Chapter 1The bachelor party was already wild when someone pulled out hotel keycards.
"Okay, everybody listen up!" Marcus yelled over the music. "New game—you draw a card, you're with whoever's name is on it tonight."
My chest went tight.
Ryan leaned in close, his mouth right by my ear. "Hey." That cocky smile spread across his face. "Relax, okay? I fixed it earlier. You're getting mine. I promise."
I wanted so bad to believe him.
"Okay," I said.
People started drawing their cards. Lots of laughing. Some groaning. A few people acting all dramatic.
Then Ryan flipped his card.
Madison Pierce.
My best friend.
Everyone lost it.
"Oh my god!"
"No fucking way!"
Someone whistled really loud.
"So what, Becca's just gonna back out now?"
Madison turned pink and grabbed my hand fast. "Becs, come on. It's not like that. It's one night. I'll just... I don't know, make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. You know me. I'm your best friend."
Ryan looked at me. "It's a game. Don't be like this."
They smelled the same. Same perfume. When did that happen?
I smiled.
"Fine. My turn then."
I grabbed the last card, my hand shaking, and flipped it over.
Dead silence.
Damien Cole.
The one guy Ryan hated most in the world.
I held it up so everyone could see. "Just a game, right? You're not gonna back out... are you?"
Ryan's face went dark. He tried to grab the card. "Becca, stop it."
I pulled back, still smiling. "What? That's what you said."
Someone jumped in real quick. "Okay Becca, come on. This is different. Madison's literally your best friend. What do you think is gonna happen?"
Another voice chimed in: "Yeah! She's doing you a favor, watching him. Why are you being weird?"
"God, Becca. So clingy."
Madison moved next to Ryan, her eyes getting all watery. "Becca, let's just... forget it. I don't wanna mess things up for you guys. Not before your wedding."
She held out her card. But her fingers didn't actually let go.
Ryan caught her wrist before she could drop it. Then looked at me. "Nothing's going on with me and Madison. If we back out now, it looks bad. We got nothing to hide. So why act like we do?"
Madison bit her lip. "Becca, I get it. You're upset. But if Ryan and I make this a big thing, people will talk. We share a room. Nothing happens. That proves it." Her voice got quieter. "I'm your best friend. Don't you trust me?"
I stared at that card still stuck in her hand.
Someone sighed really loud nearby. "Madison, you're too nice. You're literally helping her out and she's acting like you did something wrong. Becca, what else do you want?"
Ryan's jaw got tight. For a second I thought he'd say something.
He didn't.
He just turned to Madison. "Don't cry. Nobody's blaming you."
Madison's voice cracked. "Don't say that about Becca. It's been hard for her... marrying into Ryan's family. The Harringtons went through a lot. She's under so much pressure."
The room went quiet.
Then someone laughed.
"Oh. That's why. The Harringtons lost everything like two years ago, right? No wonder she's freaking out."
"Yeah. Makes sense she's so desperate."
All the blood drained from my face.
When my family's company crashed, Ryan asked me to marry him the next week. He said, "Becca, I got you. Nobody's ever gonna make you feel like shit again."
But now his friends were ripping me apart right in front of him.
And Ryan just stood there.
That's when it hit me.
It wasn't his friends looking down on me.
It was him.
Chapter 2
Madison's hand shot up to cover her mouth, but the damage was done.
"Oh my god, Becca—I'm so sorry! That came out wrong. I just—you know I only say stuff because I worry about you, right?"
Her eyes got all shiny. Cue the waterworks.
Ryan moved right in front of her.
"That's enough."
The look on his face—I didn't even know him anymore.
"Becca. Say you're sorry."
I blinked.
"...What?"
He spoke slower this time. Like I was stupid.
"Apologize. To Madison. She's trying to help you and you're treating her like garbage."
Everything inside me just... stopped.
I smiled.
"Sure. Okay."
Ryan's shoulders dropped. He actually thought that worked.
But I wasn't done. I turned to Madison.
"Madison. He's yours tonight. Have fun babysitting."
Her face went white.
Then I looked back at Ryan.
"As for that apology?" I waved a hand. "We can sort that out tomorrow. You know, at the courthouse. If I show up."
Ryan's expression went dark fast.
"Becca. What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
I held up the keycard.
"Game's a game, right? I should probably go find my room now."
I turned to leave.
"Becca!"
Ryan was on his feet.
"If you walk out that door—if you go find Damien—don't even think about showing your face tomorrow."
I froze.
Something twisted in my chest. Sharp. Fast.
Then it was gone. Just... nothing.
I glanced back at him. Still smiling.
"Perfect. Honestly? I was already having second thoughts."
I barely made it past the door before the laughter started again.
Someone wasn't even trying to whisper anymore.
"Dude, Ryan, you seriously need to get her under control. She's really gonna threaten to bail on the wedding? The day before? Yeah, right."
"Please. She's not going anywhere. The Harringtons are broke as hell. What's she gonna do, crawl back to nothing?"
The whole room cracked up.
Ryan didn't follow me.
I stood there in the hallway, Damien's keycard pressed into my palm so hard it hurt. And all these memories I'd shoved down for years just came flooding back.
Ryan wasn't always like this.
The year my family lost everything, he brought me to this fancy dinner with all his rich friends.
Someone sat me at the far end of the table. Away from everyone.
Halfway through, some woman smiled real sweet and said, "Wow. The Harringtons are struggling and she still shows her face at these things? Bold move."
Everyone laughed.
I just sat there, gripping my skirt so tight my knuckles went white. My face was on fire.
Ryan slammed his glass down. The whole table went quiet.
"Wherever Becca sits is exactly where she's supposed to be."
Then he got up from the head of the table and came over. Sat right next to me.
That night, he gave me his jacket. Shielded me from every single nasty look in that room.
I fell so hard. For him. For the way he made me feel safe.
I thought he'd always love me like that. That he'd always protect me.
I was the one who brought Madison into all of this.
Her first time at the Lakeview Country Club, she was shaking. Literally clinging to my arm.
"Becca, everyone here is so scary. What if I totally embarrass you?"
I laughed and fixed her dress for her.
"Stop. You're with me. Nobody's gonna mess with you."
That dress she wore? Mine.
I brought her to that charity auction. Introduced her to everyone I knew.
Ryan tried to warn me once.
"Becca, these people? They're not your friends. You trust too easy."
I brushed him off.
"Madison's not 'people.' She's my best friend."
He didn't push it after that.
But somewhere along the way, things changed.
The way he looked at her... it wasn't the same anymore.
Chapter 3
First red flag? This gala we went to.
Madison grabbed a bidding paddle without realizing what it meant. Next thing you know, she's committed to a $3.8 million diamond necklace. She looked like she was gonna pass out and started full-on sobbing.
I was halfway out of my seat to sort it out.
Ryan cut me off.
"Bill me."
Madison's jaw dropped. He waved off the staff as if it was pocket change.
"Relax. It's just money."
Meanwhile, I'd spotted this gorgeous emerald bracelet earlier. Nothing crazy expensive, just really pretty.
Ryan shut it down fast.
"Your family's situation is... delicate right now. Better to stay under the radar."
So I didn't bid.
Week later? Madison's Instagram. That necklace front and center.
Mortified myself tonight lol. Thank god for heroes.
Ryan's Rolex was right there in the corner of the frame.
I stared at that post until my eyes hurt, telling myself he was just being nice. Because of me.
Second red flag was the racetrack.
Ryan lived for speed, and I was always the one riding with him. Our thing.
Then Madison shows up one day, practically glowing.
"God, I've never even seen a car this nice up close."
Ryan paused and looked at her, then tossed his keys at me.
"Take the backup. I'm gonna show her what it's about."
I couldn't even move.
He was already holding her door open.
Engine screamed to life. I watched through the glass as Madison threw her head back laughing.
Her post that night:
First time going fast. Literally shaking. He said, "You're safe with me."
You're safe with me.
That's what he used to tell me.
Third time was my engagement party.
I found this killer red dress—bold, sexy, everything I wanted.
Ryan gave it half a glance.
"Way too loud. That's not your style."
I swapped it for the safe white option he preferred.
Two weeks later, Madison walks into brunch wearing that exact dress. She spun around, beaming at Ryan.
"Be honest. How do I look?"
Ryan's eyes lingered. I saw something flicker there I used to know too well.
"Stunning. Really suits you."
Madison squeezed my hand later, all sweetness.
"Becca, Ryan thinks red's way more me, you know? It matches my vibe. That's cool, right?"
I said sure and smiled through it.
The hollow feeling in my chest stayed.
Now I get it.
How you lose someone. How you get replaced.
It's not dramatic. It's slow.
A necklace here. A car ride there. A dress.
And tonight—a hotel room key.
