Chapter 1

I was the first lover in one of those stand-in romance tropes, the one who got abandoned.

Five years after Rowan and I split, I returned home. At a jewelry counter, I ran straight into him.

Rowan stared at me in shock, then grabbed my wrist without letting go.

He said confidently, "Stella, you're finally back. You came back for me, didn't you? I promise we'll get back together."

Get back together? I looked at him, completely baffled as he went on and on.

Then I lifted my hand, showing the ring on my middle finger. "Get back together with what?

"I'm about to get married. Want to come to my wedding?"

Rowan paused, clearly taken aback by what I said.

He glanced at the rows of sparkling rings on the counter and let out a helpless, wry smile. "Come on, I know you're still mad at me.

"That ring... you just picked it up here, right? No need to make up stories to fool me.

"Stella, I mean it. I really regret what I did."

I tried to pull my hand away, but Rowan still refused to let go.

With a helpless sigh, I reminded him. "Mr. Blanchard, it's getting late.

"I think your wife is probably waiting for you at home."

Just as I finished speaking, Rowan's phone rang, and the name "Carrie" flashed on the screen.

It was that substitute.

The ringtone kept ringing, and I frowned, gesturing toward the phone. "It's noisy. Aren't you going to answer it?"

Rowan reluctantly let go of my hand and answered the call, sounding impatient.

Seizing the moment, I snatched my hand back, spun around, and hurried out the door, making a beeline for my car parked outside.

I'd come back to get ready for my wedding with my fiancé, but I hadn't even been back for six hours before I bumped into Rowan.

As soon as I slid into the driver's seat, my phone started ringing in my pocket.

I swiped to answer, and Ryan's gentle voice came through. "Hey, how's it going now that you're back? Are you feeling jet-lagged?

"I've set up the studio just the way you like it. If anything's not right or you need anything, just let me know.

"I'll be arriving the night after tomorrow. No need to pick me up. I'll come straight to you as soon as I land."

I glanced in the rearview mirror, and Rowan was still frozen in place.

Not far away, a familiar figure was striding over to him, looked like she was asking him something. But that was all behind me now.

I calmly looked away, hit the gas, and smiled. "Ryan, I'm not a kid anymore. I can take care of myself.

"Just focus on your work. You don't have to keep worrying about me."

The next morning, I pushed open the glass doors to my riverside studio. Ryan had put a lot of thought into it.

Every little detail here was almost identical to my old workspace in Sopeal City. I slipped right into work mode without missing a beat.

While I was focused on my sketches, the intercom buzzed.

My assistant's voice came through, sounding hesitant. "Stella, there's a Ms. Grant here. She doesn't have an appointment, but she's insisting on seeing you."

Ms. Grant? I only had a handful of friends with that last name.

I just hadn't expected Carrie to come looking for me so soon.

"Let her in," I said.

Soon, the office door swung open.

Bathed in sunlight, someone who looked strikingly similar to me stepped inside. She wore a perfectly tailored coat and flawless makeup. She was the picture of an elegant socialite.

That face, so familiar, yet so distant, suddenly made me remember that afternoon eight years ago.

I was at Hope School, way out in the remote villages, looking for a new kid to help out.

A girl in a faded school uniform, cheeks rosy from the altitude, stepped in, backlit by the sun. Her eyes were filled with nervousness and hope.

Now, Carrie walked into my studio with a composed, deliberate stride, a meaningful smile spreading across her face.

She said, "Stella, long time no see."

After all these years, I still didn't bother to hide my coldness toward Carrie.

I stood up, my manner distant, and pointed toward the sofa across the room. "Ms. Grant, please, have a seat.

"Did you come here for something in particular?"

Carrie acted like she didn't even notice my coldness. She settled in and started chatting away, full of energy. "What, I can't come see you unless there's a reason?

"Yesterday, I thought I spotted you by the mall, but I wasn't sure. I thought maybe you'd come back. So I checked today, and turns out it really was you.

"Stella, how could you come back without telling me?"

I responded with a cool, indifferent tone, clearly not buying into Carrie's playful act, "The studio's just starting up.

"There's a million things to sort out. I've just been really busy."

Carrie looked around the studio and instantly frowned. "This place is way too small. How are you supposed to work your magic in here?

"I've got a much bigger, vacant studio downtown. Why don't you move in? Bills are on me. All you need to do is create."

I was about to say no, but Carrie suddenly grabbed my hand, not letting me finish.

She insisted, "Stella, please. Just give me this chance. Let me pay you back for once.

"If you hadn't helped me back then, I never would've had the chance to meet Rowan.

"When your family was struggling, I couldn't do anything for you, and I've always felt bad about that. I know it still bothers you that I ended up with him, but it's been so many years...

"I just hope you can let it go, Stella, and maybe give both of us a chance for a fresh start."

I caught Carrie's hopeful look, but I wasn't having any of it.

I yanked her hand back, saying coolly, "Thanks, but I'm fine here. I don't want to move again."

Carrie's smile faded. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she took out a black card from her purse and placed it on the coffee table

Resting her hand lightly on her stomach, she smiled again. "Stella, I'm sorry. I got so busy reminiscing, I almost forgot why I really came. I'm pregnant."