Chapter 1"Confession time—I fucked my bestie’s boyfriend. In her bed. All fucking night."
My bestie Mia suddenly drops into French at dinner.
Everyone loses it.
My boyfriend Kyle smirks, answering in French.
"My turn. I raw-dogged my girl's bestie. Twice. Used up two whole boxes."
The table's dying. Mia kicks him.
"Kyle! Shut the hell up! Daisy's literally right there!"
He turns, all sweet boyfriend act, and ruffles my hair.
"Relax. Daisy doesn't speak French anyway."
"What're you guys talking about?" I ask.
"Just Mia's new boyfriend. Everyone's messing with her."
Doesn't even flinch.
I smile back, extra sweet.
Idiots. I grew up in Paris.
---
Kyle forces out this fake-ass smile and pats my head.
"We switched to French so we wouldn't bug you during dinner, babe."
Across the table, Mia's cracking up. She switches to French.
"Kyle, damn. Your girl's so easy. We're literally talking shit and she's not even mad?"
Kyle fires back in French, smooth as ever.
"She's clueless, you know? Believes whatever I say. Zero game in bed too."
Under the table, Mia's foot slides up his leg real slow.
"Funny. Last night you didn't complain about my game."
Kyle's throat bobs.
"You? Total demon. Nearly sucked me dry."
The whole table loses it.
Someone's like "Dude, Daisy's right there," but Kyle just wipes his mouth.
"So? She doesn't get it anyway."
He turns to me, eyes all soft.
"Baby, they're just telling French jokes."
I swallow the bile rising and nod.
"Oh. Sounds fun."
Looking at that gentle smile, I remember two years ago—this Southern boy hunched over his phone every day, learning my Northern accent.
He held me so tight back then.
"Daisy, I swear you'll never feel like an outsider with me. I'll only speak your language."
I was so damn moved I hid the fact I spoke French. Didn't want to hurt his ego.
Now? That language is their private sex line. Right in my face.
Mia glances over, switches to English.
"Girl, you look so pale. You feeling okay?"
"I'm fine. Just hot. Bathroom."
The second I close the door, I'm hunched over the toilet dry heaving.
I look up at my wrecked reflection and spot something behind my makeup remover.
A torn condom wrapper.
Kyle's brand.
I pull it out—it reeks of Mia's perfume from today.
Eyes closed, deep breath. Flush it down.
Pull out my phone, cancel next week's Cancun trip with Kyle.
Open a chat I haven't touched in months.
"Max, set things up in Lyon. I'm coming home."
Touch up my lipstick. Walk back out.
Living room's still buzzing. Mia raises her glass.
"To Kyle—cheers to another year."
Kyle downs it in one shot.
I slide back into my seat. He pulls me close.
"What took so long? I actually missed you."
Before, I'd melt. Now his cologne makes me sick.
"Just fixed my face."
I pull away gently.
Mia smirks.
"Daisy's so high-maintenance. Full makeup for a home dinner."
Then back to French.
"I'm staying tonight. After she's asleep, come to the guest room."
Kyle's hand squeezes my thigh under the table. Answers in French.
"Bet. Gonna wreck you raw tonight, slut."
I look down at my plate.
Two years of this relationship, just like this fancy dinner—completely rotten now.
Late night. Everyone's gone. Mia grabs my hand, playing sweet.
"It's so late, I'm scared to go home alone. Can I stay over?"
I pull my hand back, smile light.
"Sure. Just changed the sheets."
She looks shocked I agreed so fast. Kyle jumps in.
"See? Daisy's the best."
He leans in to kiss me—I turn my head.
"Gonna clean up."
Over the running water, I hear the guest room door click shut. Then Kyle's voice, low.
"Go shower first. I'll come find you in a bit."
I finish the dishes. My phone buzzes.
Text from my brother Max.
"Finally ready? I'll handle everything. Just tell me when."
Chapter 2
I stare at my phone and breathe out hard.
Water's running in the guest room. I yank off my apron and head back to the master bedroom.
I drag out that suitcase I swore I'd never need again.
These walls are shit. Next door—bed squeaking nonstop, headboard banging like crazy.
I'm curled up on the freezing floor. My stomach's killing me.
My hands won't stop shaking. I call Kyle.
It rings and rings and rings. Finally—
"Kyle's in the shower. The hell you want?"
Mia. Breathless. Smug as hell.
She's not even pretending anymore.
I bite down on my lip so hard I taste blood.
"Need... need to talk to him... stomach's... really bad..."
Some shuffling noises. Then Kyle's voice cuts in—pissed off.
"Daisy, Christ. It's like 2 AM."
Used to be, I'd frown and he'd drop everything. Now I'm literally dying and I'm being "annoying."
Beat of silence. Then—
"Kyyylle, my leg—ow, it's cramping so bad..."
Mia. Whining like a baby.
Kyle's tone turns ice cold instantly.
"You serious right now? This because Mia's here? Pop some Advil. I'm tied up."
Click.
He hangs up on me.
I drag myself up, throw on clothes. Walking out, Mia's laugh pours out from that room—loud, nasty, victorious.
I barely make it to the ER. The doctor takes one look at me and frowns hard.
"Gastric bleeding. Bad. Family coming?"
I force out a smile.
"Nah. Just me. I'm good."
Cold liquid hits my veins. I grab my phone and return that stupid Rolex. I drain my account straight into Max's offshore setup.
My phone lights up. Kyle.
"Mia felt sick. Had to check on her real quick."
"Baby ur stomach ok? My bad for snapping."
Two years back, he'd beat himself up over glancing at someone else. Now he literally rolls out of her bed and hits me with "baby."
I don't answer. I just mute him.
Sun's coming up. The IV's done. I go back.
Kyle's at the stove in that dumb apron, eggs sizzling, smile fake as hell.
"Babe! Where'd you run off to this early?"
He reaches for me. I duck away.
His hand just hangs there. Then he shrugs it off.
"Damn, you look like shit. What's up?"
He gets closer—ugh, that's MY body wash but it smells like her now.
The guest room door swings open. Mia strolls out. There's a hickey blazing red on her neck like a fucking neon sign.
"Morniiing! God, this robe? So soft. Kyle said it looks way hotter on me than you, by the way."
She's rubbing it right in my face.
Kyle's expression flickers for a second. He puts on this fake scolding voice.
"Mia, c'mon."
Then he flips to French. His voice drops and gets all harsh.
"T'es cinglée? Va te changer, maintenant."
Mia pouts and fires back in French.
"Relax, elle comprend rien. T'étais pas aussi chiant hier soir."
They're doing this whole performance right in front of me.
I don't say a word. I just walk to the bedroom.
"Gonna shower."
I dig through the drawers and find that jewelry box—cheap-ass silver necklace from when he "confessed his love."
I grab that and every other garbage gift he's ever given me. I toss it all in the trash.
I pull out my phone and text Max.
"Max. Send someone. Now."
Chapter 3
I walk out after my shower. Kyle's already got breakfast set up.
Mia's changed, sitting in MY chair, drinking milk with this fake-sweet smile.
"Daisy! Get over here! Kyle made you eggs!"
I grab a different chair. The egg's burnt to hell.
Kyle suddenly speaks up, voice soft.
"So tonight's our two-year thing. Got us a spot. Bringing some people."
He tries to grab my hand. I pull away, drink some water.
"Cool."
He looks relieved.
Mia kicks his chair, cuts in.
"Kyle, can I come? I'll be so bored."
Kyle shifts.
"Uh... tonight's kinda just for us..."
"She can come."
I cut him off flat.
"More people's fine."
Kyle just stares. Then lights up.
"Babe, you're the best!"
7 PM. We get to the restaurant.
Kyle booked the whole floor. Fifteen people.
I walk in—something feels off.
Mia beat us here. Wine-red dress, back exposed, wearing this insane diamond necklace that's blinding everyone.
Wait.
I know that necklace.
Month ago, Kyle was up past midnight with auction catalogs. Got all hyped, covered my eyes.
"Babe! Just won the sickest necklace. Only the best for my girl on our two-year."
I thought I was special.
Now that necklace is on her neck.
"Oh shit, Daisy's here!"
Someone yells. Everyone's eyes bounce between my plain white dress and Mia's sparkle show.
Kyle's face goes dark, rushes over and hisses in French.
"What the fuck? That's supposed to be for her!"
Mia blinks innocent, snaps back in French.
"Chill. I'm borrowing it. She wouldn't know quality anyway."
Kyle's jaw clenches but he doesn't say shit back.
Just spins around, plastic smile, pulls me to the main seat.
"Babe! Sit here. Tonight's all you."
Couple drinks in, one of Kyle's boys goes:
"Yo Kyle, two years and no gift?"
Room goes dead.
Kyle starts sweating, his eyes darting to that necklace.
Mia's smirking like she's watching her favorite show.
Kyle fumbles out this tiny box.
"Nah, I got something."
Opens it—super thin white gold bracelet. Mall kiosk level. Next to that necklace? Embarrassing.
"Happy anniversary, babe."
His eyes are all guilty.
Used to be, he'd drive across town for my favorite cake. Now? This.
I don't reach for it—just let him clip it on my wrist himself.
Everyone sees the difference. Nobody knows where to look.
Mia suddenly stands.
"Oh my GOD Kyle, seriously?"
"Daisy honey, don't be upset. Kyle's just bad at romance."
She touches that necklace.
"This one's from him too. Want me to lend it to you?"
Room explodes in whispers.
Kyle's face turns purple and he yells in French.
"Mia! Shut up!"
Mia doesn't flinch. Whispers loud.
"What, now you're mad? Not what you said last night."
Kyle looks at me, then at her, then just slumps back in his seat like someone.
This is who I left my family for. Can't even defend me.
My phone buzzes.
Mr. Harrison, our family's head butler.
"Miss Daisy, convoy's downstairs. Your father says—your family's got you. Always."
I smile for real this time.
Type back.
"Come up. Get me."
I pull off that bracelet and drop it right in the plate of leftover bones.
CLINK.
Sound cuts through the silence.
Kyle's face goes white.
"Babe, what the hell?!"
Mia thinks she won. Goes full mean-girl in French.
"Finally cracking? You thought Kyle loved you? You're just easy to control."
I just stare.
She gets closer, stroking that necklace.
"Wanna know why he wants me? I'm exciting. You? You're boring as hell."
Glances at the bracelet in the dirty plate.
"That trash isn't even worth a tenth of this. That's what you're worth to him."
"You done?"
I fire back in perfect French, voice ice cold.
Mia's whole body freezes, her eyes going huge.
"Wait... you speak French?"
Kyle freezes.
