Chapter 1The night before my wedding, I was hit by my fiancé's childhood sweetheart's car—left bleeding out on the pavement.
My best friend called him. He declined instantly.
All he sent back:
"Victoria's got a cold. Can't deal with this right now."
She tried her own fiancé next—a celebrity with connections everywhere.
His response:
"Victoria's sick. She needs me more."
After a full night in the ER,
we locked eyes in that sterile hospital room and said it together:
"Fuck this. We're done."
But we never expected...
When those two men got word the weddings were off, they completely lost their shit.
A full week of radio silence later, Grayson Hunt finally called.
I picked up. Big mistake.
"Aurora Lane, what the hell is your problem?
Both families locked down the venue and date. You can't just cancel because you're throwing a tantrum. What are you trying to pull?"
I opened my mouth, but he steamrolled right over me.
"How many times do I have to say it? Victoria's health is fragile. A cold can turn into pneumonia overnight. I need to be there to make sure she's okay. Why are you so goddamn jealous? Do you not care if someone dies?"
Dies. That word hit like a slap.
Last night, I went alone to finalize wedding details. On the way home, a truck plowed into me at full speed.
Before everything went black, I used every ounce of strength I had left to call Grayson.
Ring. Ring. Declined.
I tried again. Declined.
By the time I passed out completely, my blood-smeared phone screen lit up with a notification.
Grayson had finally sent a WhatsApp message.
[What now?]
When I didn't reply immediately, another one came through.
[Seriously?
You're gonna interrupt me while I'm calming Victoria down?
If she gets upset, it could kill her. You get that?]
From the second I woke up, Grayson had done nothing but tear into me.
My phone suddenly got yanked out of my hand by Riley Carter, my best friend, who'd just walked in.
"Grayson, are you out of your fucking mind?
Aurora was in a car accident last night!
The driver hit her—then backed up and ran her over again! If she hadn't gotten to the hospital when she did, she'd be dead right now!
How can you not tell the difference between a cold and a car accident?!"
On the other end, Grayson let out a sharp laugh.
"You really think you can lie to a doctor? Riley, you're not as smart as you think."
Then he hung up.
Riley stared at the dead line, her knuckles white around the phone.
Before I could say anything, her phone rang almost immediately.
It was Landon Pierce—Riley's fiancé and Grayson's best friend.
"Riley, what the hell are you two playing at?
Do you have any idea that because of your petty jealousy and lies, Victoria almost had a relapse?
If Grayson and I weren't there, what do you think would've happened to her today?
Are you seriously that blind to someone's life hanging in the balance?
My family doesn't want someone like you around. Marry me or don't—I don't give a shit anymore!"
Riley was about to unleash a string of curses when she realized he'd already blocked her.
"Fuck him and his entire bloodline..."
I reached out weakly and grabbed her hand.
"Don't, Riley. They're not worth it."
Riley looked at the monitors beeping beside me, her eyes filling with tears.
"Aurora... does it still hurt?"
I smiled and shook my head.
No. It didn't hurt anymore.
The pain stopped the second Grayson hung up on me.
Chapter 2
To cheer ourselves up, Riley just threw on some random variety show.
We sat there stuffing our faces with popcorn, trashing everything on screen.
"Ugh, that guy's face? Total meme energy."
"This whole thing's so fake. Like, come on."
But then we both just... stopped laughing.
Because suddenly, Landon Pierce—Riley's fiancé and literal A-list celebrity—was right there on the screen.
Riley's whole face dropped. She muttered "fucking figures" under her breath and grabbed the remote.
But then Landon's voice made her freeze.
It was one of those super emotional variety show moments.
Landon looked straight into the camera, his eyes all soft and dreamy.
"My biggest regret... is never telling this one girl how I really felt..."
The crowd around him went wild, begging for details.
Riley's hand clenched so hard around the remote I thought it'd crack.
I squeezed her arm, but honestly? My chest felt just as tight.
Even though Landon was engaged to Riley, he flat-out refused to go public with it.
Said it'd "hurt his image." Mess with his "career momentum."
Which was complete bullshit—his family's loaded. Being famous was basically just a fun side project for him.
And whenever Riley tried bringing it up? He'd lose his shit. Start screaming about how she "doesn't get him" or "doesn't support his dreams."
But he had zero clue what she actually did for him.
Every time some scandal dropped, Riley would stay up all night doing damage control.
Every time he released something new, Riley would organize these massive hype campaigns.
Riley told me once—she knew entertainment was Landon's dream.
So she'd do anything to push him to the top.
But to him? Everything she did was just "desperate moves to trap him." Sad attempts to "lock him down."
He was dead convinced the only person who truly got him was Victoria—that precious childhood sweetheart he and Grayson both worshipped like some kind of goddess.
Seeing the worry in my eyes, Riley forced this smile that didn't reach anywhere near her eyes.
"I'm good, Aurora. We already decided we're done with them, right?"
"After this, we just tell the families. Then it's over. We're finally free."
My eyes stung as I nodded.
But I had no idea what was about to hit.
That evening, Grayson called.
His voice came through sharp and pissed off.
"Aurora, why are you acting like this right now?
Victoria had a fucking cold. I was helping her see a doctor!
Do you seriously have to turn everything into some twisted accusation?!
Over something this stupid, you're ditching the family banquet?"
"Both our parents are sitting here. Everyone's waiting for you!
Aurora, I'm telling you right now—stop being difficult. Don't make me come get you myself!"
In the past, hearing Grayson talk to me like this would've destroyed me.
But now? Listening to him rage at me, I just felt... nothing.
I said flatly:
"Grayson, I'm calling off the engagement. So there's really no point in me showing up, is there?"
The second I said "calling off the engagement," he absolutely exploded.
His voice was shaking with fury.
"Do you even hear yourself right now?! This is straight-up jealous psycho behavior!
Aurora, I had no idea you were this insane and obsessed!
I'm already throwing you a lifeline by calling—is it that hard to just take the fucking out I'm giving you?!
Everyone's sitting here waiting. How long are you planning to embarrass yourself?!
You're coming. Today. I don't care what you think.
Tell me where you are. I'll come drag your ass here right now!"
I looked down at the medical chart with the hospital logo stamped on it, and suddenly I just felt so... tired.
"St. Mary's Hospital. Come pick me up."
Chapter 3
Back in the day, whenever he'd go off like that, I'd scramble to explain myself.
But now? I was just... done.
Too exhausted to even defend myself anymore.
I said quietly,
"Grayson, I'm calling off the engagement.
Once I'm feeling a bit better, I'll talk to your parents myself. I'm not going to the banquet today."
Then I hung up.
But I never expected...
He'd actually show up.
When Grayson saw me lying there in the hospital bed, his face twisted up immediately.
But before he could say anything, Victoria walked in right behind him.
She slid her arm through his like it was the most natural thing in the world, practically gluing herself to his side.
Victoria looked at me with this possessive gleam in her eyes, but plastered on this fake-ass sympathetic expression.
"Oh my god, what happened?
Aurora, are you okay?"
"I'm so sorry, Aurora. I really wasn't feeling well that day—that's why Grayson came to check on me. Please don't be upset with him. Both your parents are waiting at the hotel right now!
You're putting everyone in such an awkward spot!"
Before she could finish her Oscar-worthy guilt trip, Grayson cut her off.
He looked at her with straight-up adoration in his eyes.
"Victoria, you don't owe her shit!
Aurora!
You've crossed the line this time!
You think throwing yourself in a hospital bed is gonna make me cave to you?
You need to apologize to Victoria right now!
And apologize to our parents!"
"This is your last shot!
Otherwise, you can forget about ever stepping foot in my family's house again!"
I let out a cold laugh.
"Grayson, we're done. Take your girlfriend and get the fuck out of my room!"
The second I called Victoria his girlfriend, Grayson's face went red with rage.
He raised his hand—and slapped me hard across the face.
