Chapter 1I been in a secret relationship with Declan Ashford for five years.
On my 24th birthday, Declan went and married his precious first love, Rosalind Vale.
When I tried to confront him, he didn't even blink.
"Briar, Rosalind's got terminal cancer. She's only got a month left."
"This is her dying wish. I can't let her go with regrets."
Rosalind leaned against his shoulder, her eyes dripping with mockery.
"I hate all that tragic goodbye bullshit. Weddings should be fun—so why not right now?"
One sentence from Rosalind, and my birthday party turned into their goddamn wedding party..
My brother Lawson Winslow and our friends lined up to offer congratulations.
When it was my turn, I didn't cry or scream.
Under Declan's warning glare, I kept my face blank and raised my glass.
"Congrats, you two aholes. Hope you're stuck with each other forever."
The second I finished, the entire private room went dead silent.
Everyone's heads snapped toward me.
Declan's knuckles went white around his glass. He patted the seat next to him.
"Alright, cut it out. Briar, get over here."
That spot used to be mine. Only mine.
Now Rosalind was there too.
I didn't listen. I walked straight past him and sat down next to Rowan instead.
Declan's expression darkened instantly.
Rowan jumped in with a laugh, trying to smooth things over. "Declan, look—we all know you see Briar like a little sister, but you're married now. You can't just do whatever you want anymore. Rosalind might get jealous."
Rosalind wrapped herself around him, practically glued to his side.
Declan let out a cold laugh.
"I just want Rosalind to leave this world without regrets. This marriage expires in a month anyway."
"And seriously—if I actually wanted to marry her, why the fuck would I have waited this long?"
None of them believed him.
"Dude, when Rosalind went abroad, you were a wreck for like half a year straight."
"New York's hottest bachelor, and you just sat around with us doing jack shit. Didn't even glance at another woman."
"You kept saying you didn't wanna date. Then Rosalind says one word and you're dragging her ass to City Hall? You really expect us to believe you weren't waiting for her?"
"Yeah, remember that time Declan got wasted and straight-up admitted he was waiting for Rosalind to come back? Everyone here heard it."
The whole table chimed in, backing up the story.
And I just sat there, head down, drinking in silence—while my chest cramped with pain.
I'd been with Declan since I was eighteen.
When I turned 22, I wanted to go public.
But Declan said he was the investor behind my brother's company. If we went public, people would twist it into something ugly. He was worried I was too young to handle it.
At 23, he told me to wait a little longer. That if we were still together by my 24th birthday, we'd make it official.
Today was my 24th birthday.
And he married Rosalind instead.
Rosalind smirked. "Briar, I know Declan and I are just playing around, but we did actually tie the knot."
"He's given you plenty of birthday gifts over the years, hasn't he? Don't you think you should return the favor? Like that necklace you're wearing—I really love it. Can I have it?"
My fingers curled into fists. My chest tightened.
This necklace was Declan's gift to me on my 18th birthday.
The same year he confessed to me.
For five years, I'd never taken it off.
Rowan noticed my silence and tried to help. "Briar, come on. You know Declan's been waiting for Rosalind forever. They've already wasted so much time. Just let them have this."
I looked at Declan. He didn't say a word.
Not until Rosalind climbed onto his lap and started whining.
"Declan, I really love it. Just buy me the same one, okay? Then I can die happy."
Declan let out a soft laugh and pulled her closer.
"Don't talk like that. It's bad luck. And it's not even expensive."
"Briar, since Rosalind wants it, just give it to her."
The words stuck in my throat.
Since I was eighteen, I'd been fine without a title.
Five years of keeping us secret. We'd fucked in every position you could think of.
He liked me in those slinky little dresses, so I ditched the white tees I'd worn forever.
He wanted things exciting, so I stayed his dirty little secret.
But in that moment, it hit me.
Five years of devotion meant absolutely nothing to him.
Rosalind was still soaking up Declan's attention. With everyone egging them on, she leaned in and kissed him.
I didn't make a scene. Didn't say a word.
I just quietly unclasped the necklace and set it on the table.
"Mr. Ashford's right. It's not worth shit anyway. It's all yours."
Chapter 2
Declan's eyes locked onto me, burning with rage.
Rosalind cried out in pain, and he loosened his grip, sneering.
"Since Briar's feeling so generous, Rosalind, keep it."
Rosalind held it up, squinting at it with disgust.
"Honestly? It's kinda ugly. Nothing compared to the stuff you've given me."
Then she just tossed it to the servant cleaning up the table. "Lucky you. Should get you a few bucks."
Watching that necklace land in a pile of leftover food scraps—
My blood went ice-cold.
Declan glanced at my drained face, his voice cold and sharp. "What the hell are you all standing around for? Tonight we're celebrating my wedding. Everyone drinks. No one leaves early."
My face went pale.
"I'm good. You guys have fun. I need to go."
The second I said it, Declan's expression went pitch-black.
I didn't wait for a response. I just turned and walked out.
Down in the parking garage, I checked my phone.
Nothing.
Declan hadn't given me a single explanation.
But he'd posted on Instagram.
I clicked on it without thinking.
In the video, he and Rosalind were sharing a pocky stick, their lips meeting in the middle while everyone cheered.
When they kissed, everyone flooded with people feeling sorry for them—five years apart, finally back together. But no one knew about me—the woman he'd kept secret for five years
In the video, Rosalind was blushing, kissing down his throat with this sultry look on her face.
Declan didn't push her away. His eyes had that dangerous, unhinged look—the same look he got when he was turned on in bed.
That look used to be only for me.
Now it was hers.
Declan, if this is really what you want, then fine. Have it.
I let out a bitter laugh.
Then I liked the post.
And started packing up everything of mine from the penthouse.
I'd begged Declan to go public so many times I'd lost count.
I'd tried being sweet. I'd tried ultimatums. I'd even fucked him until I passed out, mumbling half-conscious, asking when we'd finally go public.
And every single time, Declan had an excuse.
Until Rosalind showed up.
He introduced her to all his friends. Made everyone call her Mrs. Ashford.
He announced their marriage to the whole damn world.
And in that moment, it finally clicked.
It wasn't that he didn't want to go public.
He just didn't love me.
After I finished packing, I went back to my own place.
The second I opened the door, my parents video-called me from overseas.
"Sweetheart, do you remember Vincent Rothschild? You two grew up together. He's back in the country now. You should meet up with him."
Over the years I'd been with Declan, my parents had introduced me to plenty of great guys.
They were just waiting for me to say yes.
But every time, I turned them down.
I was 24 now.
Starting over wasn't too late.
Under my parents' cautious, hopeful gazes, this time I didn't refuse.
"Okay."
After that, I submitted my resignation to HR.
Because I was obsessed with Declan, I'd joined his company straight out of college as an intern. To help him win a major contract, I'd pulled all-nighters doing analysis, gathering materials, drafting proposals.
I lost ten pounds during that stretch.
Declan had looked at me with so much concern. He'd even had his private chef make my favorite meals and bring them to the office for me.
Back then, even though we were keeping things secret, he never hid how much he cared about me.
Soon, all that special treatment would be Rosalind's.
Not long after I sent the email, Declan called.
When I picked up, there was nothing but dead silence on both ends.
Usually, no matter who called first, I was always the one to break the ice.
But this time, I had nothing left to say.
Just as I was about to hang up, figuring he wouldn't say anything—
Declan's voice came through, dripping with contempt.
"Briar, what the fuck is this? You like my post, then you quit? What's your game here?"
"Rosalind only has one month left. Can't you just wait one goddamn month?"
"Are you trying to make me dump you? Is that what you want?"
I used to be terrified of that.
So I always played sweet. Always did what he wanted.
But I was done fucking pretending.
"Declan, then let's break up."
Chapter 3
The day after I said we're done, I got the email that my resignation had been approved.
HR's tone was ice-cold.
They told me to come in today to pack my shit and never set foot in the building again.
Guess Declan was pissed as hell.
Walking past the different departments, I caught plenty of snide comments.
"Mr. Ashford only looked out for her because she's his business partner's little sister. She really thought she was gonna be Mrs. Ashford. Now look at her—running off with her tail between her legs."
"So what if Mr. Ashford used to spoil her? She embarrassed the actual Mrs. Ashford the other day. She had it coming."
I ignored all the gossip and just kept working through my exit paperwork.
Once they stamped those documents, Declan and I would be done. For good.
"Hold on."
Declan's cold voice came from behind me.
Rosalind was tucked into his side, smirking at me. "Someone leaked this morning's bid. I heard Briar was the one handling those files."
I looked straight at Declan. "You actually think I did it?"
"We'll know once we check your computer."
One look from Declan, and IT swarmed my desk.
It felt like getting slapped across the face in front of everyone.
I'd pulled all-nighters putting those bid materials together.
And now he was accusing me of sabotage.
"Don't touch my computer!"
But they weren't just checking my files—they were recovering everything I'd deleted.
If they did that, all the photos I'd deleted—proof of my relationship with Declan—would be out in the open.
But security held me back. I couldn't do a damn thing.
"Declan, stop them. I didn't leak anything."
Declan's face went dark as he grabbed my wrist. "So it really was you?"
Everyone around us started whispering.
"It's gotta be Briar. If it wasn't her, why would she freak out like this?"
"Maybe she couldn't have Mr. Ashford, so she turned bitter and leaked the bid to our competitors. God, that's disgusting."
Declan cut them off coldly. "Everyone shut the hell up. Are the files recovered yet?"
"Done!"
My stomach dropped.
"Don't open them. Declan, please—"
Declan's grip tightened painfully around my wrist. "Open. Them."
Photo after photo of us flashed across the screen—like someone had just ripped off the only thing covering my shame.
The humiliation was so overwhelming I almost started crying right there.
Declan's expression was unreadable.
After a long moment, he actually laughed as he scrolled through the photos.
"Briar, some kind of stalker? Where the hell did you find all these pictures to photoshop my face onto?"
The room exploded with laughter.
In that moment, I felt like I was drowning in humiliation.
He'd hidden his marriage to Rosalind from me. Fine.
My birthday turned into their wedding party. Whatever.
But I never thought he'd humiliate me like this in front of everyone.
Rosalind let out a mocking laugh.
"Briar, do you have feelings for Declan? If you just admit it, I'll let you have him."
Declan frowned at her.
"Why are you messing around with her too? I see Briar like a little sister. Everyone knows that. If you like these photos so much, I'll have someone photoshop more of us together."
He was punishing me for asking to break up. So he was pretending we were never together.
But every word still felt like a knife twisting deeper.
I dug my nails into my palms to keep from crying.
Rosalind smiled, satisfied.
"Declan, you can't just crush the poor girl like that. At least let her save face. What if she runs off like I did? You'll never get her back."
Declan didn't believe that I'd actually leave.
"Where's she gonna go? She's either with Rowan or following me around. She's just throwing a tantrum. Give it three days and she'll be begging me to give her job back."
In the past, whenever we fought, I never lasted more than thirty-six hours.
I was always the first one to apologize.
And I always came back to him.
But that version of Briar was gone.
How long would it take him to figure that out?
