Chapter 1
Ryan Carter was about to propose when his childhood friend Sophie Lane suddenly grabbed her chest and leaned toward him.
"Ryan, my bra just came undone. I'm scared it's going to show. Can you help?"
Without a second thought, Ryan pocketed the ring and reached for her.
I gently asked, "Ms. Lane, do you need some help?"
She shook her head, looking embarrassed. "No thanks. We don't really know each other—it'd be weird."
Ryan jumped in. "It's fine. I've done this a million times. Let me handle it."
When I stayed silent, he added, "Sophie gets anxious around strangers. If anyone else touches her, she freaks out—like, can't breathe. So, don't make it worse, alright?"
I chuckled. "So you're the only one allowed to touch her?"
*****
Ryan clicked his tongue, sounding annoyed. "Natalie, seriously? Why do you always have to make everything dramatic?
"Sophie and I grew up together—we took baths together as kids. Helping with a bra clasp is nothing."
As he spoke, his hand slid around her back, quickly fastening it. He even tugged it to check it was secure.
He shrugged. "See? Easy. I don't get what you're so upset about."
His fluid performance drew quiet thumbs-up from his friends.
"Ryan, you're the man!"
Sophie playfully nudged him. "Getting rusty? That hurt."
She turned to me apologetically. "I'm kind of... well-endowed, so my bras always come loose. Back in school, the other girls froze me out because of it. Ryan was the only one who helped.
"Natalie, don't take it personally. It's ancient history."
I stared at her, my face blank. "Is that right? So what's your excuse today? You walk up and ask my fiancé to fix your bra?
"Can't do it yourself, or can't find one that actually fits?"
Sophie smiled sweetly, "Oh, I can do it myself, but it's such a pain.
"As for the fit, you'd have to ask Ryan. He's been designing my bras for years, so if there's a problem, blame him."
Ryan instantly blew up. "Sophie! You gave me your measurements—I never actually measured you!
"If it fits, what's the big deal?"
Sophie shot back, "Go ahead and measure me if you want. I'm not stopping you."
My mind went blank.
Ryan was a well-known lingerie designer.
I'd asked him countless times why he got into it.
Every time, he'd just smile and dodge the question.
Last month, I was all excited, practically begging him to design a wedding lingerie set for me.
But he refused. "You know I don't do custom orders. Honestly, you'd look better without anything."
Now it all made sense.
His inspiration, his refusal, all those deflections—it was all for Sophie.
My heart clenched as I watched them laugh and mess around, feeling invisible.
Ryan grinned mischievously and reached for Sophie. "Hey, you said I could. Don't cry when I actually do it."
Instead of backing off, Sophie puffed out her chest defiantly. "Bring it on!"
The room erupted with whistles and laughter.
"Ryan, don't chicken out! Show her your moves—she'll tap out right away!"
"No wonder you always say Natalie's flat and boring. So this is what you're into!"
They were cracking up, not one of them even glancing at me.
Like I didn't exist. Like I wasn't Ryan's fiancée.
Shaking with anger, I grabbed Ryan's hand and slammed it onto Sophie's chest.
Sophie's eyes went red, but she didn't pull away.
"Natalie, I've been single my whole life—28 years, never been touched by a guy.
"So now you think I'm cheap? With everyone watching, how am I supposed to show my face?"
She covered her face, sobbing quietly.
Ryan grabbed his wine glass and hurled it at me. "Natalie, you think humiliating Sophie is funny? That's disgusting! You're just insane!"