Chapter 1

"Nina, we might have to push back the wedding."

Silas held me tight, sounding a little guilty. "Isabella's been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Her dying wish is for me to take her on a monthlong honeymoon. I can't let her die with regrets.

"You know how it is. She's dying. I can't just abandon her."

I looked at Silas's adoring expression. What a joke.

Silas and I had only gotten together because our families arranged the match. But over time, his sweetness and thoughtfulness won me over.

On my birthday, he'd give me the most expensive jewelry. He remembered everything I liked. If I so much as mentioned I couldn't sleep, he'd cancel a business deal and rush home overnight to be with me.

But all of that changed when his first love, Isabella, came back to Manhattan.

Our anniversary dinner got cut short because she said she was scared of the dark. Silas didn't even stop to explain. He just got up and left, and everyone in the restaurant laughed at me sitting there alone.

When I had appendicitis, she said she was feeling down and pestered Silas to take her to an amusement park to cheer her up. He left me to face surgery alone.

I cried and fought with him about it. But Silas always said Isabella had helped him through his depression, and that all he felt for her was gratitude.

So I told myself to be understanding. I told myself he was only doing it out of gratitude.

But now that disgusting text about the fake diagnosis was right there, mocking me for being so naive.

In that moment, I finally saw things as they really were.

I didn't lose it or demand answers. I calmly pulled away from him and smiled. "Okay. Go, Silas. I understand completely."

Silas kissed my forehead, overjoyed and visibly relieved. "Nina, I knew you were the kindest person ever! When I get back, I'll give you the biggest wedding you've ever seen."

I looked at him and didn't say another word.

When I came downstairs early the next morning, Isabella was already waiting in the living room.

Her cheeks were rosy, her foundation was flawless, and she'd even sprayed Silas's favorite perfume on her collarbone.

She didn't look seriously ill at all.

When she saw me, she dramatically pressed a hand to her chest, her eyes gleaming with triumph as if daring me to object.

"Nina, you're not mad about Silas taking me on a honeymoon, are you? I know it's wrong to borrow your fiancé for a month.

"But you know how hard this is for me. You're so generous. You'll forgive me, won't you?"

"Of course I don't mind," I said casually, holding my black coffee. "He's just a fiancé. He's all yours."

Isabella's expression froze. The second she heard Silas's footsteps, her eyes reddened. "Nina, what's that supposed to mean? You still blame me, don't you?"

Silas pushed the door open just in time to see it. He rushed over, pulled her protectively into his arms, and anxiously asked what was wrong.

Isabella glanced at me and put on a hurt look. "It's nothing. Nina just got upset and yelled at me a little. It's my fault. Don't blame her..."

Silas frowned and turned to me, sounding a little weary and strained. "Nina, didn't you promise me you'd let this go?

"Isabella just wants her last wish to come true. You know how much I owe her."

"Silas, it's all my fault. Don't blame Nina..." Isabella curled weakly against him, pretending to defend me.

Silas took me by the shoulders, a note of warning in his voice. "Nina, promise me you'll be a little more understanding, okay?

"Once I've done this last thing for her, I'll come back and keep my promise to marry you."

With that, he carried Isabella out the door without even looking at me.

An hour later, Isabella posted a picture of the two of them at the airport on Instagram.

In the photo, her fingers were laced with Silas's. The caption said, "Starting a new journey with the one I love most."

I stared at the photo.

The engagement ring was gone from Silas's ring finger. He'd sworn he would never take it off.

I never thought he'd break his promises so easily. I laughed at myself and casually liked the post.

Just then, my phone buzzed again.

It was a text from Silas. Maybe he'd seen that I liked the post, because he rushed to explain. "Nina, Bella said the ring kept reminding her that you and I are engaged, so... But don't worry. After this honeymoon, I'll wear it every single day and never take it off again!"

He thought a lame excuse like that would calm me down and I'd sit there waiting for him like a good girl.

Too bad I didn't care anymore...

The day after Silas left, I called Ryder.

He was a ruthless corporate raider. One cool look from him could set off a bloodbath on Wall Street.

He was also Silas's uncle, and the one person Silas feared most.

He answered right away, and his low, sexy voice came through the phone.

I got straight to the point. "You said you wanted to marry me. Does that offer still stand?"

He gave a low, dangerously pleased laugh. "Of course."

"Then I'll see you at the wedding in a month."

After I hung up, I took off my engagement ring and threw it in the trash.

Silas, I'm not going to wait for you. And I don't want this relationship anymore...