The Stand-In Who Stayed

On the evening of our third anniversary, Carter’s first love sent him a photograph of herself in a wedding gown.

“The groom bailed. Can you come marry me?”

Carter Harrison stared at his phone. His expression was entirely unreadable when he finally pressed the lock button, the screen fading to black.

For a split second, I thought he had finally let Serena go. But that same night, he had his assistant deliver the divorce papers to my dressing room.

I didn’t scream. I didn’t demand an explanation. I just quietly slipped off the diamond band he had given me.