Chapter 1"I'm sorry, I can't do this."
My groom just said that at our own wedding.
Because his ex—the one who ghosted him five years ago—flew back.
The whole ballroom lost it. I grabbed his jacket, forcing a smile.
"Can you just... not leave right now?"
He couldn't look at me. Pulled my hand off. Fingers by fingers.
"Sorry."
"I need to know why she left like that."
Before anyone could blink, Cade bolted. Never looked back.
My dad—with his fragile heart—started shaking so hard with pure rage.
Next second, he dropped.
"DAD!"
I completely lost it. Rushed him to the ER.
Sitting outside those doors, my phone buzzed.
[Give me 30 days. After that I swear I'll only love you.]
I stared at it until my vision blurred.
Laughed. Bitter as hell.
Thirty days?
I wouldn't give him thirty fucking seconds.
...
Three hours. That red light stayed on for three hours straight.
Dad had bypass surgery two years back. He warned me about Cade. Said the guy wasn't worth it.
But I was SO sure he loved me.
Every stupid certainty now felt like getting slapped.
Mom was crying next to me. "What if he doesn't make it? I can't—"
"He will." Cut her off. Trying to convince myself. "Dad's fine."
But my voice was shaking. Never been this scared.
Then my phone lit up again. Text and video from Melissa.
[Told you. Second I came back, you'd lose. Again.]
The video showed some hotel lobby. Cade practically sprinted to her, got right in her face.
"Why'd you even come back?"
She said nothing. He lost it first—eyes turning red.
"You LEFT. Just fucking left. Now you show up and wreck my life?"
"What gives you the RIGHT to be this selfish?"
I walked to the empty hallway. Watched quietly.
This guy on my screen completely falling apart—didn't recognize him.
My best friend used to say he was too cold with me. I always made excuses.
"Guys like him don't show emotion. I get it. That's just him."
But now?
Now I knew. He COULD break down. Could cry. Could beg.
Just never for me. Only for her.
I closed my eyes. Pushed down the ache. Kept watching.
She stood there silent while he unraveled. Then he laughed—awful, broken. All his anger just crumbled.
Pulled her into his arms.
"You're back... thank god you're back."
She pressed into his chest. Her eyes found the camera. Smug. Triumphant.
Video ended.
I laughed at myself. Pathetic.
Thunder cracked outside. Rain poured down. My tears mixed right in.
So THAT's what it looked like when he loved someone.
Never once saw it directed at me.
Wiped my face. Went back. The doors opened just then.
Ran over, eyes probably terrifying. "How is he?"
"Out of danger."
"But he can't handle stress anymore. Not even a little. His heart won't take it."
My whole body locked. Nodded hard.
"Never again. I promise. Thank you."
Mom collapsed sobbing in relief. Dad got wheeled out.
Looking at him—pale, fragile like that—I wanted to punch myself.
How did I not see this coming?
We got him settled in a room.
Then some specialist walked in.
"Ms. Pierce? Mr. Hartley sent me over. I specialize in hypertension—how's the patient?"
Text came through same time.
[Sorry didn't realize it'd upset your father. Sent a specialist for his blood pressure. He'll be okay.]
My hands were shaking. Phone almost slipped.
Five years together.
He didn't even know what was wrong with my dad.
I kept my voice flat. "Don't need you. Leave."
After Dad was stable, I headed down to the OB floor.
Through a cracked door—I saw them.
Cade and Melissa.
He was holding her. She looked pale. His face was tight with worry.
Doctor asked what's wrong.
She didn't speak. He jumped in immediately.
"Her period's always been irregular. Gets cold so easily. Constitution's super weak. Even acupuncture hasn't helped."
I froze right there.
Every word about her body—he knew it all. Like a checklist he'd memorized.
Couldn't even get my dad's illness right.
But remembered every detail about his ex from five years ago.
Each word was a knife twisting in my chest.
Pulled out my phone. I called my lawyer.
"Draw up divorce papers."
Then pushed open another exam room door.
"I need to schedule an abortion."
Chapter 2
The doctor stared at me.
"I remember you. Last month you were so happy about being pregnant. What happened?"
My face went stiff for a second.
A month ago, while Cade was on a business trip, I'd been feeling like shit. Went to the doctor. Turned out I was pregnant.
Didn't tell him right away. Wanted to surprise him after the wedding.
Then Melissa came back.
He ran from our ceremony. Made me a joke in front of everyone.
I was still wearing the goddamn dress.
"Finally woke up. Can you do it tomorrow?"
She sighed. "Okay."
"Tomorrow morning, 9 AM. First procedure room. Just give your name."
I nodded. Went back to Dad's room.
Opened my phone. Our friends' group chat was blowing up—they'd added Melissa.
[Welcome back! Knew you two would end up together eventually.]
[THIS is how it should be. We're the same kind of people!]
[Uh... guys. Tessa's still in this chat.]
Dead silence.
I almost laughed. So they only tolerated me because of Cade.
They never actually liked me.
Next second, the group chat disappeared. Cade had kicked me out.
My chest went tight.
Then he texted: "I'll add you back in a month. I promise."
I stared at it. Didn't answer.
Whatever.
After tomorrow, we'd have nothing left anyway.
Day three.
My dad woke up. I'd had the abortion. Went to Hartley Industries to turn in my resignation.
Just sat down at my desk when the elevator doors opened—
Cade and Melissa walking out together.
He stopped. "How's your dad's blood pressure?"
My hands clenched. Voice dripping sarcasm: "Thanks to you, he's fantastic."
His face tightened. Didn't like my tone—he was used to me being agreeable.
He looked away from me. Turned to Melissa. His whole expression softened.
"You'll start as senior assistant."
"Once you learn the ropes, I'll move you to project development."
Melissa glanced at me. "Sounds good. Have Tessa show me around."
I stared at her. "No."
She didn't react. Just waited for him to handle it.
His voice came sharp. "You don't get to refuse."
"This is work. Your feelings don't matter here."
He walked past me into his office, pulling Melissa with him.
I felt ice shoot through my veins.
Outside, the sky shifted—sudden snow. Wind cut through the windows. I was shaking.
Collapsed in my chair. Everyone else was snickering.
That afternoon, I'd just finished typing up my resignation when he called me into his office.
Slammed a file at my feet.
"Is this a JOKE?"
"Thirty million dollar project—you wrote three HUNDRED million! Everyone's cleaning up YOUR mess!"
I grabbed it off the floor. My whole body went rigid.
"That's impossible."
I'd checked those numbers a hundred times.
My eyes caught Melissa in the corner. That smug little smile.
Everything clicked.
"It was you."
Of course. This morning she'd been SO helpful, sitting right next to me all day.
Getting my password wouldn't have been hard.
"TESSA!"
His shout made me flinch.
Zero emotion on his face. "Don't blame other people for your mistakes."
I took a breath. Steadied my voice.
"Then check the security footage.
"Melissa, you didn't know, right? That stuffed animal on my desk? It's got a camera."
Chapter 3
Her face went stiff for just a second. I caught it.
He hesitated.
I didn't wait for him to decide. Grabbed Melissa's arm and dragged her out of his office.
Everyone in the executive suite was watching.
"Wait—" he started.
Ignored him. Pulled up the footage right there in front of everyone.
12:23 PM. After everyone left for lunch, Melissa sat down at my computer.
Crystal clear video of her changing the contract numbers. Every single movement.
His face went dark.
People gasped.
"Holy shit, it WAS Melissa? Why would she—"
"Are you stupid? Ex-girlfriend sabotaging current girlfriend. Question is whose side HE picks."
"My money's on Melissa. You newbies don't know how crazy they were back in the day."
My spine locked up. Tried not to show how much that gutted me.
Then Melissa smiled at me.
My stomach dropped.
She turned to face him. Zero remorse. Just admitted it.
"Yeah. I did it."
"I set her up. Fire me if you want."
She looked right at him. "Are you going to fire me, Cade?"
I looked up too.
He would, right? Evidence was right there. She confessed.
What possible reason could he have NOT to?
I held my breath.
Then he said. "This ends here. I'll personally handle the consequences."
Melissa smiled. Victorious. Shot me a look that said everything.
Everyone started whispering.
Felt like I'd been slapped across the face.
"Why?" My voice shook.
He glanced at me like it was obvious. "Melissa's my girlfriend. She made a mistake. As her boyfriend, I'll handle it."
I laughed. Actually laughed out loud.
"Girlfriend..."
"We have a MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE. She's a homewrecker—"
"STOP."
His voice was ice. "She's not."
I stared at him. Then at the floor.
Finally understood where Melissa's confidence came from. His favoritism.
I was done fighting.
"Fine. Whatever you say."
He dismissed everyone. Pulled me aside, voice softening.
"I'm sorry. Didn't mean to snap."
"Tessa, I told you—one month. After that, I'm only yours."
I dug my nails into my palms. Smiled up at him.
"Okay. I believe you."
"Oh—I've got some contracts that need your signature."
Handed him a stack. Resignation letter and divorce papers buried in the middle.
He seemed thrown by the sudden shift but relaxed when I acted normal.
Signed without looking.
Went back to my desk. Sent the divorce papers to my lawyer. Submitted my resignation to HR.
Just waited for the day to end.
Evening. Took one last look at the place I'd spent five years. Left my badge on the desk.
Parking garage. Melissa was waiting by my car.
I tried to walk past her. She spoke first.
"See? Told you. Second I came back, you were done."
"If you had any self-respect, you'd divorce him yourself. Why keep a man who doesn't love you?"
I stopped.
My voice cold. "Maybe. But until I DO divorce him, you're still the side piece, Melissa."
"You—"
She raised her hand and slapped me hard.
"BITCH!"
Behind her, Cade stepped out right then.
Caught the whole thing.
