Chapter 1
It was a high-society wedding broadcast live around the world.
My childhood sweetheart, Andrew Shaw, broke our seven-year promise and proposed to Athena Nash, a struggling student, right there in front of everyone.
I was humiliated, the laughingstock of the city, and on the verge of collapse.
Then, my usually distant and aloof stepbrother, James Parker, did something unexpected. After the wedding, he made a public show of marrying me.
I thought he was my savior, my light in the darkness. And as he showered me with love and care for five years straight, I fell deeper and deeper for him.
But then, I overheard a conversation.
"Was it worth it? Marrying someone you don't love, just for Athena?" It was Andrew's voice.
"We made a deal. Whoever she didn't pick would take Selena.
"As long as Athena is happy, I'm willing to do anything." It was James' voice.
That was when it hit me—James' "rescue" and five years of "love" were nothing but a carefully orchestrated scheme.
Two relationships. Two performances. And in both of them, Athena was the only lead.
I planned the kidnapping myself.
As I watched James and Andrew dash desperately toward Athena, I smiled and pressed the detonator.
From now on, I want nothing to do with any of them for the rest of my life.
*****
After I finished arranging my own disappearance, I lowered my head and stared at the transfer records, lost in thought.
Five years. 60 months. Nearly 300 transfers.
Every single one had the same note attached.
It read: [For Athena. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and peace. Maybe in another life, we'll get our chance.]
He was devoted to Athena, almost like someone praying to a god.
If I hadn't been planning to disappear, I probably never would've found out.
My nose tingled as I fought back tears. Just a few more days, and James'd finally get everything he wished for.
That was when the smell hit me. Gardenias. Sweet and heavy, filling up the whole room.
I didn't even need to look up. I knew it was James.
He'd only started wearing this perfume five years ago. Turned out it was Athena's favorite.
I never once put it together.
James wrapped his arms around me, his voice soft and gentle, like I was his whole world. "What are you looking at?"
But the next second, he paused, a frown creasing his forehead.
"Why are you going through the transfer records?" he asked.
I looked up at him. "Why not? Is there something shady in there you don't want me to see?"
Seeing my calm expression, James let out a breath. "No, of course not."
He kissed the top of my head and whispered, "Selena, I would never lie to you."
Our eyes met, and his gaze was so sincere.
But what I had seen and heard in the study just now felt so real, I couldn't get it out of my mind.
Everyone said that the head of the Parker family—someone as cold and aloof as James—once he fell in love, he fell for good.
His love would last forever, unshakeable, till the end of time.
I believed it. I was over the moon. I really thought he was my savior.
I never expected this.
This marriage was a cage from the start.
He married me just because he loved Athena.
I stifled a yawn, hoping he wouldn't notice the tears in my eyes.
James took my phone, tapped a few times, then handed it back to me.
"I have to head out for a bit tonight. Get some rest, okay? Don't overthink things. When I get back, I'll make you something warm," he said.
He leaned down, gave me a quick hug, then slipped out the door like the wind.
The gardenia scent stayed behind, wrapped around me, holding me there.
I stared at the big, bold words "Access Denied" on my phone screen, my fingers trembling.
That night, James never came home.
At midnight, I sat alone, lit a candle, and made a wish to the empty air.
"I hope Mom is doing well wherever she is," I whispered.
My phone kept buzzing nonstop.
Athena's posts were flooding my feed, one after another.
Some gossipy friends kept forwarding them to me, one after another.
On the screen, Athena said, "Well, since I can't find any other excuse, happy four-and-a-half birthday to my Snowball.
"Haha, honestly, I just needed a reason to eat cake."
Snowball was her dog.
The video played on. Laughter and cheers filled the room, bouncing off the walls of the empty villa. Made the silence feel even louder.
On the screen, the scene shifted.
A cake as tall as a person, and a champagne tower that screamed luxury.
Athena was dressed in some designer gown, the kind you see in magazines. A ruby crown sat on her head. A matching necklace around her neck.
She looked like a real princess. Straight out of a fairy tale.
The noble prince and the brave knight gathered around her, standing by her side like characters straight out of a fairy tale.
But me? I felt like that girl from the story. The one with the matches. She lit them one by one, saw all these beautiful things in the flame, and then it burned out. Left alone in the dark, cold and empty.
I wiped my face, picked up the phone, and called the agency.
"Change of plans," I said. "I want it to look like a kidnapping instead."
After hanging up, I lit another candle, hoping for a bit of luck, and made a wish.
"Mom," I whispered. "Please. Let this go right for me. Just this once."