Chapter 2

This kind of online pile-on?

I've lived it for three years.

Every time I broke down, Ryan just shrugged.

"The internet isn't real, Nora. Stop taking it so seriously."

"Lindsay's out here hustling alone. I'm just helping her. It's not romantic. You're my girlfriend. But you keep acting paranoid — it makes me wonder if you even trust me."

And I believed him.

I sucked it up for three years.

Until this moment. Until right now.

Ryan never loved me. Not once.

My pain. My humiliation. Every tear I cried.

All of it — just fuel for Lindsay's viral clout.

God, I'm such a fool.

My phone rings. Sharp. Panicked.

Mom's nurse.

"Miss Wynn! Get here now! Your mom saw the livestream — she got so upset she passed out! We just got her to the ER!"

The blood drains out of me.

I run out the door like my life depends on it.

I'm barely standing outside the ER when I see them.

Ryan, walking toward me. Suit still crisp. Face still blank.

He looks at me like I'm nothing.

Beside him, Lindsay in her stupid heels, makeup on point.

They look like a couple. It's disgusting.

My eyes sting. I look down.

"What are you two doing here?"

"Your mom fainted. The nurse called me too," Ryan says. "You were out of line, Nora. Walking out of your own wedding."

I stare at him.

Lindsay smiles, twisting the knife.

"Nor, three years and you're still like this."

She pauses. Setting up the shot. "Bailing on your own groom? No wonder your mom collapsed."

I laugh, sharp. "You're seriously talking about my wedding? Wow. You two really are a match — one shameless enough to chase her ex, and one gross enough to date someone new while still panting after his old girlfriend."

The air goes still.

Lindsay's fake smile cracks.

Ryan's eyes flash. His jaw goes tight.

"Nora, that's enough."

Enough.

He says I'm the one going too far.

I laugh again. "Ryan. What am I to you? Really?"

Silence.

My chest is caving in. I can't breathe.

I turn away. "We're done."

"Both of you — get out. NOW."

Pain shoots through my arm.

Ryan grabs me. Hard.

His eyes are burning.

"Nora. We just got married."

He looks straight into me. His throat works.

"The empty box was a joke. Just a joke. Don't take it that way."

Three years of dating. This is the first time he's ever explained anything to me.

Too bad I don't care anymore.

I twist my mouth into something like a smile and shake him off.

"You still don't get it? It was never about the damn box."

"Ryan, if you can't let her go — don't drag someone else into a relationship. It's disgusting."