Chapter 1 I devoted ten years of my life to the only man I’ve ever loved, my ex-fiancé, Zane Whitmoore.

Since our eighth grade in middle school, I was always by his side. I shaped myself into the perfect woman for him.

I kept my black curls cut short, just the way he liked. I never wore makeup. I dressed in outfits he approved of because he didn’t like when other men looked at me.

For ten years, I did everything he wanted. I was going to be his wife. Everyone knew we were meant to be.

So it made no sense when, six months ago, he threw it all away.

“What did you say?” My voice was barely above a whisper.

Zane stared at me across the restaurant table, his expression unreadable. I had made this reservation months ago for our ten-year anniversary.

“I think we should break up,” he said.

I blinked. My heart pounded in my chest. “Zane, is this supposed to be a joke? Because it’s not funny, babe.”

“I’m not joking, Emilia.”

“No, you have to be joking!” My voice rose slightly, and I glanced around. People were staring. I took a deep breath and reached for his hands across the table. My engagement ring still sat on my finger. I had never wanted to take it off. Not even now.

“We just started planning the wedding,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “I know it’s stressful, but that’s why I’ve been doing most of the work.”

He didn’t respond.

“If it’s too much, we can push it back,” I added, even though the words felt like poison. We had already delayed it for years. But if that’s what it took to keep us together, I would do it in a heartbeat. “I don’t want you to feel pressured.”

Zane exhaled sharply. “Then you don’t want me to marry you? Because that’s something I don’t want to do, Emilia.”

His words hit like a slap. My chest tightened. “You don’t mean that.”

“But I do.” His voice was firm. Cold. Nothing like the man I fell in love with. “I don’t love you anymore. I haven’t for years.”

I stopped breathing.

“I stayed because I know how much I owe you,” he admitted. “But I can’t put you over my happiness anymore.”

“Relationships go through tough times. We just have to work—”

Zane pulled his hand from mine and ran it through his hair. He had always been handsome. He had light brown hair, golden-brown eyes, and a smile that could make anyone melt. I knew I was lucky to have him.

He could have had any girl.

But he chose me.

That had to mean something. People don’t just throw ten years away.

But he wasn’t smiling at me now. He was scowling. He stood, dusting his hand on his thigh like my touch was something dirty.

“I don’t want to work on anything. Not with you.” His voice was flat. “It’s been ten years, Emmy. If we were meant to be, wouldn’t we have gotten married by now?”

The nickname stung. I stared down at my plate. “The only reason we’re not married yet is because you had to focus on your career—”

“No.” His tone was sharp. “It’s because I never saw you as someone I could marry.”

The words hit like a punch to the stomach.

“You might be someone’s cup of tea, but not mine, Emilia. And besides, most NHL athletes don’t get married. But you wouldn’t understand that.”

I did understand. I didn’t want to go my whole life without being someone’s wife. But for him, I would have tried.

“Don’t cause a scene, Zane. There might be reporters here.”

He chuckled. “You’ve always been a pushover, haven’t you?” He leaned in slightly. “But I did love you when we were younger. Because of that, you can keep the engagement ring. I don’t want it back.”

He turned to leave, then glanced over his shoulder. “Oh, and we can’t live together anymore. You get that, right? I’m a free man now. I should be able to bring my hookups to my own fucking

house.”

He smirked. “Leave the key in the flower pot.”

Then he walked away.

And just like that, he took my life with him.

Chapter 2 It’s been six months since Zane left me.

At first, I didn’t take it well. He kicked me out, and I had nowhere to go until Tessa, my best friend, booked me the first flight to NYC and forced me to stay with her.

I spent nights crashing on her couch, crying in the bathroom when she was at work.

I ignored the little bakery — Tessa and I named it The Whimsy Bakehouse after getting smashingly drunk one night in college and having what she called a crazy epiphany — Zane had opened for me after he got his first NHL paycheck for weeks. I couldn’t bring myself to step inside.

Then Tessa got fed up. She called me a couch potato, said I was wasting my tears on an ‘asshole jerk,’ and dragged me back to work.

Unlearning ten years of habits hasn’t been easy.

Some nights, I still catch myself staring at my phone, waiting for a message that will never come. Waiting for Zane to say he made a mistake. That he wants me back.

But he never does. Not even in my dreams.

It’s Friday and I’m at the bakery. The regular season is about to start. I know because I memorised Zane’s schedule months ago. Back then, I planned my days around his, making sure we had time together.

Now, the only reason I keep up with hockey is Tessa. She’s been extra busy lately.

She’s a PR manager for the New York Titans. It was Zane’s favourite team. He had always dreamed of being drafted there. Instead, he ended up with the Chicago Blizzards.

That was a rough time for us. He was so angry about it, and I was the one he took it out on. It took everything I had to keep our relationship from falling apart.

I push the memory away and pull the second batch of cookies from the oven. Just as I set them down, the bell above the door jingles, making me smile.

The Becketts live across the street. They stop by every morning for cookies, and I always make sure to have something extra for them.

“Good morning, Miss Carter!” Angel, their little girl, grins up at me, two front teeth missing. She holds her father’s hand, swinging it back and forth.

My heart melts. “Good morning, Angel. Mr Beckett. Just the two of you today?”

Mr Beckett nods, smiling. “My wife gave birth yesterday. We’re here to pick up some treats for her. She specifically asked for your doughnuts.”

Mrs. Beckett had been pregnant forever, or at least, that’s how it felt. In reality, she had been pregnant for about twelve months now.

She used to sit in my bakery, watching me bake, complaining about how heavy and tired she was. All she wanted was a healthy, happy baby. The doctors said the long pregnancy was unusual but nothing to worry about.

Hearing the news now, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I let out a squeal, and Angel giggled.

“Congratulations! I’m so happy for you!” I beamed. “I’ll grab the doughnuts right away. I also made some cupcakes! It’s almost like I knew something good was coming!”

Angel nodded enthusiastically. “I have a little brother now! He’s really red and not very pretty, but Mummy says all babies look like that.”

“That’s not a very nice thing to say, Angel,” Mr. Beckett scolds gently as I quickly pack up the cupcakes, doughnuts, and a few fresh cookies for Mrs. Beckett.

“But it’s true!” Angel pouts, crossing her arms. She turns to me for backup. “Miss Carter, tell Daddy it’s true!”

I hand the treats to Mr. Beckett, then place a hand on my hip as I ruffle Angel’s hair. “I agree with your dad. He might be a little red, but he’s still your brother. And as his big sister, it’s your job now to protect him. Especially from people who talk about how red he is.”

Angel lets out an exaggerated huff. “That’s going to be so hard.”

Mr. Beckett chuckles. “Welcome to being a big sister.”

I smile, watching the two of them. Moments like these remind me that not all relationships fall apart. Some families actually stay happy.

But for some reason, none of my relationships ever last. No matter how much I give, it’s never enough.

I wave at the Becketts as they leave, their happiness lingering in the air like the scent of freshly baked cookies. I wanted what they had, a family that cared for each other.

But after what I did seven years ago, I knew I didn’t have a family to go back to. My parents haven’t called in months. My sister barely acknowledges my existence.

It used to hurt less when I told myself I deserved it. That this was just the price of my mistakes. And no matter how much I lost, I thought I’d always have Zane.

But I even failed at that.

I was pathetic. I couldn’t even be the kind of woman Zane wanted to marry. Everything I touched fell apart, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

My phone rings, and a quick glance at the screen tells me it’s Tess. The tight feeling in my chest eases the moment I hear her voice.

“You’re not on my couch, are you?” she asks, her tone is so skeptical that I burst out laughing.

“No, Tess. I’m at the bakery. I even made you some cookies.”

Right then, the bell above the door jingles, and in walks Tessa, holding up her phone with a triumphant grin. “Well, thank God for small mercies.”

Tessa and I have been best friends since our freshman year of college.

It was a rough time for me, I had followed Zane to college in New York because he asked me to, but I struggled to fit in.

He never liked when I had too many friends, so I wasn’t used to having someone that wasn’t him to lean on. Then I met Tess in an art history class.

She couldn’t stand Zane, and I used to hate that about her. But for some reason, she stuck around anyway.

She’s drop dead gorgeous with platinum blonde hair, forest green eyes, and long legs that make heads turn. She’s the exact opposite of me in every way.

Her skin is freakishly pale, mine is warm brown. Her hair is pin-straight, mine is a mess of curls. She has curves in all the right places, while I’ve always been insecure about my nonexistent ones. Her eyes are striking, while mine are just… brown.

Compared to her, I’m a plain Jane.

And not just in looks, but in personality too. When she told Zane she was going to be a PR manager for a hockey club, he laughed in her face and said she was wasting her time.

Now she’s doing exactly what she loves, while I’m still stuck wondering what direction my life is going.

Before Zane and I started dating, I dreamed of owning an art gallery, but he thought that wasn’t good enough.

I love baking and this bakery, but sometimes

I can’t help but feel like he only bought it for me to make sure I did exactly what he wanted.

Tess walks up, wraps her arms around me, and showers me with kisses, making me giggle. She’s always been so affectionate. It’s endearing.

Then I feel her slump against my back with a sigh. “You’ll never believe what happened.”

Chapter 3 I hum softly, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Hello to you too. You can sit down while I make the coffee. A flat white with cinnamon on top, right?”

She grins. “I love you, you know me so well.” She groans and slumps into a chair, resting her arm on the table and propping her head up with her hand.

I start making our coffees but glance at the clock with a frown. “It’s just 10 AM, Tess. What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at work?”

She sighs loudly. “Yes, I should. But I’m burnt out. Had to get off early.”

I raise an eyebrow as I begin kneading dough. Rush hour hits by noon, and I need to work quickly. “Work emergency?”

“When is it ever anything else? It’s not even counted as an emergency today. Usually, the whole team gives me problems, but this time, it’s just one person!”

Here we go again.

“His name’s... Leon, right?” I ask, trying to remember.

She raises an eyebrow at me. “Good try, but you should know better. I’ve complained about him so much, he should be a household name by now. It’s Liam Calloway. We went to college together. Remember?”

That was new. “We did?”

“Of course, we did. He was a year ahead of us. Played on the hockey team with Zane. Good Lord, Zane was soo obsessed with him. He even wanted to get drafted by the NYC Titans just because Liam did. Remember?”

Was that why Zane wanted to be chosen by NYC so badly? I rummage through my memories. I remember Zane driving me to his hockey game one day, when he didn’t want Tess to drive me, so Tess was forced to tag along with us. I think he mentioned a Liam then.

He did seem a bit obsessed.

I shake my head, and she lets out a huge sigh. “Don’t worry about it, that asshole’s obsession wasn’t the issue anyway.” She frowns, thinking. “What was the issue again?”

“Work emergency.”

“Right! That!” She huffs and starts getting worked up again. I wash my hands, grab our coffees, and put the cookies on a large plate. I walk over and hand her coffee before sitting down across from her. “He’s an insufferable playboy!”

I tilt my head, confused. “And... is that a problem?”

“Ordinarily, no. It’s not the team’s concern. But he’s been way over the top lately. He’s the biggest name in hockey right now, and with the regular season coming up, he should be polishing his image, not ruining it!”

I shrug, not really getting it. I blow at my steaming coffee and take a sip. “But you guys should get along, right? You knew each other in college.”

She looks at me like I’m clueless. “This isn’t about his personality. If it was, it wouldn’t be a problem because he’s charming and nice. But his endorsement contracts have a morality clause. He has to stay in good standing, or he loses them. Even the club contract has the same condition. If he keeps this up, he’ll lose his job.”

“It can’t be that bad.”

“It is! Even his management’s on his ass. I know he might be going through something, but this isn’t it. You know Jessica Monroe? From Confidential Family?”

At the mention of my and Tess’s favorite show, I perk up. “Who doesn’t?”

“Exactly!” She looks furious when she adds, “They’re supposed to be dating and in a happy relationship, but last night, pictures came out of him on a date with her co-star.”

My jaw drops. “He cheated on THE Jessica Monroe?”

Tess grabs a cookie and chews it angrily. “I don’t know. I was too busy being pissed off that he was dumb enough to get photographed at such a crucial time. I didn’t even think to ask. Everyone knows Jessica Monroe! Confidential Family is the most-watched show right now. Her fans are going crazy, flaming him on social media.”

“Well, he deserves it. She’s way too hot for him anyway.” I’ve never seen the guy, but Jessica’s basically a goddess. “What a scumbag.”

“I mean, they did look really good together. Two ridiculously hot people deserve each other, I guess. And he’s not really a scumbag. He’s probably the best guy I know,” she says, grinning sheepishly. “After you, of course. Liam’s just going through something, not sure what, but I just hope he handles it more quietly.”

I nod. “So, what’s the plan?”

“Emergency PR, for now. I’m pretty sure he and her co-star weren’t actually on a date. Hell, I’m not even sure he and Jessica were really dating. It’s just what everyone assumed. He has commitment issues. We’ll let it blow over, Jess will probably get asked about it during her press tour and clear it up. After that, we’ll go with the serious relationship angle. Have him fake date someone less famous, and when they break up, he’ll be the heartbroken playboy and a media darling again.”

I can’t help but smile. Of course, she’s already thought everything through. Whenever Zane ranted, it was for advice he was never going to take. But when Tessa rants, it’s because she already knows exactly what to do, she just needs someone to listen.

I cringe slightly. I should stop thinking about him. It’s been months. He probably hasn’t thought about me once.

I’d already spent six months mourning him. It was time to let go. It wouldn’t be easy, nothing ever was, but I had to try.

“Earth to Emmy!” Tessa sing-songs. She’s smiling, but I see the concern in her eyes. “I lost you for a second there. You okay?”

I’d been so distracted I didn’t even notice she’d finished eating.

I smile and reach for her hand. For a split second, I’m terrified she’ll pull away and wipe it on her suit pants just like Zane did.

Like I was something dirty. Something disgusting.

But she doesn’t. Instead, she squeezes my hand, erasing the bitter memory he left behind. “A penny for your thoughts?”

I shake my head, hating the way my eyes sting. “Just thinking... it’s time. I need to move on. Once and for all.”

The tears come anyway. Tessa’s eyes are

suspiciously wet when she pulls me into a hug. “Oh my God, Em. I’m so proud of you.”

I’m moving on. I’m finally leaving my asshole ex behind.

Or at least, that was the plan.

A month later, I get a message from Zane.

It’s an invitation to his wedding.

Chapter 4 When I first moved into Tessa’s apartment, two thoughts hit me.

One: Tessa was just as high maintenance as she’d been in college. Everything in her place screamed luxury. High-end furniture, designer décor, the kind of perfectly curated space that made you wonder if people actually lived there. I was happy she had a job that let her maintain the lifestyle.

Two: Tessa’s apartment was the most comfortable place in the world to feel like shit.

Even though she had decorated a guest room just for me, I spent most of my worst nights on her couch, wrapped in an overpriced throw blanket, drinking wine straight from the bottle.

And now, as I stare at the notification on my phone, I know exactly what I need to do.

I walk into Tessa’s kitchen, grab a bottle of red wine, some expensive brand I don’t recognize, and collapse onto her couch. Popping the cork, I take a long gulp before daring to look at my phone again.

For months, I wanted this. I prayed for him to reach out. Now, it’s the last thing I need.

Calm down, Emilia. It’s probably just closure or whatever.

It’s not like one message could change anything.

I tap the notification. My stomach twists as I realize I never changed how I saved his name.

Babe

Babe

Babe

Babe

Babe

I stare at the screen, heart pounding.

Zane is getting MARRIED?!

I throw back wine at a pace that makes me dizzy.

A month-long cruise? A couples-only cruise?

I take another large gulp of wine.

Of all the ways and reasons I imagined Zane reaching out to me, this was never one of them.

I'm halfway through the bottle when the tears finally come.

Ten years.

We were together for a whole decade. And in all that time, I was never enough for him. Never someone he saw as worth marrying.

But in just seven months, he’s found his bride. Someone he adores.

Someone he’s happily planning a wedding with, when I had to beg just for him to be present for ours.

Holding a month-long cruise to celebrate their love before they even get married.

I never asked for anything that extravagant. I just wanted his attention. His love.

We started dating when we were fourteen. Every adult around us said it wouldn’t last, that we were too young to know anything about love. The only person who believed in us was my brother.

Even thinking about him makes me cry even harder, so I shove the thought away. One day, I’ll have to unpack that can of worms, I’d been holding it off for seven years now, but today isn’t that day.

Zane and I beat the odds. We went through high school together, then college. His teammates used to call me Mrs. Whitmoore.

Everyone around could see we were set to play the long game. Everyone but Zane, the person who was supposed to be playing on my side of the field.

The only person I truly cared about.

I never even used to care about changing my last name or wearing his ring on my finger, I just wanted to be his. Forever.

Tess once said the only reason I wanted to marry him so badly was because everyone else expected it.

Maybe she was right.

Tess is always right.

That thought hits me just as I realise I’m wasted. The wine bottle is nowhere to be found, and in my attempt to locate it, I end up rolling off the couch and onto the floor.

Groaning, I fumble for my phone, my hands are clumsy and shaking. Tessa. She’ll know what to do. She always does.

The call barely rings before she picks up, her voice is warm and steady, like a lifeline. “Hey, honeycomb. Isn’t it a little early for a wellness check?”

“Zane is getting married.” My voice comes out in a pathetic slurp as I try to peel myself off the floor.

I blink blearily around the room. Where the hell did the couch go?

I’m still searching for the couch when—

BAM!

I slam my toe against Tessa’s coffee table.

“Shit!” I curse loudly, clutching my foot like it might fall off. The pain is sharp, but my drunken brain registers it a second too late.

In my attempt to regain balance, I miscalculate completely and fall backward—

Right onto the couch I’d been looking for.

I glare at it suspiciously. I swear it wasn’t there a second ago.

I’ll have to tell Tess her couch disappears from time to time.

“What?!” Tess practically shouts into the phone. I hear muffled voices in the background before she lowers her voice. “I’m sorry, I’m at work, but did I hear you correctly?”

“You did!” I announce dramatically. “He sent me an invitation to his wedding. And a month long couple-only cruise before the wedding, Tess! Since I clearly can’t move on, you’ll have to be my plus one.”

I cackle like a lunatic then stop abruptly.

Wait. What was I laughing at?

“Tess?” I squint at the phone. “You still there?”

Her voice softens in a way that makes my stomach twist. “Yeah, I’m still he

re. Just… stay put, okay? I’ll be back from work before you know it. And stop drinking my wine, honeycomb, that shit’s expensive.”

She pauses. Long enough that I can hear the weight in her silence.

“And, Em… I think I have something important to tell you.”

Then the call ends.

Chapter 5 A few hours pass, but Tess is still not back.

I wonder what she wants to tell me that’s so important.

Once I sober up, I take a shower, brush my teeth, and keep myself busy by cleaning her apartment.

I try not to think about Zane, but I can’t help it. I open the email again, staring at the invitation to his wedding and the couple-only cruise.

Then I see my name in the wrong spot.

My stomach turns, and I barely make it to the bathroom before throwing up.

Later, I do something even worse.

I Google her.

His fiancée is a model. Perfect. Beautiful. Everything I’m not.

Of course, he left me for someone like her.

I’m chugging water, actually following Tess’s advice for once, when she finally walks in.

Her nose scrunches as she looks around, but when her eyes land on me, she just sighs and gives a small, sad smile.

“I thought you’d be in worse shape,” she says, settling onto the couch beside me.

I lean my head on her shoulder and hold up the water bottle. “If I didn’t pull myself together, you would’ve done it for me. I’ve learned to pick my battles.”

“Damn straight.” She tugs at my hair lightly. “Wanna go out for dinner? There’s a new Thai place near my office. It’s supposed to have really good food.”

I squint at her. “You hate Thai food. What’s going on?”

She laughs, and for a second, I forget how miserable I feel. She’s beautiful and effortlessly so. If I looked more like her, or like his new fiancée, maybe Zane would still be mine.

Tess sobers up quickly. “Okay, you got me. I just… I didn’t know how to say this.” She hesitates, then looks me in the eye. “Zane’s an asshole, Em. He never deserved you.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “You’ve said that before.”

“And I meant it. Do you remember when he got drafted and basically bullied you into moving to Chicago with him?”

I shake my head. “That’s not what happened.”

“But it is,” she insists. “He only got you that bakery because he thought he’d be drafted to New York. Remember our plan? If he didn’t, we were gonna split an apartment here. And when you told him you were staying with me, he threw a fit.”

I roll my eyes. “He wasn’t throwing a fit. He was hurt.”

Tess scoffs. “Yeah? So he had to hurt you too? Em, you didn’t even want to move. He kept you locked up in his apartment so he could keep an eye on you. I saw you twice a year, and that’s only when Chicago played New York.”

“That’s not his fault. I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t want a job. I was okay relying on him—”

“And never seeing me? You were okay with that too?” Her voice cracks, but she masks it quickly.

I open my mouth to say something, anything at all, but she cuts me off.

“That’s not the point. The point is that I went from barely seeing you to having you around every day. When I said you could stay as long as you want, I meant it, Em. I like having you here.”

Her words hit me harder than I expect. When was the last time someone actually said they wanted me around?

Zane never did. He tolerated me, sure. But he never wanted me.

Tess takes my hands, squeezing them gently. “I’m kinda warming you up for something that’s gonna piss you off.”

“Wha—”

“I knew Zane was getting married.” She blurts it out fast, like ripping off a bandage. “I found out a month ago. It’s literally my job to know this stuff. But you were already spiraling, and I knew if you found out, you’d do something so fucking stupid like beg for him back.”

I go stiff. She knew.

She’s right, of course. But if she had told me, I could’ve stopped it. I could’ve made him come back to me.

This is her fault.

“That wasn’t your choice to make.” My voice shakes with anger.

She nods. “You’re right. It wasn’t. And I’m sorry, Em. But you have to understand that if he left and moved on that fast, he was never coming back.”

“You don’t know that!” I yank at my hands, but she doesn’t let go. “Let go, Tessa.”

She shakes her head. “No. Because that’s not even the thing that’s gonna make you mad.”

I stop struggling.

There’s more?

“What the hell, Tessa?”

She ignores my glare and keeps going. “He’s not coming back, Emilia. You haven’t seen their pictures together or heard how he talks about her in interviews.”

I thought the worst pain I’d ever feel was when Zane left me. I was so wrong.

Because this? This feels like my heart is caving in.

But I don’t cry. I can’t.

“Why are you telling me this, Tess?” My voice is barely a whisper. My head drops. I can’t even look at her. I’m too ashamed.

She squeezes my hands. “Because you are worth so much more than that asshole you’ve been shackled to for ten years. And if you don’t believe it, then believe this: I will never, ever lie to you, Emilia. Even if I hide the truth sometimes for your sake.”

She exhales sharply. “Remember when I told you about my PR strategy for that idiot player at my club?”

I nod slowly. I remember. I just don’t know why she’s bringing it up now.

“It’s been going great. His image is on the rise, but we need to keep it going. You know how I said he should date a pretty girl, make him look like a future family man?”

I don’t nod this time. I hate where this is goi

ng.

Tessa hesitates, then grins way too cheerfully. “On a scale of one to Hades’s asshole, how mad would you be if I said I recommended you for the job?”

Chapter 6 On good days, I love my best friend. On really bad days, I remind myself she means well.

But today? Today is a horrible day, and I'm furious.

"Hades's asshole" isn't even a high enough scale. I yank my hands out of hers, my anger so hot I actually consider shoving her off the couch - until I notice how close the coffee table is and wince.

I'm mad. But not mad enough to injure her. Yet.

"I can't believe you!" I shoot up from the couch and storm toward my bedroom. Tessa is right behind me.

"You're overreacting, Em. It's not even a bad thing!"

I whip off my left slipper and hurl it at her head, but she's got baseball reflexes from years of playing catch with her dad - and dodges effortlessly.

She glares, pointing a finger at me like she's about to scold a misbehaving puppy. "Give me one valid reason why you're mad, and I'll back off."

I hate when she does this. Puts me on the spot, makes my brain short-circuit, then steamrolls me into agreeing with her. "I just broke up with Zane!"

"Access denied." She starts ticking off her fingers. "One, he's a fucker. Two, you're supposed to be moving on. Three, he's getting married and literally invited you to his wedding. On a goddamn cruise."

She crosses her arms, staring at me like I'm the one making decisions for her. "Emilia Janice Carter. You can't be serious."

I launch my second slipper at her, and this time, it lands - right on her shoulder.

"You do not call me that!" I fume. "And it's the principle of the thing! You're always going on about how controlling Zane is, but you're just as bad! You should have told me he was engaged. It wasn't your place to keep it from me, and you should've asked before signing me up for anything!"

"Don't you dare guilt-trip me." She's fuming now too. "I didn't sign you up for shit, I suggested something. And do not compare me to that good-for-nothing lowlife."

She takes a breath, then pins me with a look so serious I can't look away. "Pray tell, what's your plan? He's hosting a month-long wedding cruise. I know you. You'll never reject the invite. You'll go, torture yourself, then come home and expect me to pick up the pieces."

I press my lips together. I have nothing to say.

She exhales, like she knew she'd win this argument. "I'm not going with you. But if you agree to my idea - because I'd never force you into anything - then not only will you have a date the entire trip, but you'll get to rub it in his smug, asshole of a face."

She leans in, eyes gleaming. "Just imagine it, Em. His ex-fiancée... dating his favourite hockey player."

I didn't need to be a PR manager -or a mind reader - to know how this looked.

Zane was obsessed with Liam Calloway. That much, I remember. Back in college, he once refused to let me sit in the front seat of his car because Liam had been there a few hours ago, and he didn't want me "messing up his good luck charm."

I thought he was joking and got in anyway. We had a massive fight. Then his team lost the game, and he lost it on me, yelling about how he "couldn't have a girl that couldn't fucking listen."

The memory makes my mouth taste bitter. I remember crying to Tess, wondering why he didn't just date Liam if he meant so much to him.

Tess watches me closely, still grinning mischievously, but I can tell she's still really pissed. Just barely keeping it together. Then, without another word, she turns and heads to her room. Probably to cool off, and it's probably for the best, too. If she stayed, we'd just start fighting again.

She pauses in the doorway. "Think about it all you want, but I'm having dinner with Liam tonight. It's at that Thai place I mentioned." She glances at me. "Not pressuring you or anything, but if you're okay with it, this could be your first official date in the public eye. I can tell Liam to ditch the sunglasses and facemask. Dress up. But only if it's what you want, 'kay?"

Her eyes soften, like she sees something in my face I don't even realise I'm showing. "I love you, Emilia. Even if it doesn't feel like it sometimes."

Then she disappears into her room, shutting the door softly behind her.

And finally, for the first time today, I can breathe.

____

I've never been good at makeup. I pull up a YouTube tutorial on mascara and nearly melt into my bed.

I can count on one of Tessa's perfectly manicured hands the number of times I've worn it at all - and only on secret outings with her, ones Zane never knew about. She'd sit me down, tilt my chin up, and "pretty me up," as she called it. I know I could knock on her door right now, ask for help, and erase all the tension between us. But I don't want to. Not yet.

Zane hated when I wore makeup. Sometimes, he'd yell just for finding a tube of lip gloss in my purse.

I shake my head. That's a pathetic excuse for not even knowing how to put on mascara. I remember the look Tess gave me the first time I told her I avoided it because of him.

Now, I'm sitting on my bed, wearing the prettiest dress I own, it's a gorgeous white one Tess bought me for my birthday last year. I add hoop earrings, then gather my curls into a simple ponytail. They shrink easily anyway, so there's no point in letting them down.

The YouTube video was easier to follow than I expected. Turns out, I already had most of the products, thanks to Tess. And when I look in the mirror, I think I did a pretty decent job.

Then, a thought creeps in. Was it worth it? All those years pretending I didn't like makeup. Pretending I didn't want to look as beautiful as the girls on social media.

I guess Zane leaving me has some perks. Now, I can do things like this without worrying if he approves.

I grab a black purse and steal one last glance at myself in the mirror. My breath catches.

I look... pretty.

My eyes burn with unshed tears.

When was the last time I liked the way I looked?

When was the last time I was allowed to care?

I open my door.

Tessa is standing outside, her hand frozen mid-air, about to knock. She

sees me and stops, lips parting slightly, but she says nothing.

So I speak instead.

"I'm ready." I lift my chin. "I'll make that asshole regret wasting ten years of my life."

Tessa gives me the biggest, shit eating grin ever.

Can't wait to know what's next? Tap to continue!

The story unfolds with you as the main character — play now!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You spent ten years loving Zane Whitmoore—through high school, college, and into adulthood. You gave up everything for him: your dreams, your friends, even the way you looked. And six months ago, he dumped you over dinner, then invited you to his wedding on a month-long cruise.

Now, your best friend Tessa drops a bomb: she’s setting you up with Liam Calloway—the NHL superstar Zane worshipped like a god.

'He’s not just famous,' she says, grinning. 'He’s the man Zane would’ve killed to be. And tonight, he’s taking you to dinner.'

You stare at your reflection, wearing the white dress Tessa bought you, mascara carefully applied, curls pulled back. You barely recognize yourself.

As you walk into the Thai restaurant, Liam stands to greet you. Tall, golden-eyed, unfairly handsome—he smiles like he’s known you forever.

'Emilia,' he says, voice warm. 'I’ve heard a lot about you.' He pulls out your chair, his hand brushing your shoulder

Tessa was right. This isn’t just revenge.

This is rebirth.

He leans in slightly 'So… should we make this look convincing?'