Chapter 1
Andrew Lewis, my husband, had ten scars, all from risking his life to save me.
But in our three years of marriage, he dumped me ten times just to keep up the fake couple act with Sophia.
The eleventh time? I was the one who threw them a lavish wedding, making their ship official.
Sophia Rivers taunted me, "Emily, you'll wish Andrew and me grow old together, right?"
Andrew watched me nervously, clearly worried I'd lose it.
But I just smiled and clapped for them. "Of course. Hope you two are chained together for life."
One scar, one forgiveness. After today, no more second chances.
*****
As soon as I said that, everyone kept shooting us subtle looks, their eyes flickering between the three of us.
Everyone here knew the truth. I was Andrew's real wife, the one on the marriage certificate.
Sophia was just his fake wife for the internet, all for their influencer couple persona.
"Emily, you're still mad at me, aren't you? It's all my fault..." Sophia whimpered, putting on her best innocent act.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she threw herself into Andrew's arms, totally playing the damsel in distress.
Andrew shot me a dirty look, clearly blaming me for the whole scene.
"Why are you spouting nonsense on such a big day? Can't you just let things go? Apologize to Sophia, right now," he barked.
Normally, I would've made a scene, but now I was just too exhausted to care.
I ignored them and headed for a quiet corner.
Andrew noticed how calm I was, and for a moment, he looked uneasy.
He instinctively wanted to follow me, but Sophia's sweet, needy voice held him in place.
I glanced back at the tenderness on his face, and for a split second, my heart ached.
After the wedding, both of them were totally wasted. Andrew yanked me by the hand.
"We're still missing the wedding night tradition. We're both smashed, so you drive us to Willow Manor," he barked.
That bitter feeling just kept churning in my chest. Willow Manor was the house he bought for Sophia, their home.
We'd been married for years, and he always claimed the market was too expensive to get us a place.
But for Sophia, he had no problem dropping a ton of cash on a brand-new house.
With tears streaming down my face, I demanded if he even remembered I was the one he married.
He just rolled his eyes, clearly fed up.
"Sophia and I are just doing it for the internet. Quit causing trouble," he snapped.
Looking back, I realized he just didn't love me anymore.
Swallowing the ache in my chest, I drove them to Willow Manor in silence.
As soon as we pulled up, Andrew scooped Sophia out of the car.
He glanced back at me, looking a bit guilty as he tried to explain.
"This wedding is just for the internet. Once my career is more stable, I'll announce we're breaking up," he said.
"Then I'll give you the wedding you deserve."
"I get it," I said quietly, my tone flat.
Andrew looked uneasy, seeing how calm I was.
But then Sophia whimpered in his arms, and his focus shifted right back to her.
He rushed upstairs, tossing me a half-hearted line over his shoulder.
"Get some rest. I'll buy you a gift tomorrow to make up for it," he said.
Watching him walk away, I suddenly remembered how much Andrew hated drunk people.
Back when we were still in love, I got drunk once. He dragged me away, looking utterly disgusted.
He didn't care at all that I was nearly dragged across the concrete.
That night, my arms and legs ended up raw and bleeding from the rough pavement.
I stared down at the marriage certificate in my hand, holding it like it was a relic from another life.
Deep down, I knew our eleven-year story was finally over.