Chapter 1

Twelve bracelets waited inside my bridal suite. Grant had given me one every time another woman made me wait for him.

An hour before our wedding, she called again.

"Grant, please..." The sobbing voice coming through the speaker was loud enough for me to hear. "I just didn't know who else to call."

It was Sabrina. She was the fiancée of Grant's late brother, Daniel.

Grant reached up and buttoned his suit jacket.

"Claire," he said. "She’s going through Daniel’s things today. She found some of his clothes and completely broke down."

He was getting ready to leave.

I stared at him.

"The ceremony starts in an hour."

"I know."

"Then stay."

His hand paused on the last button.

For one second, I thought he might.

Then his phone buzzed again.

Grant looked down at Sabrina’s name glowing across the screen.

"I’ll be back before you walk down the aisle."

I almost laughed.

He had said versions of that sentence before.

I’ll be back before dinner.

I’ll make it before the cake.

Go ahead and start without me.

Just give me thirty minutes.

"Grant."

He looked at me.

"If you walk out that door now, don’t assume I’ll still be standing here when you come back."

His expression softened.

Not with fear.

The kind someone used on a person they were certain would eventually forgive them.

"Claire, you’re upset."

"I’m serious."

"So am I." He stepped closer and kissed my forehead. "Thirty minutes. I promise."

Then he opened the door.

Instantly, the cheerful sounds of the wedding reception drifted in from the hallway.

Outside, there was laughter and moving people.

I could hear a guest speaking loudly just outside my door.

"Grant planned this entire wedding himself. Six months. Even the flowers were his choice."

"Claire is so lucky." Another voice answered, full of envy."After everything with Daniel, he still takes care of Sabrina whenever she needs him. Most men would have stopped years ago."

For a few seconds, I stood there listening to our guests praise the man who had just walked out on his own wedding.

Then I turned toward the vanity.

Twelve velvet boxes sat beneath the mirror.

Inside were twelve high jewelry bracelets. Some were won at exclusive private auctions, and others were custom-made by top designers.

Everyone in our circle envied me. They all thought Grant loved spoiling me with his immense wealth.

But only I knew the ugly truth behind these beautiful stones.

One bracelet for every time Sabrina had called and Grant had chosen her.

My 28th birthday. Our third anniversary. Our engagement dinner.

Every single time Sabrina called, Grant left me behind.

Every time he left, he knew he had hurt me.

And every time, he would send a more expensive piece of jewelry the next morning to buy back my forgiveness.

For five years, I tolerated it. I used to think his eventual return meant he loved me.

But standing here in my wedding dress, something inside me finally snapped.

He didn't leave because he didn't care. He left because he was too sure that I belonged to him.

I walked over to the vanity table. I looked down at my left hand.

My heart felt strangely calm.

I slowly pulled off the heavy diamond engagement ring he had put on my finger.

I placed it right in the center of the twelve bracelets.

I picked up my phone and opened a text thread to Nathan, my childhood friend. Three years ago, he had stepped aside for Grant, but he left me with one promise.

You asked me once how many times would be enough.

I have an answer now.

I hit send.