I was mentioned, Caspar's smile froze.
After a few seconds of silence, he spoke, his tone calm and indifferent.
"I'm grateful my ex-wife let me go, so I was able to find real love," he said.
The comments section went wild.
They read: [Does the host even know how to talk? Why did she have to mention that jinx?]
[Is Claire trying to make a comeback or what? Just chasing clout as usual.]
[The internet never forgets. Not on my watch. No one's forgetting how vicious she is.]
To these people, I was the "cancer" in the entertainment industry.
The host glanced at the comments and suddenly broke into a smile.
She said, "Not long ago, an anonymous viewer sent us Ms. Evans's diary from back in the day.
"Caspar, mind if I read a few lines from it?"
Caspar let out a cold laugh. "Anonymous viewer? Yeah, right. I bet she's just broke and desperate for a comeback, so she sent it herself to clear her name."
His gaze dripped with contempt.
But he didn't really have a reason to say no.
The host flipped open the diary.
It read: [August 12, 2018
Dear Diary, I'm officially becoming Mrs. Jones tomorrow.
I'm tossing and turning in bed, way too excited to sleep.
I'm just way too hyped to even think about sleep.
Since I can't sleep, I decided to do something meaningful.
And that is writing down the story of Caspar and me.
If I don't write it down now, how am I supposed to tell our kids about the good old days when I'm old?
Dear Diary, do you believe in love at first sight?
Caspar said when he first laid eyes on me, he nearly forgot to breathe.
For that split second, the whole world just stopped.
All he could hear was his own heartbeat.
He worked up the nerve to ask for my number.
His ears turned as red as a baboon's butt.
Hmm... Totally ruins the mood.
More like the most gorgeous sunset at dusk.
To win my heart, he pulled all kinds of ridiculous stunts.
He even took his roommate's advice and bought a book called "How to Reply Like a Pro".
You wouldn't believe how funny it was.
I told him I'd broken out with a pimple.
He went by the book and said, "Wow, that's your beauty coming out."
I burst out laughing and said he was really impressive.
He fired back, still quoting, "Well, I've gotta be impressive if I want to be friends with you, right?"
And trust me, he had a whole arsenal of cheesy lines like that.
When we have our children, I'm totally going to tell them all about the goofy stuff their dad pulled.
Caspar made my life so much brighter.
And most of all?
I finally got to be the one he adored above all.
Back in my third year at college, the class president snatched my financial aid slot right out from under me.
Feeling helpless, I hid in the stairwell and just broke down in tears.
When Caspar found out, he grabbed my hand and marched us straight to the admin office.
He kept me behind him, shielding me the whole way.
He argued fiercely with the class president and the counselor, taking them both on by himself.
He left them completely speechless.
He laid out more than a dozen pieces of evidence showing the class president didn't actually need the money.
He argued with solid reasoning, refusing to back down.
And in the end, he got me that spot.
So this is what it feels like to have someone back you up.
My parents got divorced when I was just four.
My dad never wanted a daughter.
My mom blamed her failed marriage on me, just because I was a girl.
Thankfully, my grandma took me in.
I knew how tough things were for her, so I always tried my best not to give her any trouble.
Even when life was unfair, I just bottled it all up and kept quiet.
With my messed-up family background, I got picked on by classmates all the time.
I endured it for so many years.
Then one day, out of the blue, someone told me he'd always be there to protect me.
Honestly, who wouldn't fall head over heels for someone like that?
Caspar knows all my quirks and preferences.
He knows I'm obsessed with tomato stew, but I'm not into tomato-flavored snacks at all.
He even remembers I like 50% sugar in my coffee, but only 30% in my tea.
He knows I'm allergic to eggs.
Even my grandma said, "Claire, with Caspar taking care of you, I can really rest easy."
With him, I never have to compromise who I am.
I can just be myself.
Dear Diary, you have no idea.
The moment Caspar hit legal age, he couldn't wait to pull me off to get our marriage license.
The second we had it in our hands, he ripped it up right in front of me.
He smirked mischievously and said, "Claire, now that the marriage license's gone, there's no way we can ever get divorced.
"I'm never letting you go, not in this lifetime."
How childish.
But honestly, I'm absolutely crazy about this childish guy.
Here's a love letter I'm including as a little extra.
Caspar wrote this on the day he told me he loved me.
When we're old, I'll have him read it to me again.]