Chapter 1

My boyfriend, Lucas Jensen's, parents came up from the countryside to see a doctor, but he said he was too busy to help. So I ended up taking his parents to the hospital myself.

I spent the entire day running around with them, and by evening, my boyfriend's "girl friend" sent me a photo.

The background was clearly a nightclub. My boyfriend sat sprawled on a booth couch while this girl in a micro-mini skirt straddled his lap, staring at the camera with a seductive look on her face. Her tongue was literally licking his ear.

Less than thirty seconds later, she unsent the photo.

I called my boyfriend immediately and demanded to know where he was.

He said, "The pet clinic's under renovation right now. I'm at the shop working. Why, what's up?"

The deafening club music blasted through the phone line, and I didn't hesitate. I sent that intimate photo straight to his friend group chat and his family group chat.

Then I pulled my investment from his pet clinic while I was at it.

A man who couldn't even be good to his own parents didn't deserve my money.

*****

Sophie Saunders probably thought she'd deleted it fast enough that I wouldn't have any proof.

What she didn't know was that I had a habit of saving photos the second I opened them. That picture, the one that made my blood boil, ended up in my camera roll.

In the photo, Lucas sat sprawled out on the nightclub sofa under flashing strobe lights, both index fingers pointing up at the disco ball like he was king of the world.

Sophie stood next to him in a tiny spaghetti-strap dress, her lips painted that sultry red she always wore when she wanted attention.

Looking at those two, I nearly lost it right there.

I'd spent the entire day at the hospital with Lucas' parents, Gareth and Janet, running around until my legs were ready to give out.

But instead of showing up to help, he was off at some bar with Sophie, claiming he needed to check on renovations for the pet clinic.

What pissed me off even more? Sophie couldn't just meet up with him quietly—no, she had to rub it in my face and send me photos like she was trying to make me sick.

I'd spent the whole day running up and down the hospital with Gareth and Janet, and the bills for tests and medications alone cost thousands.

All that work, all that effort, and this was what I got in return? My husband hooking up behind my back?

I didn't let things slide. If they were going to stomp all over me like this, I wasn't going to sit there and take it. So I took that photo and forwarded it straight to Lucas' family group chat and his friends' group chat.

I sent: [Some people can't even show up when their parents are sick, but they sure know how to make time for their little side pieces. Tell me, how exactly does someone grow a heart that rotten?]

After I sent that message, I made sure to tag Frank Monroe in the friends' chat—the guy who'd been pining after Sophie for years.

I sent: [See that? The goddess you've been worshipping and throwing all your money at? Someone else is having their fun with her.]

Both group chats went dead silent for a second, and then the messages started pouring in like a flood.

In the family chat, Lucas' aunts and cousins were already pros at tearing people down while acting concerned. Now that they finally had dirt on him, they came at him fast and hard with their passive-aggressive comments.

The messages started flying. [Lucas, what the hell is wrong with you? Your parents went to the city for medical appointments, and instead of going with them, you're out there wrapped around some girl. Did a dog eat your conscience or something?]

[Exactly! Your girlfriend's been running around taking care of everything for you, and this is how you repay her? How can you even look her in the eye?]

[They raised you all these years, and you can't even show this much filial piety? Your parents are sick and you're off enjoying yourself. They wasted their time raising you.]

The friend group chat wasn't any better, and everyone jumped in with their commentary.

[Damn! That escalated fast. You two are practically glued together—already planning for kids?]

[Lucas, my man! Dutiful son at home, wild stallion on the streets. Living the dream, aren't you?]

[Is the side chick checking in with the main girl now? Bro, someone's got you on a tight leash.]

But among all the teasing messages, Frank's stood out like a slap in the face.

He sent: [Sophie, I've dropped serious cash on you. Just gave you that two-carat ring yesterday, and it sure as hell wasn't so you could use it to hook up with Lucas.]