Chapter 1 · The Last Lie I Told You

During the interview, my ex said he wouldn't be where he was today without his ex-girlfriend.

I watched the video, my expression bitter.

A few seconds later, my phone buzzed with a friend request.

[Wasn't it because I was poor? Well, now I'm a billionaire CEO. Feeling jealous? Any regrets?] he messaged.

Still the same profile pic I'd picked out for him six years ago.

I never regretted breaking up with him when he loved me most, blocking every way he could reach me, and cutting him out of my life for good.

He spiraled into depression after I left him.

But I envied his fiancée. She got to marry the man I'd been longing for all these years, and got to be his wife.

But I'd lost the right to say I loved him.

Staring at the medical report, I realized my days were numbered, each one slipping away, one less than before...

*****

The next morning, just as I was about to walk into the office, I saw a man in a mask get out of a car and head my way. I recognized him in a heartbeat.

Warwick Parker, six foot three, walked toward me, backlit by the morning sun, his long legs closing the distance. "Monica, long time no see."

My heart rate shot up, and I couldn't help freaking out a little inside.

Before I could say a word, Warwick pointed at me and said to my boss, who had just arrived, "Let Monica take charge of this project from start to finish."

All my colleagues swarmed around Warwick, our big client.

But he just shot me a teasing look and sneered, "So, after all this time, did you end up marrying into money?"

My hands trembled beneath the table, and I dug my fingers into my palm, trying to calm my nerves.

I put on a calm front and met his eyes.

"Got what I wanted. Didn't miss a beat back then, and now my kid's already two. Adorable little thing," I said.

Warwick narrowed his eyes with disappointment, clearly not getting the answer he was hoping for.

After six years together, I could tell he was annoyed. I flashed him a smile and asked, "What about you? Tied the knot yet?"

Warwick let out a cold chuckle. "Ms. Bacchus, is that a rhetorical question?

"I chose you to be my wedding planner because, since you're my ex, you ought to know what I want, and what I don't," he said.

I pressed my lips together.

Talk about petty...

Three years ago, he was in the thick of building his company. The economy was tanking, and his business was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.

I told him I wasn't into broke guys and couldn't handle any struggle.

Just like that, I dumped him when he was head over heels for me, ghosted him that very night, and blocked him on everything.

Seriously, I couldn't believe he was still holding a grudge after three years.

I just smiled at him. "Mr. Parker, come on, it's been three years. All those little things that don't matter anymore. I barely even remember them."

Warwick frowned again.

Just then, a playful, flirty voice called out, "Honey, why didn't you wait for me?"

A drop-dead gorgeous woman strolled over, snuggled up to Warwick's arm, her eyes twinkling with a teasing smile as she looked at me.

Juliet Coleman, a top-tier celebrity, was Warwick's fiancée, the very woman I'd been envying just last night.

I never expected Juliet to actually thank me.

"Ms. Bacchus, honestly, thanks for ditching that broke guy who was still hustling. If you hadn't, I wouldn't have ended up with such a great man," she said, her voice all sweet and playful.

Everyone in the meeting room instantly got it.

I was Warwick's ex-girlfriend, the gold-digger who dumped him when he was flat broke.

And as for Warwick hiring me to plan his wedding? It was pretty obvious he just wanted to rub salt in the wound.

But I'd always been proud. No way a few snide remarks were going to break me.

I met Juliet's gaze, not backing down for a second.

"Ms. Coleman, congrats on landing Mr. Parker. Who knows, maybe after you get married, all those tabloid scandals of yours will finally quiet down," I said.

Juliet gave me a smile, but I could tell she wasn't exactly thrilled with me now.

Honestly, none of it mattered anymore. With my days numbered, at least I could leave the ex I broke in the hands of a superstar.

After we finalized all the wedding details, I couldn't wait to get out of there.

Back at my crappy little apartment in the city's rundown neighborhood, that familiar ache in my liver came back.

But I didn't have time to dwell on it. All I could think was, if Warwick ever found out I never landed a rich husband, and I never had a kid, wouldn't that be embarrassing?

Chapter 1

During the interview, my ex said he wouldn't be where he was today without his ex-girlfriend.

I watched the video, my expression bitter.

A few seconds later, my phone buzzed with a friend request.

[Wasn't it because I was poor? Well, now I'm a billionaire CEO. Feeling jealous? Any regrets?] he messaged.

Still the same profile pic I'd picked out for him six years ago.

I never regretted breaking up with him when he loved me most, blocking every way he could reach me, and cutting him out of my life for good.

He spiraled into depression after I left him.

But I envied his fiancée. She got to marry the man I'd been longing for all these years, and got to be his wife.

But I'd lost the right to say I loved him.

Staring at the medical report, I realized my days were numbered, each one slipping away, one less than before...

*****

The next morning, just as I was about to walk into the office, I saw a man in a mask get out of a car and head my way. I recognized him in a heartbeat.

Warwick Parker, six foot three, walked toward me, backlit by the morning sun, his long legs closing the distance. "Monica, long time no see."

My heart rate shot up, and I couldn't help freaking out a little inside.

Before I could say a word, Warwick pointed at me and said to my boss, who had just arrived, "Let Monica take charge of this project from start to finish."

All my colleagues swarmed around Warwick, our big client.

But he just shot me a teasing look and sneered, "So, after all this time, did you end up marrying into money?"

My hands trembled beneath the table, and I dug my fingers into my palm, trying to calm my nerves.

I put on a calm front and met his eyes.

"Got what I wanted. Didn't miss a beat back then, and now my kid's already two. Adorable little thing," I said.

Warwick narrowed his eyes with disappointment, clearly not getting the answer he was hoping for.

After six years together, I could tell he was annoyed. I flashed him a smile and asked, "What about you? Tied the knot yet?"

Warwick let out a cold chuckle. "Ms. Bacchus, is that a rhetorical question?

"I chose you to be my wedding planner because, since you're my ex, you ought to know what I want, and what I don't," he said.

I pressed my lips together.

Talk about petty...

Three years ago, he was in the thick of building his company. The economy was tanking, and his business was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.

I told him I wasn't into broke guys and couldn't handle any struggle.

Just like that, I dumped him when he was head over heels for me, ghosted him that very night, and blocked him on everything.

Seriously, I couldn't believe he was still holding a grudge after three years.

I just smiled at him. "Mr. Parker, come on, it's been three years. All those little things that don't matter anymore. I barely even remember them."

Warwick frowned again.

Just then, a playful, flirty voice called out, "Honey, why didn't you wait for me?"

A drop-dead gorgeous woman strolled over, snuggled up to Warwick's arm, her eyes twinkling with a teasing smile as she looked at me.

Juliet Coleman, a top-tier celebrity, was Warwick's fiancée, the very woman I'd been envying just last night.

I never expected Juliet to actually thank me.

"Ms. Bacchus, honestly, thanks for ditching that broke guy who was still hustling. If you hadn't, I wouldn't have ended up with such a great man," she said, her voice all sweet and playful.

Everyone in the meeting room instantly got it.

I was Warwick's ex-girlfriend, the gold-digger who dumped him when he was flat broke.

And as for Warwick hiring me to plan his wedding? It was pretty obvious he just wanted to rub salt in the wound.

But I'd always been proud. No way a few snide remarks were going to break me.

I met Juliet's gaze, not backing down for a second.

"Ms. Coleman, congrats on landing Mr. Parker. Who knows, maybe after you get married, all those tabloid scandals of yours will finally quiet down," I said.

Juliet gave me a smile, but I could tell she wasn't exactly thrilled with me now.

Honestly, none of it mattered anymore. With my days numbered, at least I could leave the ex I broke in the hands of a superstar.

After we finalized all the wedding details, I couldn't wait to get out of there.

Back at my crappy little apartment in the city's rundown neighborhood, that familiar ache in my liver came back.

But I didn't have time to dwell on it. All I could think was, if Warwick ever found out I never landed a rich husband, and I never had a kid, wouldn't that be embarrassing?