Chapter 1 – Perfection?

Sarra’s POV

Where was Elena?

I asked myself as I looked around the estate that looked like it was out of a movie. There were fairy lights and palm trees, and champagne glasses with waiters in white jackets. 

This was a proper Malibu wedding reception.

I tugged at the neckline of my dress, and patted down the sides of my hips. Paris had taught me how to be confident, but stepping back into my best friend, Elena Blackwell's world again made me feel like I was a teenager again, in highschool.

The nerd with a book, ugly glasses and her hair always up in a bun.

“Sarra!”

Elena's voice brought me out of my thoughts. She sweet toward me in a pale pink satin gown that was custom made. Her blonde hair was up in a bun with curls falling down her face. She smelled expensive too, like Chanel.

She hugged me lightly, careful not to smudge her makeup. “Look at you. Paris treated you well. You’re glowing.When you missed the church wedding, I almost thought you wouldn't come.”

I smiled. “I would not miss the reception for anything in the world. Congratulations, by the way. So who's the lucky guy?”

She smiled and hit my shoulder. “Wait until you see him at the altar.”

Elena and I didn't really talk about our private lives in details. Infact for the past few months, I've barely had time to video call her in between my classes.

I let her pull me along the lawn through the rows of white chairs and orchids and roses. Guests were already standing by making small talk and drinking champagne.

“Here he is…” Sarra waves in the direction of the small podium where they were seated.

 I stopped cold. What the fuck? Standing right there straightening his cufflinks was Ethan.

My Ethan. My long distance boyfriend for over a year now.

The tux fit his broad shoulders perfectly, and his dark hair was cut shorter than when I last video called him, which was a week ago. He'd told me he was going on a two week NGO retreat in a small city in Peru. 

Elena leaned in, glowing. “Isn’t he perfect?”

My fingers shook against my clutch. “That’s… him?”

She nodded happily. “Yes. Ethan Blackwell, my husband.”

My knees nearly gave out. “You…you married him!” I tried to sound cheerful, so she would not suspect anything. The last thing I'd do is spoil Elena's happy day.

“You'll love him. He's so peerct for me.” She smiled again, and then someone card her name. “I'll be right back.”

I stayed rooted to the spot as she walked away in a shimmer of white. Everything was suddenly too loud.

Ethan looked up then, our eyes met and he froze.

For one suspended second, the noise vanished, and it was just me and him, and the crushing realization that he'd been lying to me. That he'd been cheating on me, with my best friend.

He moved toward me. I spun around and walked as fast as my legs could carry me. My palms were sweating and I wiped them on my dress.

“Sarra, wait…” Ethan called out. 

But I didn't stop. I kept moving, ducking past a waiter and through a hedge or roses until I reached the patio at the back that overlooked the ocean.

Ethan joined me a few seconds later, fidling with his tie. He reached for my wrist.

“Don’t,” I hissed, pulling my hand free.

“I can explain,” he rushed out. His tie was loose, and he looked like he wanted to cry. “My parents—”

“You’re marrying my best friend.” My throat cracked painfully. “That’s the explanation?”

Ethan tried again. “I didn't want this, I swear. My parents pushed me into it. It's business, you know.” He took a step closer, “you're the one I love.”

A bitter laugh ripped from me. “You love me? You told me you'll be gone for two weeks because you have an NGO retreat in Peru. I guess I'm in Peru, now right?”

His hands spread, like he was begging me to listen. “God, you don’t know how hard this has been.”

“Hard?” I snapped. “Try coming home to this. To find out my boyfriend is marrying my best friend. Fuck you.”

He threw his hands up in the air. “I did not tell you because I didn't want to lose you, Sarra.” 

Pain stabbed through my heart and I sniffled, struggling not to cry in front of this man. “Do you hear yourself? So what place will I have in your life? A mistress?”

“Sarra, please, don't leave me. I love you, I promise.” Ethan reached for my hand again, but I shoved past him.

“Fuck you.” I half yelled as I walked angrily through the stone path. My heels were beginning to hurt, and I bent down and removed them, carrying them in one hand.

The patio ended where the beach began. My bare feet on the cool stone made me feel a little better, before sinking into the sand.

I ran to the shore where the waves rushed up to sting my ankles. Behind me, the estate lights glowed. 

My eyes stung with tears and I swiped them away, furious at myself. The sand pulled at my feet, slowing me. I muttered under my breath, “Idiot. Idiot.”

My purse slipped and my phone fell into the sand..I bent down to pick it up, but when I stood, I slammed headfirst into something solid.

It was a chest. A hard, warm, tattooed chest, peeking through a white tux.

“Oh, God!” I stumbled back quickly. My phone dropped again but before it touched the ground, a hand shot out and caught it.

“Careful,” a man’s voice said, and I looked up.

The man before me was wickedly handsome. I found myself wanting to reach out and run a hand through his dark hair which was slightly messy like he'd run his hand through it too many times.

His tie was undone, and his shirt open three buttons down so it was easy to see the ink on his chest, and his smile… it was ever the same.

Ronan Vale. Elena’s brother, who was the bad boy of Hollywood. He was a famous actor featured in movies that made billions whose name was splashed across every gossip site, for affairs, fights, parties,. And I hated him.

You see, Ronan Vale had been my bully back in highschool.

He dangled my phone between two fingers. “Well, well…” His smirk widened as he let his eyes drag from my bare feet to my silk dress, then back to my face. “The nerd grew up.”