Chapter 5

With a dramatic sob, the line went dead.

Ethan bolted upright.

His rush knocked me back down.

He didn't even notice.

The worry in his eyes was another knife to my chest.

I stayed on the ground, gripping his leg.

"Ethan, don't go. Please."

He peeled my hand off.

His face was a mess of guilt and panic.

"Ella, get an Uber to urgent care and get that checked out.

Chloe needs me. I have to go."

Without a backward glance, he was gone.

I let out a bitter laugh, letting the blood drip onto the spotless floor.

Drop by drop.

Chloe's mother stole my mom's husband.

Now, Chloe was stealing mine.

But I was not my mother.

I refused to throw my life away for a man.

A while later, my phone pinged.

A friend request.

The profile picture was Chloe.

She was in my Vera Wang, kissing Ethan.

They looked sickeningly in love.

To see what her little game was, I hit accept.

She didn't text a single word.

Just sent a video.

In the video, Ethan was making a promise to Chloe's mother.

"Ma'am, I swear I'll never let Chloe down.

I’ll give her the most spectacular wedding this city has ever seen."