Chapter 2

Julian doesn't believe me. He scoffs and shakes his head.

"Addie, this isn't the time to fight for attention."

"Let me handle Cass first. If she's in a good mood tomorrow, maybe she'll let you be a bridesmaid."

In his arms, Cassidy pouts and tugs his sleeve. Julian doesn't look back. He heads upstairs.

A minute later, the sounds start.

Mr. Brennan opens his mouth several times before he finally speaks. "Miss Whitlock... for Mr. Hayes, there's never been another Mrs. Hayes. Only you."

I glance at the box of condoms in his hands. Tilt my head toward the stairs.

...

In the middle of the night, my phone rings. Brooke is screaming so loud my ear hurts.

"Addie, what the hell? Why is Julian telling everyone the wedding is off?!"

"You've been planning this for a year! The venue alone cost a couple million! Half of it is your designs! He can't just call it off!"

I sit up, rubbing my ear. Sleep is gone.

Before I can answer, she shrieks again.

"Wait — wait. He just sent me a new invitation. Same wedding. Same time. Different bride — some girl named Cassidy. Says we better show up."

"Who the hell is Cassidy?!"

I close my eyes.

Julian has always been like this. When he loves someone, he gives them the world. When he stops loving them — he takes everything back.

"Brooke. Don't worry about any of it. Just come tomorrow. The wedding is still on."

"He's swapping the bride. So tomorrow, I'm swapping the groom."

Silence on the other end. Then Brooke pieces it together, and her voice goes raw with fury.

"That son of a bitch. Swap him. Swap his sorry ass and don't look back."

"He played the perfect fiancé for ten years. Twenty-eight countries for engagement photos. Renting out drones to announce your wedding to the whole city. And now he's cheating?! I knew it — men are bastards!"

I laugh, helpless.

I want to tell her — it's not that bad. My backup grooms are all impressive in their own right.

But before I can speak, Mr. Brennan knocks.

His face is pained. "Miss Whitlock... Mr. Hayes is asking for you in the master bedroom."

I know if I don't go, he'll take it out on Mr. Brennan.

I tell Brooke to put on her bridesmaid dress tomorrow and meet me at the venue. Then I head upstairs.

The bedroom door is half-open. The room is a wreck. The smell hits me first.

Julian's just stepped out of the shower, droplets running from his hair down the open collar of his robe — past a neck covered in marks.

I dig my nails into my palm and force myself not to feel it.

He sees me and lazily points at the floor.

A bridesmaid dress. Crumpled. Stained.

"Addie. I know you put a lot into this wedding. Wear that tomorrow. Be Cass's bridesmaid. Call it closure for the past year."

Cassidy smiles, naked under the blanket. She leans up and whispers something sweet and venomous in Julian's ear.

"Julian — Addie's the designer, right? The rings she makes must be stunning. I want one."

My face stays blank.

That ring — like the dress — is mine. Sketched by me. Flown around the world for. Hand-finished by me.

Julian knows.

He just raises an eyebrow.

"Addie, it's just one ring. She wants it. Let her have it."

"We're in no rush, Addie. You'll have plenty of time to design a new one."

He says it like it costs him nothing.

And just like that — the sharp, splintering ache in my chest disappears.

I don't feel a thing anymore.

I look him in the eye and say it again.

"I told you. The wedding's still on tomorrow."