Chapter 1So get this—the hospital's hosting a sperm donor event, and my fiancé signs up.
But here's the kicker: he specifically requests to donate to Riley Vaughn—his so-called "girl best friend."
When I showed up at his place, I walked straight into their full-on pregnancy celebration.
Riley suddenly looked over at Jaxon Hale, all innocent.
"Oh my God, wait—did you tell Wren yet?"
"I mean, whatever—not my problem. But girls like her? Clingy psychos. What if she freaks out and cancels the wedding? Don't come crying to me."
Jaxon slouched back, flipping his lighter, grinning like he owned the world.
"Please. I'm about to make board director. She's not going anywhere."
"Wren's been following me around like a puppy for ten years. She's a doormat. Telling her to leave me? Might as well tell her to jump off a bridge. Trust me, babe—you're good."
The room erupted in laughter.
Something inside me just... died.
I pulled out my phone and called my dad.
"Dad, kill Jaxon's promotion. I'm marrying someone else."
---
I pushed open the screen door and walked in.
Jaxon had Riley pulled up against him, both of them staring at the ultrasound photo, talking about whether the kid would look more like him or her.
The second they saw me, everyone's face twisted like I was a pile of dog shit.
Jaxon looked panicked for a second and started to let go of Riley, but she grabbed his arm and pulled him right back. Then they both walked over to me.
"Oh, Wren! You're here—good. I was gonna explain anyway before you got upset."
"So like, you know marriage isn't my thing, right? But my parents won't stop bugging me about grandkids, and Jax offered to help. It's really not a big deal."
"If it bugs you, we can totally talk. But please don't give him shit about it—he's just being a good friend."
Before I could say anything, Mrs. Hale stood up, trying to smooth things over.
"Wren, honey, we all sat down and talked about this already. Riley's been in our lives forever—she's like family. She's not the type to go after someone's man, trust me. So you can stop freaking out."
"And look, she's already pregnant. You're not seriously telling her to go get an abortion, are you? Come on—you're a woman too. Don't be heartless."
Watching them all play nice to my face after talking shit behind my back made me feel sick.
I pulled off my engagement ring and threw it at Jaxon.
"Mrs. Hale, you've got this completely backwards. I'm just here to call off the engagement."
"Jaxon, we're done."
Jaxon's face said it all—here we go again.
Made sense.
Ever since Riley came back from abroad, I'd tried to break up with him like ten times.
And every time, I ended up talking myself out of it and going back to him.
He probably thought that after ten years together, I'd never find anyone better than him.
He rubbed his forehead. "Seriously? You're gonna do this here? Right in front of my family?"
"Wren, you know my parents didn't even want me with you at first. I'M the one who had to convince them—they thought you weren't good enough."
"And nothing's happening with Riley, so why the hell are you losing your mind right now?"
"Because you're having a baby with HER! What if I went and got pregnant by some random guy—how would YOU feel?"
"Don't even FUCKING go there."
Jaxon's face went red, but a second later he softened his voice.
"Look, it's not the same, okay? Just stop making this bigger than it is."
I tried to leave. Jaxon grabbed my arm.
BANG.
Mr. Hale slammed his fist on the table so hard the plates jumped.
"Let her go! Let her WALK!"
"My son's been supporting her all this time, and now she thinks she can act like she's too good for us? FINE. But don't come crawling back here later!"
Jaxon didn't come after me. Of course he didn't.
Chapter 2
I stepped outside into the freezing wind. It reminded me of that winter ten years ago when I first fell for him.
Back then, my best friend warned me:
"Jaxon? Oh honey, he's like the hottest broke guy on campus. Total scholarship kid—literally ALL he does is study."
"So many rich girls have tried. He won't even give them a second look. Says he doesn't have time for relationship drama."
"You really wanna go after him? Girl... good LUCK. You're gonna need it."
But I didn't care. I liked him.
So I hid who I really was, transferred into his major, and made it my mission to be around him constantly.
At the same time, I secretly had my dad pay for his tuition and living expenses under an anonymous scholarship fund.
Pulled strings to get him into research programs with top doctors and sent him to high-level medical conferences.
Turned down every rich guy my dad introduced me to. I only had eyes for Jaxon.
Eventually, it worked. We "happened" to end up together—two people who seemed like they were on the same level.
After we graduated, I made sure we both got jobs at my dad's hospital—Mercy General in Century City, Los Angeles.
I didn't move into the penthouse my dad bought me. Instead, I squeezed into Jaxon's tiny studio near the hospital.
For a while, things were actually really good.
In the mornings, if I didn't want to get out of bed, Jaxon would carry me to the bathroom and brush my teeth for me.
After work, we'd hold hands and go grocery shopping together.
At night, we'd curl up on the couch watching TV. I'd lean on his shoulder, and he'd feed me fruit he peeled himself.
But once Riley came back? Everything changed.
She became his number one priority.
The car he bought with his first paycheck? The passenger seat was Riley's spot.
"You live right there. Walking's not gonna kill you."
One night after a late shift, some creep started following me home.
I called Jaxon, shaking, begging him to come get me.
He was on his way to Riley's.
"Dude, Riley's cramping BAD and she's by herself. My ginger tea's the only thing that helps. Can you seriously not do this right now?"
When the guy lunged at me, I fought him off and grabbed a brick. I smashed it into his head. Blood sprayed all over my face.
The next day, I got out of the police station. Jaxon wasn't there.
But I saw Riley's Instagram post—two plane tickets.
[Wasn't feeling my best, but he said "pack a bag" and now I'm here ?☀️ Some people really do just get you, you know? ?]
The location tag? Maldives.
I'd been begging Jaxon to take me there for years.
Every time I brought it up, he'd say: "Babe, we gotta save for the wedding, remember? Can't be dropping cash on vacations."
But when it came to Riley? Saving money didn't matter.
I wiped my tears and took a breath.
Then thought about all those times I went to his parents' house for dinner. I'd cook and clean and serve everyone.
And the whole time, Mrs. Hale would take her grandmother's ring and put it on Riley's finger, going on about how Riley and Jaxon would be perfect together.
One thing after another. I kept telling myself I could handle it because I loved him.
But I couldn't anymore.
If I was always going to be an outsider to them, then I wasn't going to keep hurting myself for people who didn't give a shit about me.
Chapter 3
I went back to the villa in Beverly Hills—the one we'd bought together as our "future home"—to grab my stuff.
But when I tried the door code, it didn't work.
I was about to call Jaxon when the door opened from the inside.
Riley stood there wearing my pajamas, arms crossed, looking annoyed.
"What are you doing here?"
Before I could ask her the same thing, Jaxon came up behind her and pulled her back like he was protecting her.
"Wren, don't blow this up. Riley's not sleeping well because of the pregnancy, so I moved her here. It's quieter."
"You've still got the old place—the lease isn't even up yet. Just stay there till after the baby's born. Then we'll get married and you can move back."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"I paid for HALF this house. Who the hell said you could just move her in without asking me?"
Honestly, this house cost way more than Jaxon thought. My dad had covered 80% of it upfront so I wouldn't struggle.
On paper, Jaxon and I each "paid half."
Jaxon looked away, guilty. Then Riley stepped forward, shouting:
"Because MY name and HIS name are on the deed—NOT YOURS!"
"The only reason I'm not calling security right now is because of Jaxon! Otherwise you'd already be out on your ass!"
I stared at Jaxon. He finally mumbled:
"Look, Wren... Riley and I—we've known each other forever, okay? She's basically... she's like family."
"She's not getting married. She's raising this baby alone. I'm the father, so I... I mean, I had to make sure she's covered."
"But we're still getting married, right? So who cares whose name is on some deed? Isn't what we have together more important than a piece of paper?"
I almost didn't recognize him.
I thought Jaxon just didn't love me as much as I loved him.
Turns out, he'd been playing me this whole time.
This is the guy I gave up everything for? The guy I loved for ten years?
It wasn't worth it. Not even close.
Seeing my eyes water, Jaxon pulled out a cigarette. Then he remembered Riley was pregnant and quickly walked away to put it out.
Riley took the chance to get in my face, jabbing her finger into my shoulder.
"God, I'm so sick of needy girls like you. Jaxon doesn't want you anymore—he wants me."
"This is my house now. So either leave on your own, or I'll call security and let them drag you out. Your choice."
I was about to shove her hand away when she suddenly pushed me hard with both hands.
I fell backward into the koi pond.
Jaxon heard the splash and came running back. Riley threw her hands up innocently.
"I didn't touch her."
Jaxon slowed down, staring at me coldly as I struggled in the water.
"Stop faking. Riley's not the type to pull shit like that."
"Quit trying to guilt-trip me. Just get out yourself."
I swallowed water. My leg cramped up.
"It was her! Help... help me!"
Jaxon finally realized I wasn't faking. He started reaching for me—
But then Riley clutched her stomach and cried out:
"Jax, the baby's kicking—it hurts!"
Jaxon hesitated for one second.
Then he turned around, scooped Riley up, and carried her inside.
The door slammed shut.
It felt like my last hope slammed shut with it.
I don't know how long I fought to stay above water. My vision started going black.
Finally, someone pulled me out.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a face I knew but hadn't seen in forever.
