Chapter 1

I took thirteen stab wounds for Jacob. After I got out of the hospital, he married me.

But at the wedding, right after he slipped a ring on my finger, he pulled out an even bigger diamond ring and walked straight toward his first love, Celeste.

“Celeste,” he choked out, “I never forgot my promise to put a wedding ring on your finger. I’m sorry I failed you.”

Jacob started sobbing in front of everyone. Celeste held him gently, her eyes lifting over his shoulder and locking on mine.

“Maya, you saved Jacob, so he should marry you. Besides… I’m dying. Promise me you’ll take care of him. I’ll watch over you both from heaven.”

Then the two of them kissed—completely lost in each other.

Everyone laughed at me.

I slipped off my ring.

“Jacob, go marry this bitch. I wish you both the best.”

My few words seemed to infuriate Celeste. She clutched her heart, coughing and twitching violently.

I knew it was an act.

But Jacob didn't.

"Maya Hayes, you are absolutely vicious!" He roared, his voice raw.

"I'm marrying you! What else could you possibly want? Celeste is dying, and you'd curse her? Do you have any heart? Are you even human?"

He screamed these words at me in front of all our friends and family. Then, gnoring the desperate pleas from both our parents, he scooped Celeste into his arms and stormed out of the wedding.

His exit was absolute.

There wasn't a shred of hesitation. Not a flicker of regret for me.

It was as if he'd forgotten the story behind every scar that marked my skin.

In the lavish wedding hall, only I, the bride, remained. The mocking whispers of the guests echoed in my ears.

"This was supposed to be a beautiful wedding, and she ruined everything. Couldn't she just suck it up? She had to make such a scene, it's completely disgraced the Reed family."

"She can't keep a man's heart, and then she throws tantrums. She's hopeless. We should have just made some food at home, just a casual meal, instead of this ridiculous wedding."

"We're out of patience. You're on your own."

Jacob's parents unleashed all their anger on me, making me their scapegoat.

No matter what, the Reed family was blameless, Jacob was blameless.

No one spoke up for me.

Because I grew up in an orphanage, with no family, no connections.

My eyes welled up as I watched Jacob's parents and the guests leave. I looked up at the bright chandeliers.

My pristine white wedding dress, at this moment, felt like a shroud, mourning seven years of my pathetic, unrequited love.