Chapter 1

After borrowing money from my best friend to cover Dad's surgery, I had just $2.50 left to my name.

It was only the seventh, and payday was still eight days away.

I hadn't always been this broke. But after I started dating Sean, my expenses shot up.

He liked dining at restaurants where dinner cost at least $70 per person, and he insisted on living in an upscale downtown apartment.

Even though I made a good salary, paying half of those expenses quickly left me strapped for cash.

If Dad hadn't given me the money he'd saved for my wedding ahead of time, I probably wouldn't have been able to scrape together enough for his surgery at all.

I was still thinking about it when my phone suddenly rang.

"Ms. Zane, the final payment on your wedding gown is due today. Your fiancé only paid his half and told us to collect the rest from you. How would you like to settle?"

I thought about Sean's messages, then about the $2.50 left in my account.

Trying not to sound as desperate as I felt, I asked, "If I don't make the final payment, can I get my deposit back?"

There was a two-second pause on the other end.

"Normally, deposits are nonrefundable. But as it happens, another customer asked about that same gown half an hour ago. So if you're sure you want to cancel, we can process a full refund of your deposit."

The deposit had been $1,400. Even after setting aside Sean's $700 share, what remained would be enough to get me through to payday.

When the sales associate told me I had to come in person to process the refund, I immediately took the hour-long bus ride to the bridal boutique.

The moment I stepped inside, I heard a familiar voice.

"That gown really suits you."

I looked up.

I looked up and saw Sean standing there in a white suit. Beside him was Summer Ford, a younger acquaintance of his from college, wearing a wedding gown.

And by some coincidence, of all the dresses in the store, Summer was wearing the exact one I had come to cancel.