Chapter 1

On the day we were supposed to get our marriage license, my fiancé had me thrown out of City Hall and went in with his childhood sweetheart instead.

He looked at me like it was nothing.

"Chloe's baby needs a father on paper."

"Once we divorce, I'll marry you."

Everyone thought I'd swallow my pride and wait another month.

After all, I'd already waited seven years.

But that night, I left the country for an arranged marriage.

I vanished from his world completely.

Three years later, my husband and I flew back stateside for a family memorial.

My husband had a last-minute work emergency.

So he told his local branch to send a car for me.

I walked out of the airport. And froze.

My driver was Seth. My ex-fiancé.

He looked at me and sighed.

"Alright, your little tantrum has gone on long enough."

"Come home."

"Chloe's kid starts preschool next week."

"You're in charge of the drop-offs."

I walked into the arrivals terminal.

And saw a guy holding a VIP pickup sign.

With my name on it.

I walked over.

And froze.

Holding the sign was my ex-fiancé, Seth.

He was craning his neck.

Looking past me at the luggage carousels.

He had Chloe with him.

And half his old frat-boy entourage.

One of the guys nudged him.

"Yo Seth, isn't that your obsessed ex?"

"Isn't that Vanessa?"

Seth looked at me.

He looked surprised for a split second.

Then he smirked.

"See? I told you guys."

"I knew she'd come crawling back."

The whole group burst out laughing.

"Vanessa vanished without a trace."

"Now she sees Seth is loaded."

"She probably cries herself to sleep every night!"

One of them looked me up and down.

"Vanessa, if you're gonna fake a random run-in..."

"Why show up in sweatpants?"

"Couldn't you at least put on some makeup?"

"Without Seth, you can’t even buy a nice outfit?"

"You look pathetic."

It was true.

I used to spend hours getting ready for Seth.

Full face of makeup.

Tight designer dresses.

Always making sure I looked absolutely perfect for him.

But I didn't need to do that anymore.

Because I'm pregnant.

And my husband refused to let me be uncomfortable.

He banned heavy makeup.

And had this "cheap loungewear" custom-tailored for me in Paris.

Listening to them mock me, it suddenly clicked.

They only read the name on the corporate dispatch.

They had no idea the VIP they were picking up...

Was me.