Chapter 1

"Jason, marry me!"

The door opened again. Bella Dixon walked in with a bouquet of flowers, dropped to one knee, and held out a box.

When I saw what it was, my breath hitched.

Three years ago, a fire broke out by accident while Bella was decorating my studio for the proposal.

The fire destroyed a lot of things. The wedding dress designs I'd created for her were burned to ashes, and my studio was shut down. Eventually, even blowing out birthday candles was enough to trigger my PTSD.

At my lowest point, she held me day and night, going over our wedding details again and again.

But now that the ring was finally ready, I felt something pressing down on my chest.

I was about to take the box when Jasper Wilder lifted Bella into the air, spun her around, and cheered, "Bella, you won."

A helpless yet tender smile appeared on her face, and she waited for Jasper to stop before handing him the box.

The ring fit Jasper's finger like a glove.

"Jason, this is my payment for treating you!" He raised his hand and deliberately waved it in front of me. "I just made a bet with her. I bet you had at least some self-respect and wouldn't take it.

"But Bella said you love her so much that you'd never pass up the slightest chance to marry her!"

I froze, forcing myself to look at Bella.

She didn't deny it. Instead, she just stood up and straightened Jasper's collar. "Yeah, I won. I need to satisfy your wish. Tell me. What do you want?"

Jasper held her waist tight, his eyes crinkling with a smile. "I want you to help me get the keynote speaker spot at the forum the day after tomorrow. Also, you can't change your mind and take this ring back just because he tries to convince you otherwise."

My mom, Hannah Moore, hurried to reassure him. "This ring was made for you. The fire burned Jason's ring finger. He can't wear it even if he wants to."

Bella nodded with a smile. Then she looked at me, her eyes filled with resignation. "Be good, okay? I'll take you to the mall to get a new one."

My chest tightened, and my vision briefly went black. I stared at Bella, the woman I'd carried out of the fire all those years ago.

"So you deliberately chose my birthday to… surprise me?"

Bella's voice was hoarse and tired. "Jason, it's been three years. We can't have the smell of smoke in the house or anything with an open flame. I'm human too. I need things like this to unwind and relax."

Mom rubbed her back gently, looking pained.

Jasper let out an exaggerated sigh. "Jason, after all these years in the field, I hate patients like you who fake being sick. You keep saying you're ill, but I tested you today. Someone who's really sick wouldn't have been able to hold out."

He pointed at the burn scars on my face with his ringed finger.

I instinctively covered my face, but Bella thought I was about to hurt him and immediately stepped in front of him.

"Enough! Jasper deliberately returned from overseas to treat your illness. He doesn't owe you anything."

Mom rushed over too and slapped me across the face, sending my head snapping to the side. "Apologize to him!" She gripped my injured palm hard and yanked me forward.

I lowered my head and looked at her hands.

Those were the same hands that had held mine as we crossed the road, packed my school bags, and made me my favorite meal.

When I fell sick and my dad, Liam Frost, passed away, all the guilt she’d felt toward me shifted over to the smooth-talking Jasper instead.

"Mom…" I called out to her, my voice raspy.