Chapter 1

I had just gotten back from the hospital when Mom pulled me into the walk-in closet and held a pale pink couture gown against me.

"Try it on. It's from the designer's new collection. We have a major event this weekend, and as the Wellman heiress, you need to look your best."

Heat crept into my cheeks. The pregnancy test results were still tucked inside my bag. How could Mom already know?

I smiled and nodded. "But Mom, wouldn't white be better?"

I ducked my head, a shy smile playing on my lips. The news of my pregnancy was right on the tip of my tongue.

"White does look prettier. Soren has such good taste, picking that white wedding gown for Daisy. You're the maid of honor, so pale pink is perfect."

The smile froze on my face. Just then, Daisy called up from the living room. "Vivian, are you home? I brought my fiancé!"

I picked up my phone and stared at the good-morning message Soren had sent me yesterday.

"My dearest Vivian, you are the only bride I will ever have."

I turned around and saw Soren and Daisy standing in my doorway, wrapped in each other's arms. Tears spilled down my cheeks.

Soren, you lied to me.

Chapter 1

The moment I came downstairs, I saw Daisy nestled tightly in Soren's arms, beaming with happiness.

"Vivian, what took you so long? Did the news that Soren and I are getting married knock you speechless?"

The sight of them pressed so close together stung my eyes. I clasped my hands behind my back, crumpling the lab report in my fist, and forced a stiff smile. "Yeah."

I lifted my gaze to Soren. "I really didn't see that coming."

Soren's icy composure faltered. Forgetting Daisy beside him, he took a step toward me, but she caught his hand and threaded her fingers through his.

"I knew you'd react this way. When he proposed, I was so thrilled I nearly fainted."

Dizziness swept over me. My knees nearly gave out, and pain stabbed through my chest until I could barely breathe. I couldn't face them another second. I turned and ran back to my room.

I shut the door and leaned against it, slowly sliding to the floor. I stared at the result on the lab report as my tears finally broke free and splashed across the page.

Soren was getting married, but the bride wasn't me. Then what had our seven years together meant? What had that night of passion meant?

I remembered every promise he'd made, every time he'd sworn he would marry me and make me his wife. I couldn't hold back anymore. I crumpled on the floor and sobbed until my chest hurt.

Just then, a message lit up my phone. It was from Soren.

"Vivian, give me a chance to explain. But don't blame Daisy. It's not her fault."

I stared at the screen, unable to believe those words had come from Soren. I was the one who'd been hurt, yet the person he was defending was Daisy.

I ripped the lab report to pieces and hurled them into the trash.

Then I replied to a message my father had sent days ago. "Dad, I'll be there as soon as I can."

My father, head of the Wellman crime family, had spent years expanding his territory. Now he planned to put me in charge of all his casinos in Las Vegas.

But Soren had promised to marry me, and I'd wanted to wait until everything was settled before telling my father, as a surprise.

It looked like there was nothing left to wait for.

The moment I sent the reply, Daisy pushed open the door. Seeing me slumped on the floor, she didn't help me up. Instead, she crouched down and looked me in the eye. "Vivian, I know all about you and Soren."

"What?" I stared at her in disbelief. "You knew?"

I thought I'd kept it well hidden.

Daisy was the daughter of the Colliers' longtime housekeeper. She, Soren, and I had grown up together.

As the Colliers' only son, Soren was the presumed heir to the family business.

Ever since we were kids, the adults had loved teasing us, pairing Soren and me together. And over time, we'd gone from butting heads to falling in love.

Daisy had been there for all of it. I'd kept the relationship a secret, never expecting her to find out.

What shocked me even more was that she'd known everything, and she was still marrying him.

The betrayal cut straight through me. Trembling from head to toe, I slowly stood. "If you knew, then why would you still..."

Chapter 2

"Vivian." Daisy cut me off. Still crouched on the floor, she tipped her face up to mine. "You're the Wellman heiress. You have status, a family who adores you, everything you could want. You have choices. I don't. All I want is Soren. Please, just step aside."

My vision went dark. Before I could even process what she'd said, Daisy threw herself facedown onto the floor with a thud.

I reached down to help her up, and that was when Soren walked in. I was bent over, and Daisy was sprawled on the floor.

"What the hell are you doing!" Soren shoved me aside. My head slammed into the wall, and stars burst across my vision.

He didn't spare me a glance. Instead, he rushed to Daisy and pulled her into his arms. "Are you okay, Daisy?"

I pressed a hand to my throbbing head and stared at him through a haze of pain, something inside me splintering.

Soren went still. Guilt flashed in his eyes before his expression turned cold again. "I saw you push her. I lost my head. I'm sorry."

Daisy leaned weakly against Soren, putting on a look of wounded innocence. "It's fine. Don't blame Vivian. She didn't mean it."

Soren frowned, his gaze lingering on me. Daisy tugged at his sleeve. "Soren? Let's go. We have a lot to do."

Soren followed Daisy out of the room, still glancing back at me with something unreadable in his eyes.

Before she left, Daisy flashed me a smile. "Vivian, you're my best friend. All I want is for you to be my maid of honor."

That night I didn't eat a thing. I locked myself in my room and refused to come out, no matter who called.

Then Soren called. "Vivian, please don't be angry. Just let me explain. I..."

I didn't want to hear it. I hung up.

The next day, on my way to the hospital, I passed a bridal shop. The gown in the center of the window was one I'd stared at countless times before.

I walked in and ran my fingers along its hem. I had dreamed so many times of wearing that white gown, walking arm in arm with my father down the aisle toward Soren.

But now...

"Vivian!" Soren's voice came from behind me. He looked at me with worry. "What are you doing here?"

Then his expression changed. "Are you here to pick out a wedding dress?"

I ignored him and turned to leave, but he grabbed my hand. "Vivian, will you please let me explain?"

Then I saw Daisy nearby, wearing a gown identical to the one in the display case, the very gown I had dreamed of wearing.

The cruelty of it took my breath away. The man who should have been my fiancé was marrying Daisy, and the dress I'd dreamed of wearing belonged to her now.

I suddenly remembered the pale pink gown Mom had me try on.

I'd gone from the bride to Daisy's maid of honor.

In an instant, humiliation and rage flooded my chest until I could barely breathe.

The smile drained from Daisy's face the moment she saw me and Soren together.

"Vivian, Soren, you two? Vivian, even if you have feelings for Soren, you can't throw yourself at him right before our wedding! You're supposed to be my best friend!"

Everyone in the shop turned to stare, whispering among themselves.

"Two women fighting over one man?"

"Obviously that one's the homewrecker. Her best friend is about to get married and she followed them all the way to the bridal shop."

Everyone was pointing at me, whispering. I had never been humiliated like this in my life.

"No! I'm not the homewrecker!" The words tore out of me as I looked desperately at Soren, begging him to clear my name.

I didn't even need him to acknowledge our relationship anymore. I just needed him to say I wasn't the homewrecker.

But he only looked at me with a pained, conflicted expression, pressed his lips together, glanced at Daisy, and slowly turned away.

The day Soren confessed his feelings seven years ago, he'd promised I would be the only woman he ever loved. He broke that promise. He'd sworn he would take on the whole world for me. He broke that promise too. In the end, he was the first person to betray me.

I lowered my head in defeat and turned to leave. Soren stepped forward to stop me, but I shook him off hard. "Don't touch me!"

The motion sent my bag crashing to the floor. Everything spilled out, including the doctor's letter confirming my pregnancy.

I'd shredded the lab results, but I'd forgotten about the doctor's written confirmation.

Daisy picked it up, took one look, and shrieked, "You're pregnant?"

I was sure she'd done it on purpose, making sure everyone in the shop could hear.

"The baby... is it Soren's?"

Soren looked as if he'd been struck. His eyes went wide as he stared at me, then he immediately pulled Daisy into his arms and wiped the tears from her eyes. "No, Daisy. Nothing ever happened between her and me."

I stumbled back a few steps. This Soren had become a stranger.

If nothing had ever happened between us, then had that night of passion two months ago been a lie?

That night, he'd taken me into his arms with rough, desperate urgency, telling me over and over that he loved me as we came undone together.

Now he stood holding another woman, claiming nothing had ever happened between us.

At last, I stopped swallowing the hurt and rage. I snatched up the confirmation letter and threw it in Soren's face.

Then I turned to Daisy with a cold smile. "That's right. I'm carrying Soren's baby! We've been together for seven years."

"Daisy, you're the homewrecker."

Chapter 3

Everyone watching froze, their eyes darting between the three of us.

The color drained from Daisy's face in an instant. Knowing me as well as she did, she had never expected me to tell the truth in front of so many people.

Soren hadn't expected it either.

We'd been together for seven years, from college until now.

Soren always said his father thought he was too young and needed a few more years of training before he could take over the family's criminal operations.

I'd understood. The Colliers were deep in the drug trade, a business that demanded experience and sharp instincts, so I'd told Soren I was willing to wait.

At last, after Halloween that year, Soren secured his place in the family business. That was when he promised he would marry me.

I never imagined that the ink on that promise would barely be dry before he was marrying someone else.

I gave a bitter laugh and advanced on Daisy one deliberate step at a time.

They had hurt me enough. I was the proud Wellman heiress, and I refused to let Daisy watch me break.

"Daisy, if you want this man, he's all yours. But remember, I'm the one throwing him away. All you'll ever be is someone who picks up my leftovers." I straightened my spine, turned, and walked out. Somewhere behind me I heard Soren calling my name, but it no longer mattered.

Only when I was far enough away did I find the courage to look back one last time at the bridal shop. The wedding gown I had dreamed of was going to be worn by another woman.

By the time I left the clinic, the tiny life inside me, not even two months old, was gone.

My phone rang again. It was Soren. I hung up again and again, but he kept calling back.

Finally, he sent a message. "Vivian, I know that was my child. But I need to finish this wedding first. Give me a little time, okay?"

I didn't want to believe him anymore.

When I arrived back at the estate, before I could even step inside, I saw people eyeing me and whispering.

Daisy's mother stood outside with a broom, pretending to sweep while flicking dirt across my shoes. "Well, well. Look who came crawling back. The shameless homewrecker."

She was only a housekeeper, and she'd always treated me with deference. Now every trace of respect was gone.

"Mrs. Williams, is that any way to speak to me? Don't forget who you work for."

She glared at me. "My Daisy is about to marry the Collier heir. She'll be the wife of the next Don! So spare me the high-and-mighty act. You'd better go check on your mother. The shame you've brought home is practically killing her!"

At that, I didn't want to waste another word on her. I rushed home and found Mom leaning against the sofa, crying.

"Mom, what's wrong? Are you feeling okay?"

She looked at me with bloodshot eyes. "Sweetheart, tell me. Are you and Soren in a relationship? And you're pregnant?"

In front of Mom, my last shred of composure shattered. I broke down sobbing.

"How dare they! I'm going to your father. I don't care how much territory he's trying to expand. He needs to drop everything right now!"

"Mom, don't. Dad's so busy right now. Let's not bother him. When he comes back..."

"I can't wait!" Mom smashed the crystal lamp beside her, tears streaming down her face.

The rage sent her into a violent coughing fit. Her breathing grew ragged, and her body started to give out.

I tried to hold her back, but she flung me aside. "I'm going to make Soren and that vile housekeeper's daughter answer for this!"

Mom stormed outside just as Soren opened Daisy's car door and pulled her into an embrace.

"Soren!" she screamed, charging toward them, then suddenly stopped dead in the middle of the road.

The next second, her body went rigid and she toppled backward.

"Mom!"

I sprinted to her, dropped to my knees, and cradled her fallen body. "Mom, wake up! Please don't scare me..."

Tears blinded me, and grief crushed my chest.

But I still saw Soren try to rush over, only to be held back by Daisy. I saw his clenched jaw and his trembling body.

Cramping tore through my lower belly. Losing my baby, losing Mom, watching Soren stand there and do nothing, each agony drove another knife into my heart.

It was my fault. I was the one who'd been wrong.

I should never have loved him, never have trusted him. Because of this man who betrayed me, I had lost my child and my mother.

Chapter 4

Soren and Daisy came to the funeral.

I hurled their flowers away. "Get out! Get the hell out of here!"

Daisy put on a sorrowful face. "Vivian, we're here to pay our respects."

"We don't want your sympathy!" I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face.

"Daisy, you spread the lie that I was the homewrecker just to infuriate my mother. She's dead because of you. And now you come here with your crocodile tears? Do you want her to have no peace even in death?"

I lunged at her again, but Soren grabbed me and flung me aside.

I lost my balance and cracked my head against Mom's headstone. Blood spread across the stone.

"Vivian, calm down! This isn't Daisy's fault! Everything she did was for you..."

"Soren!" Daisy cut him off. "Vivian has every right to be angry with me. I don't blame her."

Then she looked at me. "Vivian, you're my only maid of honor. Please don't miss my wedding."

I collapsed to the ground and clung to Mom's headstone, wailing.

In just two days, I had lost Soren, my baby, and my mother, the only parent who had raised me.

I glared at their backs as they walked away side by side, my eyes burning.

Fine. You wanted me at the wedding.

I would go, and I would bring you a gift you'd never forget.

On the day of the wedding, I arrived at the dressing room early and watched Daisy in her wedding gown, her makeup flawless, smiling at Soren.

But Soren's eyes kept drifting to me. That tormented look said he had a thousand things to tell me, but one glance from Daisy made him wrench his gaze away.

I stood quietly in the corner, trying to disappear, but the sight of Soren in a suit and bow tie still sent my pulse skittering.

This was the scene I had dreamed of.

I had even imagined the children we would have. Son or daughter, we would raise our child to inherit both families.

Every casino my father planned to hand down to me and every narcotics route Soren controlled would one day belong to our child.

Then the two of us could retire, live the quiet country life I'd always longed for, far from the bloodshed.

But now, all of that had turned to dust.

Daisy's mother stiffened when she saw me. "You actually came? A shameless mistress, and you still have the nerve to stand beside my daughter!"

Soren cut in at once. "Mrs. Williams, watch your tone."

"Please. You're marrying my daughter. Why are you defending another woman?"

Soren glanced at me and answered solemnly, "Vivian has never been an outsider."

His tender devotion made my stomach turn. He was betraying me, marrying another woman, and yet he still acted as though he were devoted to me.

I would never forget the sight of him and Daisy, arm in arm, announcing their engagement.

Whatever love I'd had for him was gone. All that remained was raw, bottomless hatred.

Daisy's wedding was planned down to the last heartwarming detail. I stood behind her with my head bowed, but people still recognized me.

"Isn't that the Wellman heiress? And she's the homewrecker?"

"Exactly. The Don's son is marrying the housekeeper's daughter? Shouldn't he be marrying the Wellman heiress?"

The guests' whispers made Daisy's expression tighten. She turned to me. "Vivian, I put together a video of our love story. Would you play it for everyone?"

Soren frowned. "We don't even have..."

"Sure." I smiled faintly, picked up the flash drive from the table, and while no one was looking, swapped it with one of my own.

To ease the tension, Daisy took the microphone and addressed the crowd. "Up next is the story of how Soren and I fell in love. Please, everyone, turn your attention to the big screen!"

I clicked the mouse, and the video began to play.

Every person in the room gasped.

The moment Daisy saw what was playing, every trace of color drained from her face.