PROLOGUE: ALYSSA'S POV

I had read countless books about sneaky sisters and cheating exes.

Who would have thought it would happen to me? I was twenty-six, thinking my life finally made sense.

But this…

This moment tore everything apart.

We were on the lower floor of Conner's company and everything happened because Clara had spilled scalding hot coffee on herself and blamed me.

I tried to explain but my so-called fiancé gave me a big shock.

“You are so disgusting Alyssa! I gave you everything but yet you are so greedy.” Conner spat out, every word stabbed my heart.

“Conner, I-” My words were stopped instantly.

“Shut up Alyssa! Don't you dare call my name. You should be grateful for Clara, she's even pleading for you! I should ruin you right now.” He raised his voice.

I stepped back.

I had dated Conner for three years and he never looked nor talked to me in such a way, especially not in front of all these people.

My time, my life, my modelling career, I left it all to work as his consultant. I handled his projects. I built his company with my negotiating skills. I did the dirty work while he rested.

Why was he doing this? This wasn't what he promised me.

“Conner, don't you see? Clara’s manipulating you. She's lying, and that's what she's been doing since she got here. Clara wants to make me look bad.” I tried to explain to him.

Clara hid behind Conner, sniffing and tearing up but I could see the smirk on that sneaky face.

This was how she convinced our parents to hate me, using the same script. It was the same thing all over again, in front of these people.

Connor was the light in my darkness. He was my pillar, my first love. I couldn't let him go.

“Conner, please listen to me.”

The slap came fast, and my vision blurred before I hit the ground.

“You vengeful piece of…” Conner stopped himself, then he crouched to my level.

His fingers dug into my cheeks and it burned.

“Listen yourself Alyssa. You sound insane. I want nothing to do with you. You always rubbed yourself on me, so I had no choice but to humor you." He said.

"But I'm done now! Take this as a warning. Stay very far away from me and Clara.”

My eyes welled up. I couldn't believe how foolish I was.

But no words left my lips.

I watched Conner hold Clara by the waist, something he had never done to me, and that was bare minimum.

“There's no place for you in my heart Alyssa. It will only belong to Clara. You can and will never compare to her.”

And then he walked out.

Just like that.

Out of my life.

Out of my feelings.

Out of the future I thought we had.

I had been blind. It was obvious. The calls, the late nights, the absence. Clara's sudden sweetness.

I laughed. It was funny how I had been played and sad that I thought there was a chance.

*****

“Hey Kate. Are you there please?” My voice was shaky when I called my best friend in the whole world.

“Oh my gosh, Alyssa. Why do you sound like that? Tell me where you are right now, I'm coming now.”

This was why I loved her.

And why I hated myself now.

Kate had warned me but I didn't listen.

I waited and a car pulled up. Kate walked out in the snow, and wrapped me inside her arms.

“My baby. Don't cry for that man! He's going to pay and you'd be the one to serve it.”