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Nineteen-year-old Hannah Jones has always been the unwanted daughter—overlooked, undervalued, and sacrificed for her family's sake. When her father's company faces bankruptcy, she's forced to marry billionaire Elijah Martinez in place of her spoiled younger sister, Janet. Framed by her own family as a jealous schemer, Hannah endures cold indifference from Elijah and cruelty from his family. Broken and alone, she finally escapes, leaving the country, her toxic family, and her loveless marriage behind. Seven years later, Hannah returns as a successful writer and designer with twin children and a fortune of her own. She's ready to divorce Elijah and close that painful chapter forever. But Elijah, who spent years searching for her after uncovering the truth, refuses to let her go. He's determined to win the heart of the woman he once ignored even if she no longer needs him. "You're still my wife, Hannah. You're not going anywhere." "Your wife? I have more money than your entire family now, Elijah. I don't need you or your name anymore."

Five years ago, I left my husband a note. Three sentences. A returned bracelet. A door closing softly at 4am. He told me to get rid of our baby. I got rid of him instead. Now he’s sitting across my boardroom table in the city I built for myself, looking for the woman he married. She’s gone. What’s left is stronger.

Mia Bowen accidentally marries the heir to an affluent family. On the day that she finds out she's pregnant, he gives her a divorce agreement.The fake heiress takes over Mia's marital home, and her mother-in-law is disdainful of her for being poor and powerless.Then, six handsome and wealthy men descend from the heavens.The first is a real estate mogul who's determined to give her a hundred villas.The second is a scientist who researches artificial intelligence, and he gives her a limited-edition driverless car.The third is a renowned surgeon whose hands are the tools of his trade. He cooks for her daily.The fourth is a talented pianist who plays for her every day.The fifth is a well-known lawyer who takes the initiative to get rid of all her anti-fans.The sixth is an award-winning actor who publicly announces that she's the love of his life.The fake heiress boasts, "These guys are my brothers and cousins."The six men refute her in unison, announcing, "No, Mia is the true heiress of our family."Mia goes on to have a great life with her baby as she enjoys the boundless affection and doting of her six brothers and cousins.Yet a certain man gets anxious because of this. "Mia, how about we remarry?"She smirks. "You should ask my brothers and cousins whether they agree."Four more gorgeous men descend from the heavens. "No, there are ten of us!"

5 years ago: “I’m pregnant,” I stated. “It’s not my baby. You must have gotten pregnant by someone else. Abort it,” Alpha Baxter hissed. “Why would I make a baby with an omega like you? My beta mate will give me an heir,” Alpha Graham scoffed, his eyes cold. “And even if it is mine, give it up for adoption. I don’t want him calling me daddy,” Alpha Elgin sneered, wrinkling his nose. 5 Years Later: “Please! Let me be a part of my baby’s life,” Alpha Baxter pleaded, his voice breaking. “My mate can’t conceive. I want my child to know me and to call me father.” Alpha Graham requested. “I would hate for my baby to call someone else daddy in front of me,” alpha Elgin whispered, choking back emotion. “Didn’t you say you wanted me to abort them? How can you claim them now?” I spat, locking eyes with them. .. Living as an omega was never easy for Madeline, but she survived with the support of her three alpha best friends. They protected her, cared for her, and made her feel valued, until they discovered she found them attractive, which changed everything. Desire took over, and they claimed her, only to cast her aside once they had what they wanted. When Madeline learned she was pregnant, she turned to them, only to be rejected and told to end the pregnancy. Betrayed and heartbroken, she fled the pack to protect herself and her unborn children. Years later, Madeline stands strong, raising three children who carry the DNA of the alphas who abandoned her. Now the alphas regret the choices they made, but Madeline knows one thing for certain—her children will never call them “daddy.”

Eight months pregnant, Natasha walked into the hospital alone. She saw her husband standing beside another woman, signing papers for her, looking at her with a tenderness Natasha had never received. When the woman asked who Natasha was, Chase didn't even hesitate: “I don't know her.” That was the moment Natasha finally gave up. She had been Chase's most brilliant employee—the woman who could challenge him in a boardroom and win. Then one reckless night changed everything. She got pregnant, married him, and gave up her career for their family. To Chase, however, their marriage was a mistake. Their unborn child was leverage. And his mistress was the woman he truly wanted. Fine. If he wanted a divorce, she'd give him one. But Natasha wasn't going to leave as the abandoned wife everyone pitied. When Natasha walks into a major business gala on another man's arm, Chase finally realizes the quiet, obedient wife he thought he knew is gone. The woman standing before him is the brilliant strategist he once couldn't live without. And this time, Chase may have to fight to become part of her life again.

My father sold me. My boyfriend betrayed me. And now I belong to the Alpha Prince in a coma. Lillian is sent to the royal palace as a surrogate candidate for Prince Grayson, the kingdom’s unconscious heir. Every other girl is rejected by his deadly inner wolf — until Lillian steps forward, and the beast chooses her. Overnight, she goes from discarded pack girl to Luna Princess. But her new title comes with a dangerous price. Her ex wants to use her to steal the throne. The palace is crawling with enemies. And the prince everyone thinks is sleeping may be hiding a secret powerful enough to destroy them all. He is dangerous. He is watching. And he may be the only one who can save her.
My husband was sleeping with my best friend behind my back for six months. Six months of roses. Six months of 'you are my everything' while he was making her moan his name. I trusted him with my whole heart. He handed it to her like a cheap gift. So when Dominic Ford showed up with rage in his eyes and proof in his hands, something in me snapped. And in that broken, dangerous place, a sinful idea was born. "An affair," I told him, meeting his gaze. "Real. Raw. Dirty. No strings. No limits. We give them exactly what they deserve." He studied me for a long, slow moment. Then he pulled me close as he whispered. "When do we start?" Dominic Ford touched me like he was trying to ruin me for every other man. He succeeded. He took me apart, piece by piece, night after night, until I was shaking and screaming and begging for more... and when morning came I was crawling back for everything he gave me the night before. This was supposed to hurt them. It was never supposed to feel this good. It was never supposed to feel like home. Now our cheating spouses are on their knees, right where we wanted them. But Dominic is looking at me like the plan just changed. And God help me, I don't want to walk away either. We agreed. No strings. No feelings. Just revenge. That was the deal. We lied. --- WARNING: This story contains explicit scenes and two broken people who find each other in the most sinful way possible.
On the fifth anniversary of Rebecca Perry's marriage to Vance Bradford, his first love returned to the country. That night, she caught him in the bathroom, murmuring Catherine's name as he pleasured himself. That was why, for five years, he had never touched her. "Catherine is back; she's all alone. I'm just helping her as a friend." "I understand." "I promised her I'd accompany her to the island for her birthday. I'm just fulfilling it." "Okay." "This banquet requires a capable companion, and Catherine is more suitable than you." "Okay, go ahead." When she stopped getting angry, stopped shedding tears, and stopped making a fuss, he grew puzzled. "Rebecca, why aren't you angry?" Of course, she wasn't angry anymore—because she was preparing to leave. Weary of this stagnant marriage, she had secretly learned a foreign language, taken the proficiency exam, and applied to study abroad. The day her visa was approved, she presented him with the divorce agreement. Vance froze. "No joke. How are you gonna survive without me?" Rebecca turned away, bought a plane ticket, and flew to the European continent, vanishing without a trace. The next time he saw news of her was in a viral video. Dressed in a flowing red gown, she danced against a foreign sky, igniting the internet with her performance. He gritted his teeth. "Rebecca, no matter where you hide, I will find you and bring you back!"
This is Currently an Omnibus! Featuring: Book 1: The Unwanted Luna - Kennedy and Ryker's Story Book 2: The Warrior's Mate - Finn and Greta's Story Book 3: Taming the Alpha's Heir - Ben and Elara's Story Book 1: Kennedy is a human thrown into the unbelievable world of the supernatural when her parents die in a freak car accident and her mother’s best friend steps in to become her guardian. Her mother’s best friend, Beth, is the Luna of the Silver Crescent Pack. Kennedy has known Beth and her husband James and their son Jeremiah her whole life, but thought pack life would be something she would only hear about. The Alpha and Luna keep no secrets about the dangers of their world for a human like Kennedy. Jeremiah takes an interest in keeping Kennedy safe and helps her through the trauma of moving on from the accident. Kennedy is taught pack ways and for the most part is loved by all the pack members, learning the values of the pack bond, the ways of the warriors and respect for the hierarchy of the wolf culture. She becomes a very proficient warrior even with only human strength and senses. Follow Kennedy on her journey of mates, love, friendship and fighting a mate bond she doesn’t want holding her back from her own goals and dreams. __ Ryker is a young, well-known, and feared Alpha of Dark Moon pack. He cares for his pack members through tough love and an iron fist. He's seen what happens when Alphas take their mate. It makes them weak and lose focus. Many have been corrupted by terrible mates. He would rather stay alone than be controlled.

“I now pronounce you as a husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!” The priest announced and I froze. I knew I was cursed the moment this blood oath was taken which bound me to hell, the hell of this Sinner. My eyelids raised to see the ugly creation of god. My husband! Vladimir Sokolov! His rugged face carved with uncountable ugly marks stung my slow beating heart. His hazel green eyes held a satisfied dark shadow as He pulled me close, raised my chin and whispered coldly, “From this very moment, you share the crown of Bratva’s pakhan. Prepare yourself to bear its weight, Babochka. Because I own your existence now!” He slammed his cold lips on my trembling ones, punishing me with a brutal kiss. Tears pricked my eyes with disgust but I tolerated his touch for the sake of my family. My eyes followed the part of the audience, Russians, who burst into cheers while the other party, Italians, looked at me with remorse and pitiful gazes. Oh yes, how could I forget I was the sacrificed lamb thrusted into hell to get scorched for a lifetime. But No. I still had the last hope to save myself from this cursed fate, this cursed marriage. ………….. Born in a sin will definitely be called the Sinner. Without morality and mercy, Vladimir Sokolov the Bratva’s Pakhan ruled the city with an iron fist. Due to the influence of some political parties He had to marry the Daughter from La Camorra. Rose Barbieri! Marry her, have his heir and wear the title of family man, that's what He planned to do but what He didn’t imagine was that his innocent, submissive wife was someone who would burn the flames of his hell into ashes one day.
![Fallen From Grace [Married to the Mafia Novel]](https://www.goodnovel.com/pcdist/src/assets/images/book/43949cad-default_cover.png)
(18+ Explicit Content) Buy me.” My voice rings clear through the room. "Buy me and I will serve you until my purpose is through. Buy me and save me from death.” Dante merely laughs at me, "Why should I save you? I'm no hero, girl. You've stepped into a 's den and you're committing yourself to me.” I don't budge, fighting through the urge to cower before him. “I'll give you one chance to walk away, Atwood girl. If you don't, you will be mine and no one can save you from me.” But that’s exactly what I need. Not a hero, but a monster who could tear the world down and bring my sister back to me. I would sacrifice anything for her, including my freedom. Jean Atwood was at the top of the world. A perfect life for the perfect daughter of the esteemed and powerful Atwood family. But one mistake turned her life upside down and brought her family's name to the ground. Drowned in debt after her parents' deaths, Jean must find a way to free herself and her beloved younger sister from slavery.

Ashley Brown find herself in love with his mafia stepbrother, Sirius Brown. They lived together as a step sibling for years, made the beautiful girl saw him as the hero, the man of her dream. The devil himself, Sirius Brown, is well known as a heartless, manipulative man ever. He kills every living being that goes in his way. Including to his baby girl, Ashley brown. "Baby... Why are you covering this up? Don't you believe me?" Sirius stroked the girl's hand, made Ashley trembled. She shake her head slowly. "It's not like that Bubba… It's dirty, I have to clean it up first." She answered. Sirius chuckled. He held Ashley's hand but the girl shook her head even faster. She didn't want Sirius to see and touch her wet p***y. "Baby, my innocent baby. Show me princess, there's nothing to worry about... Hmm? Come on..." Sirius kissed Ashley gently on the lips, trying to reassure her that it was fine, even normal and that's natural thing to happen… Warning! This novel describe detail sex and erotic scenes. It also has some bloody, torture scenes that may cause you uncomfortable. Please consider your age before reading. This is my original work.

Adriano and Melanie's love seem impossible, just like what fire feels towards water. Yes! Fire and Ice. Black and White, and sun and moon. When they say opposite attracts, that the case for this innocent and fragile nurse and the ruthless and merciless Mafia man. However, Adriano love for Melanie seems like the most unshakable and indestructible thing in the world. He could turn the world upside down for his little woman. Just like the rest of the Alfonso men, they love their women, as if they are the air they breath. Join Melanie on her journey with this adamant and overprotective Mafia man.

Camila López never imagined her life would end up in the hands of an Italian mafia boss after her career as a doctor in the United States fell apart. Betrayed by her own fiancé and forced back to Mexico, Camila was instead used as a bargaining chip by her family to save their nearly bankrupt company. Then Luca Vitale arrived, the man she had once met in the United States. An Italian with blue eyes, a body covered in tattoos, and a dangerous aura that made every room feel too small whenever he came near. Luca didn't ask for her consent. He just came to take what had already been promised to him. Including Camila. "I'm not yours," Camila whispered, her breath trembling. Luca stared at her for a long moment before slowly pulling her waist until their bodies pressed together. "Then," he said softly, his Italian accent making Camila's knees go weak, "why does your body tremble every time I touch you?" Camila hated him. But he always knew exactly how to break down her defenses. Luca's touch was too hot. His kisses were too intoxicating, and his obsessive gaze slowly made Camila afraid of herself. Because the longer she stayed in Italy, the more she started to enjoy the sin named Luca Vitale. As hatred turned into passion, Camila had to choose run from the Italian mafia or drown in his obsession along with him.

Isabella Hart gave up everything to build an ordinary life with Ethan Blackwood including the truth about who she really is. When Ethan accuses her of corporate betrayal based on forged evidence and files for divorce, she signs without defending herself, unwilling to reveal the secret that could put them both in danger: she is eleven weeks pregnant, and she is the last heir of the Romano crime family. As Ethan uncovers the deception behind the divorce and races to win her back, Isabella is drawn back into a world of arranged marriages, old family debts, and a conspiracy thirty years in the making one that orchestrated their marriage's collapse from the very beginning. Both must decide how far they'll go to protect the truth, each other, and the child caught between two dangerous legacies.

"It was a mistake! I apologized already," feeling so terrified as I moved backward."You should have known me better than this, little sparrow," He chuckled deeply, his gaze fixed on me."Lucas please!" I cried, now stopped by the wall as my heart beats faintly."Don't worry it's just a little game, you and I will play, you'll love it, little sparrow," He smirked.I knew this was a trick, Ben lied when he said he wouldn't hurt me and I stupidly fell into the trap.Now, I was alone with him and in his room.I think this is the time for me to announce my funeral..."Strip!" His cold voice snapped me out,as he stared at me with a deadpan expression while I gazed at him in ultra shock.******************Camilla Evans is a gentle nerd in her finals at Watermark Highschool. As a nerd, the stereotypical notion of her wearing thick rimmed glasses, out-of-vogue clothes and shoes which were eighty percent of the time, twice her size still stands. Having been at the bottom of the food chain in Watermark Highschool, Camilla was liable to predators and the most annoying one of them all went by the name, Lucas Liam.Camilla had no idea why the hottest guy in school would even spare her a glance not to mention actually spending the whole day bullying and teasing her to no end.Could there be something else to these false acts of bully and teases from Lucas?Find out what happens when the Cheerleader, Jenny Layton put Camilla's life at stake?Will she be able to handle all the torments she's passing through especially when her mum died and her sister left her behind?CONTAINS EXPLICIT CHAPTERS!!!

Caden Fernando Miller.Hot, notorious and the most famous bad boy of Crestmont High. Attention seekers flirt with him. Idiots fight with him. The ones who are rewarded with a piece of sense, they stay away from him. If you fight with him, you know you'll lose soon. Hot tempered, mysterious and those oh-so hot looks. That's enough for a girl to fall head over heels for him.If only he cared to give a shit about them.Not to forget, he is also the youngest gang leader in New York city with his cruel ways and deadly secrets.Skylar Anderson.She's not a nerd. Or a cheerleader. All she cares about is her family, her best friend, chocolate cupcakes filled with heavenly nutella, and her sleep. Really.She lives a normal and carefree life, trying her best not to flunk Physics. Until she receives a letter in her mailbox......and that normal, carefree life goes right above the clouds.

"Use your words Isabella , I want to hear that sweet voice of yours " His voice dripped with cold menace as his grip on my jaw tightened even more. My lips trembled under his harsh glare. I could barely manage to hold his gaze with my blurry teary ones . "I..I'm sorry A..Ace" I stuttered "You are always sorry, a pathetic cry baby is all you are ever going to be. " He sneered further tightening his grip on my shoulders. I couldn't stop an embarrassing tear that escaped my eyes at his words. "You are so pathetic, I will only hurt you more until you are nothing more than dust beneath my feet " My eyes widened when he inched closer , not knowing what to expect i shut my eyes tightly close . I stopped breathing when his breath fanned against my cheeks. When I opened my eyes he was gone. He used to be my crush and childhood best friend... But now he's my nightmare. He hates me, and he's vowed to make my life a living hell. Because I made a huge mistake. Staying alive when I should have died.

“You don’t kiss your sister,” I whispered, taking a step closer to him. “You don’t touch your sister the way you touched me.” Another step. “You definitely don’t get down on your sister.” Liam’s jaw tightened, his green eyes darkening with restrained desire. But his voice stayed calm. Controlled. “We’ll pretend it never happened.” The night Vera was supposed to move into her new stepfather’s mansion, she went to a party hoping to forget her painful breakup. Instead, she met Liam. Tall. Gorgeous. Dangerous. What started as a reckless attempt to make her ex jealous turned into a night she couldn’t stop thinking about. A night that left her addicted to the taste of a stranger with sinful green eyes. Then morning came with a cruel surprise. Liam wasn’t a stranger. He was her new stepbrother. Living under the same roof should have ended whatever happened between them. Liam is determined to keep his distance, pretending their chemistry means nothing. But Vera has never been good at walking away from what she wants. And she wants Liam. No matter how forbidden he is. Now every shared glance feels electric, every argument turns heated, and every moment alone threatens to destroy the lines Liam is desperately trying to keep intact. Because resisting Vera might be the one thing Liam can’t do forever.

Hannah has given everything to one person her daughter Zara. Abandoned and forced to drop out of school before she was old enough to vote, she built a life from nothing with her bare hands and never once looked back. Zara was her sacrifice and her proof that it was all worth something. So when bullies begin destroying Zara from the inside out and the system refuses to intervene, Hannah hits a wall she cannot climb. In her darkest moment she whispers a desperate wish and wakes up seventeen again. Now Nora young, fearless, carrying seventeen years of a mother’s love walks into Crestwood High with one mission and two months before the magic runs out. But the magic has rules nobody warned her about. Every time the mother in her surfaces the clock speeds up. And while Nora fights for Zara inside those walls Hannah’s real life is quietly falling apart outside them. Then there is Alex. The hockey captain who looks at her like nobody ever has. The first boy who has ever made her feel something she was never allowed to feel before. She is not here to fall in love. She is not here to stay. But the clock is running. The secret is cracking. And some things are harder to walk away from than she ever planned.

At school, Alex Vance is the untouchable billionaire heir who makes Cathy’s life a living hell. She endures his ruthless bullying in silence, hiding the bruises to her pride. Alex thinks she’s just an ordinary student, entirely unaware that every night, Cathy transforms into "Mirage"—an elite cyber genius on a high-stakes corporate retainer. She protects his family's multi-billion-dollar empire in the dark. He tortures her in the light. Every cent she earns goes straight toward keeping her dying father alive, binding her to a system ruled by the very people who crush her. When the truth comes to light and she realizes the boy tearing her down is the heir to the empire she saves from bankruptcy, will she continue to save the empire, and what will be his fate when he finds out who Cathy really is?

On my wedding day, my fiance's first love appeared at the wedding ceremony wearing the exact same haute couture gown as mine. I watched them stand together at the entrance, greeting the guests as if they were the bride and groom. Maintaining a calm expression, I complimented them, saying they looked like the perfect couple—beauty and brains, a match made in heaven. She burst into tears and fled the scene. He, however, didn't hesitate to humiliate me in front of everyone, accusing me of being petty and narrow-minded. When the wedding banquet was over, he left for what was supposed to be our honeymoon—with her by his side. I didn't argue or cause a scene. Instead, I quietly booked an appointment for an abortion.

On the day of my coming-of-age ceremony, my father’s brother-in-arms pushed photos of his daughters in front of me and told me to choose a fiancee. Without hesitation, I picked the photo of the eldest daughter, Yvonne Shaw. Everyone around me stared in shock. They all knew that I was deeply in love with the second daughter, Natalie Shaw. In my previous life, I had chased after Natalie for ten years before finally marrying her. Through our marriage, she became the heiress of the Shaw family. But three years after we got married, she became pregnant with my brother’s child. Our parents were furious. They forced her to get an abortion and sent my brother away. From then on, Natalie hated me to the core. Every night, she would bring home men who looked like my brother and spend the night with them. The constant torment wore me down, and I eventually fell gravely ill and died a miserable death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to that night when I had to choose a fiancee. This time, I chose to let them be together. But what I did not expect was that Natalie had been reborn too.

I had been in a relationship with Zachary Dawson for seven years and engaged for three when, out of the blue, Ruby White, the daughter of his mentor, moved into our home. Sitting casually on the bed that Zachary and I shared, Ruby lounged with an air of nonchalance, her voice playful and teasing. "Zachary, the dental god, sure has a nice bed," she remarked with a smirk. "I can only imagine what it would be like to spend the night with him in this bed." I captured the scene on my phone and sent the video to our family group chat with a brief message: Looks like Zachary might have a new girlfriend Zachary rushed home, wrapping his arms protectively around a tearful Ruby. He pointed at me, his voice seething with anger. "My mentor's dying wish was for me to take care of Ruby! If you can't accept that, then move out!" Honestly, my brows furrowed deeper than the wrinkles on the bedsheets Ruby had sat on. Fine. I didn't need the bed, and I didn't need a fiancé anymore.

I am the only person who refuses to abandon Sophia Quinlan when she gets kicked out of the Quinlan family. I work to expand her network, secure funding, and piece together a business empire of our own over these six years. Zachary Lund, her first love, returns from abroad on the very day she becomes the CEO of Quinlan Group. I spend six years busting my back for her, while Zachary spends those same six years keeping her company from halfway across the world. She begins to regret marrying me so early, so she secretly goes behind my back and promotes Zachary to be her personal secretary. Later on, a business rival Sophia has backed into a corner suddenly barges into the banquet carrying an improvised bomb. The crowd scatters in panic. Zachary doesn't even hesitate to leave her behind, breaking free of her grip and running for his own safety. I am the only one who stays behind to protect her from the blast, leaving my body completely shredded from the explosion. In the last moments of my life, I cough up blood and hold onto her hand as I ask the question I have kept inside for six years. "Have you ever, in the past six years—" Sophia pulls her hand away from mine before I can finish speaking. She runs toward Zachary, who is screaming over a scratch on his arm from the shrapnel. It turns out the answer is right in front of me the whole time, making the question pointless. I close my eyes for good this time, a smile of relief creeping onto my face. When I open my eyes, I find myself back on the luxury cruise ship on the day of my wedding with Sophia. I take off my boutonniere without a second thought, strip off my wedding suit, and plunge right into the sea to run away from the wedding. I notice a sea of people gathered just as I reach the shore, with loudspeakers blasting the wedding march. It is then that a woman clad in a wedding dress walks up to me and asks, "Will you marry me, Robert Lister?"

The first time I went to the boutique to try on wedding dresses, I stumbled upon the staff playing their game of “Guess the Bride.” The big screen inside was displaying the package my fiancé had reserved. Eager to snag the commission, the makeup artist spoke up first: “I remember the bride is petite and delicate. She looks absolutely stunning in a mermaid dress.” The photographer chime in: “She has straight bangs and two dimples when she smiles.” “Oh, right—and a red mole on her collarbone. She looks best in an off-shoulder gown.” I froze right on the spot. I had waist-length, voluminous waves, no dimples, and certainly no mole. The person they were describing fit my best friend—Charlotte Holmes, whom I was closest to—to absolute perfection. Just as I was about to confront them, a store employee walked up to me. Roughly shoving a DSLR camera into my arms, she snapped: “Are you the new assistant? What are you waiting for? Go check the behind-the-scenes footage!” My finger accidentally grazed the playback button, and the screen lit up. I saw Charlotte wearing the very wedding dress I had set my heart on. Meanwhile, Jeremy Sanders, my fiancé, had his arm wrapped around her waist. They both were smiling sweetly at the lens. Going through a string of intimate photos of the two of them, a bone-chilling cold swept through my entire body. In the five years I had been in a relationship with him, Jeremy had never taken a photo with me. Every time I wanted one, he would say the camera made him anxious, indifferently pushing me away. Turned out he didn’t mind the camera at all, only the person standing in the frame. After staring at the footage of the two of them wrapped in a passionate embrace, I stepped forward and placed the camera back on the front desk. “Since you’re all so fond of this woman, I guess the wedding dress should be hers.”

Two weeks before my wedding to Wendy Sutton, she gets a marriage certificate with someone else. That day, a screenshot from an unfamiliar group chat suddenly pops up in our wedding-planning group. The group is named "No One Stays Young Forever". A photo of Wendy and her new husband, Shiloh Caddel, is posted. They are beaming as they hold up the marriage certificate they've just obtained. Her brother asks, "You made sure Morgan doesn't know, right? Don't let this affect the wedding plans." My best friend replies, "Don't worry, he's still waiting for Wendy to come back so she can try on her wedding makeup." Her best friend chimes in, "They're only registering the marriage to make up for a past regret. It's not like she's really going to replace the groom." Wendy says, "Keep it from Morgan until the wedding. I'll tell him after the ceremony." I feel the crushing weight of betrayal. The screenshot is quickly deleted. The wedding-planning group falls silent. Then, as if nothing had happened, Wendy's brother asks what style I want for the decorations. I calmly type my reply. "Those don't matter anymore. The wedding is off."