Chapter 1

The day I was discharged after my mastectomy, my boyfriend proposed to me in front of all the doctors and nurses.

He held open a gift box. Inside was the low-cut wedding gown I had dreamed about for three years.

The crowd cheered, urging me to say yes.

Only my best friend, Chloe, chuckled behind her hand.

"Carter, did you forget she isn't really a woman anymore? She doesn't have breasts."

"A low-cut dress won't hide that hideous, bowl-sized scar on her chest."

The color drained from my face. A wave of suffocating humiliation slammed into me, leaving me barely able to stand.

Carter pulled the box back, a faint flicker of disgust passing over his features.

"You really aren't in any shape to wear a wedding gown right now. In two weeks, let's just have Chloe wear it and walk down the aisle in your place."

I stared at the dress.

And suddenly, I didn't want it anymore.

The room fell dead silent.

After an agonizing pause, my attending physician helped me down into a chair.

I thought he was going to defend me.

Instead, he spoke up on Chloe's behalf.

"Mr. Vance and Chloe haven't had it easy these past few years," the doctor said softly.

"They've had feelings for each other all along, but kept their distance because of your illness."

My entire body froze. A sharp, searing pain tore through my chest.

Memories flashed through my mind—how Carter's eyes used to turn red with tears after every chemo session.

He would whisper, "Summer, does it hurt?"

"Hang in there just a little longer. As soon as you're better, we'll get married."

His words had been my anchor. No matter how agonizing the chemo got, I forced a smile.

Now, everyone was telling me it was all a lie.

Carter walked over, knelt in front of me, and took my withered, paper-thin hand into his.

"Summer, be good," he murmured.

"Everyone is just looking out for you. Your body can't handle the stress of a full wedding."

My eyes stung with tears. "We don't have to have a wedding at all."

Carter frowned, looking at me like I was a throwing a childish tantrum.

"Don't be irrational. Both my parents and yours know your biggest dream has always been a grand, romantic wedding."

"Having Chloe step in and wear your dress was a decision made by the whole family."

"Chloe is the one making the sacrifice here. But because she's your best friend, she agreed without a second thought."

"Summer, you should be thanking her. Otherwise, how would you ever get your dream wedding?"

Every word was wrapped in fake concern, yet it sent icy shivers down my spine.

And my parents... was this really their decision?

When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, Mom had stroked my hair and promised, "Summer, my only wish is to see you healthy and walking down the aisle to Carter."

Then it hit me—my parents hadn't visited me in the hospital for almost a year.

The few FaceTime calls we had were always initiated by me.

When they answered, the old warmth and doting love were gone, replaced by tired annoyance.

Yet that exhaustion vanished the second Chloe appeared on screen. Seeing them laugh and chat with her on the other side of the camera, they looked far more like a real family than we ever did.

Chloe had said, "Summer, just focus on resting. I'll take good care of your parents."

Mom had patted Chloe's hand, looking both touched and melancholic. "You feel more like my daughter than Summer does. Neither of our families carries the cancer gene. Why did Summer have to get it?"

Dad had just looked down in silence.

I had forced a strained smile back then. "Maybe you should just adopt Chloe, Mom."

Nobody knew how much my heart bled in that moment.

Now, my surgical incision flared with excruciating pain.

Choking back a sob, I wanted Carter to wrap me in his arms and soothe me, just like he used to.

Instead, Carter let go of my hand.

"It's time for our wedding photoshoot. Chloe and I have to go."

"Stay here and rest. Once we're done, we'll come back and take you home."

I watched their retreating figures, gripping the fabric over my chest, crying and laughing all at once.

Home?

That wasn't my home anymore.