Chapter 1At my mother's funeral, the florist delivered 999 blood-red roses.
I'm livid. I call them up, voice shaking.
"Are you kidding me right now?!"
Some girl answers, sounding bored as hell. "Oh my god, relax. Those roses cost way more than what you paid. Like, you're welcome?"
"This is a total scam!"
I drag her straight to the police station.
She smirks at me. "Yeah, okay. Wait till my husband shows up. He'll shut you up real quick."
The door opens. A man walks in and tosses a black card at my feet.
"Here. Now leave my wife alone."
My chest tightens. That voice—
I look up.
My husband.
His face goes white.
"...Liv?"
The woman grabs his arm, eyebrows raised.
"Wait—do you two know each other or something?"
Or something. Yeah. Seven years of my life, actually.
He just stands there frozen, looking caught red-handed.
I lock eyes with him. "Oh, we're very familiar."
My phone's still on our text thread. Screen goes black.
"I'm at the police station. Need you."
"Babe, stuck in meetings all day. Sorry."
And here he is. Not stuck. Calling someone else his wife.
He scrambles. "We grew up on the same street. Haven't seen her in like—forever."
My chest caves in.
Same street kid. That's what seven years gets me now.
The woman sticks her hand out, all fake-nice.
"Sienna. His wife."
She tilts her head, smirking. "Look hon, since you're friends with Marcus, I won't press charges. But seriously? Scamming people? If you're broke just ask me for cash."
I'm literally shaking. About to fall over.
I say nothing.
She adds herself on my contacts and pulls him toward the door.
He keeps looking back. Mouth opening. Closing.
Says nothing.
I'm on the curb outside, shaking.
I text him.
"You gonna explain this or what?"
Takes him ten minutes to reply. He never made me wait before.
"Don't spiral okay? I'll explain at home."
"Just get inside. Storm's coming. You'll get sick."
That used to work on me. Now it's just noise.
Neither of us says anything else.
Phone dies.
Some lady walks by. Sweetie, get home. Rain's about to hit. You'll be okay—I promise."
Sky cracks open. Rain slams down.
A car screeches to a stop. Marcus jumps out with an umbrella, running over.
"Liv! I told you to go home! You're ignoring my calls—what the hell else do you want?!"
Seven years ago. Same rain. I was stuck outside a bodega after school. He showed up.
"Come on. I'll walk you."
"I promise—every time it rains, I'll be there."
Now I'm staring up at him and I can't breathe.
He pulls me close.
My voice cracks. "How long?"
Silence.
I thought I'd scream. Thought I'd lose it completely.
Can't even speak.
"My mom's funeral was today. You didn't come. Said work was crazy—fine.
Tears pouring now. "But she snaps her fingers and you're sprinting? Explain that."
I shove him off.
"Her parents are forcing her into some arranged marriage thing. I'm helping her escape it. That's literally all this is."
His voice cracks. "Liv—nothing's changed with us."
Helping. Right.
I'm full-on crying now.
He reaches up to brush away my tears—
His phone blares.
Doesn't even hesitate. Picks up immediately.
"Yeah. On my way."
Barely looks at me. "Her power's out. She's having a panic attack. Gotta go."
I watch him leave.
If tears can't keep you, nothing will.
One day. Lost both people who ever loved me.
Mom.
And you.
Late that night, two messages pop up from Sienna.
I feel like I'm dying.
Chapter 2
A photo pops up. Marcus fixing her breaker box, sleeves rolled up.
Then the text: "Liv, I knew exactly who you were. Switched those flowers myself. Everything today? My plan. And FYI—he's done with you."
My hands shake around my phone. I don't respond.
Can't help myself. I click her profile.
Cover photo: Marcus down on one knee. Flowers in his hands.
Three pinned posts at the top.
[This gorgeous guy came in today buying flowers for his wife ? faith in love = restored]
[Not calling him my brother anymore...we're official ?]
[My hero ? Also we're MARRIED now]
My chest feels like it's caving in. Can't breathe.
Last birthday. Marcus came home with baby's breath from that new shop down the street. Grinning like an idiot.
"What's got you all smiley?"
"Just found something perfect."
They already knew each other.
Tears blur the screen. I keep scrolling anyway.
In her world, he cooks. Takes her to sketchy food carts. Never misses an anniversary.
For me? "That's too much work."
Thunder explodes overhead. Sky goes white.
Memory slams into me—Dad wasted, screaming in my face.
"You're the reason I'm stuck with your psycho mother! Little parasite!"
"Both of you should just die!"
Marcus kicked the door down. Wrapped himself around me like a shield.
"You're safe. I'm here. Always."
Now I'm alone in the corner, trembling, hitting his number.
Third ring.
"There's thunder. I'm scared. Come home?"
His voice comes back cold.
"Lab emergency. Swamped. Go to sleep. You'll be fine."
Click.
Sienna texts instantly.
"Pathetic. He's not coming. He's here tucking ME in. Move on."
I gave you a chance, Marcus.
You chose not to take it.
I text Wade.
"I'm taking Northgate."
"Three days. Faster the better."
"Need you to draft divorce papers."
Three days and we're strangers.
I pack my stuff. Box his.
99 letters. The mugs. Those rings. Seven years of photos.
All of it—trash.
Staring at the boxes, everything feels unreal. How does love just evaporate?
We grew up in the same run-down alley. Had nothing. Clawed our way up together.
Saved each other's lives. That's what bound us.
I made it to top-tier lawyer. He got into the institute. Everyone called us soulmates.
How'd we still fall apart?
Next morning, I'm dragging my suitcase toward the door.
Marcus bursts in.
Panting. Wild-eyed.
"Liv—god, I'm sorry. Last night was chaos."
"Drove straight back. Thought something happened to you."
I actually laugh.
"Chaos doing what? Cooking her eggs? Keeping her bed warm?"
He goes rigid, face dark.
"Why do you twist everything? I'm helping her. Period. There's nothing else."
Grabs my wrist hard.
I rip free.
"You've been playing Prince Charming so long you bought your own act."
"Save the speech. I'm already gone."
Chapter 3
He frowns when he sees my suitcase by the door.
Takes him a second. "Going somewhere?"
My heart drops into my stomach. I knew he wouldn't care—but watching it happen still cuts.
I knew what he'd say. Some pathetic part of me still hoped he'd notice something was wrong.
He doesn't.
"Northgate."
"Oh, okay."
His phone buzzes.
[Baby Sienna]
He's already walking away.
"Stay safe. Let me know when you get there."
He stops at the door.
"Send me your flight info when you're coming back. I'll come get you."
Marcus, I'm not coming back.
Not ever.
At the office, I'm boxing up files. Sarah comes rushing over.
"Hold on—you're moving to Northgate and Marcus's fine with it?!"
"That's three YEARS, Liv! You guys are literally always together! Long distance? Seriously?"
I seal the box without looking up.
"We're divorcing."
The room goes dead silent.
Nobody asks anything else.
I walk outside and reporters come out of nowhere.
Cameras flashing, microphones jabbing at my face.
"Ms. Hart! Did you have an affair with a married man?!"
"You're a divorce lawyer who wrecked a marriage—how do you sleep at night?!"
What are they even talking about?
I pull out my phone. My blood goes cold.
Photos of Marcus and me from this morning plastered everywhere. More from the past few months—grabbing coffee, getting in his car, shopping for groceries.
[HOMEWRECKER LAWYER: SHE DESTROYS FAMILIES FOR A LIVING]
My hands start shaking.
"This is total garbage. I'll sue all of you. Marcus and I—"
Someone pushes through the crowd and steps in front of me.
Marcus.
His voice cuts like glass. "Ms. Hart and I grew up together. We're childhood friends. That's it. Print one more lie and I'll personally make sure you're buried in lawsuits."
Childhood friends.
Something cracks open in my chest.
Seven years together—erased. Just childhood friends now.
Marcus, this is when I finally get it. How much you love her.
The reporters back off.
He turns to me, cups my face, kisses my forehead.
His voice goes soft. "I'll handle this. Those articles will be gone tonight. I'm really sorry, Liv."
"Don't be upset with me, okay? Sienna's fragile. Stress really messes her up."
I stare at him. Eyes completely empty.
"She's leaving soon anyway. Once she's gone, I'll fix everything."
"What we have—it's real."
He practically shoves me into his car. Driver's waiting.
I'm too exhausted to fight.
Two blocks later, a truck comes straight at us.
CRASH.
Metal screaming. Glass exploding. I'm crushed under wreckage, head split open, warm blood flooding down my face. The driver's slumped forward. Not moving.
Two guys in black hop out of the truck.
Walk straight over.
I'm choking on air. "Help... please..."
One pulls a knife.
Stabs me in the chest.
Blood fills my mouth. Tears streaming hot down my face.
The other guy sounds nervous. "Dude, she's already dying. Isn't this too much? What if she actually dies?"
"Sienna said finish the job. We got paid. Shut up."
Sienna.
She wants me dead.
One kicks my phone into a drain.
Leans down, breath hot on my ear.
"Sweet dreams, gorgeous. Wrong place, wrong time."
Motorcycle roars.
Gone.
Everything goes black.
