Chapter 1

Everyone in the hospital room understood exactly what I meant when I said I wasn't marrying Layne Harper.

My parents glanced at Layne, then at me, and simply sighed. "Maybe that's for the best. A clean break is better."

It had been ten years. It was time to end it.

I exchanged a silent look with Layne, signaling for us to step out into the hall.

He followed behind me. For the first time that night, he took off his earbud, smiling as he ruffled my hair.

"Aleah, thanks for being so understanding. Things are different now. A marriage certificate doesn't mean much. We should stand our ground, not give in just because your grandpa wants us to get married. Besides, aren't we happy like this?"

Layne's voice was gentle, but it cut through me like a blade.

Two years ago, Ruby's parents were abducted and killed after saving the Harper family. Since then, she'd developed severe separation anxiety.

That was when she quietly started becoming a constant presence in our lives.

Layne spent 18 hours a day on the phone with her.

On my birthday, he stayed on a call, coaxing Ruby to eat.

On our anniversary, one call from her was enough to drag him away to fix her plumbing.

The day before Grandpa was declared critical, he went to her school to drive off a suitor who had been harassing her.

I had screamed at him more times than I could count. At my breaking point, I once broke down in tears and asked, "Layne, will you only truly belong to me if we get married? Then let's get married…"

His eyes had turned red. He held me, thinking it over, but he couldn't give me the answer I wanted. "Aren't we already happy like this?"

Now, hearing those same words again, I didn't even have the strength to argue.

I looked at him. "Layne, let's end—"

A sudden wave of nausea hit me. My stomach twisted violently, and my whole body shook.

Layne rushed forward to steady me. "What's wrong? Your stomach acting up again?"

With practiced ease, he took out my stomach medicine from his pocket and brought over a cup of warm water, gently helping me take the pills.

As his hand rested on my forehead, his eyes were filled with concern. "Every time you get upset, your stomach flares up. I used to bring you medicine back in high school. It's been years, and I'm still carrying it for you. What would you do without me?"

Tears slipped down before I could stop them.

Yeah.

For ten years, every time my stomach acted up, Layne was the one who showed up with medicine. No matter how busy he was, he always came right away.

I'd grown used to having him around and relying on him. What would I do without him?

A flicker of hope rose in my chest. I hung up Ruby's call and said hoarsely, "Layne, cut ties with her. Let's get married."

Layne frowned, irritation flashing in his eyes as if I were being unreasonable. "What are you doing? I just got Ruby to sleep. She can't be left alone for a second. What if something happens?"

He reached for his phone to call her back.

Unwilling to let ten years go to waste, I snatched it from his hand. My eyes burned as I forced out the strongest words I'd ever said, "Layne, if you contact her one more time, we're done."

Layne froze, a flicker of complex emotions crossing his eyes as he started to speak.

Then, Ruby's call came through again. Her soft, tearful sobs filled the line.

He turned his back to me and gently comforted her.

Only after her crying finally stopped did he rub his temples in exhaustion.