Chapter 1

My class group chat was still blowing up with messages telling me to show some grace.

Then my advisor, Sean Holland, called me directly. "Olivia, take my advice. Don't go ruining their big day."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced out a question. "Jarrett and I have been together for four years. What was all that to him?"

Sean sighed, his tone dripping with disappointment. "Why are you being so stubborn? Sienna started working before she even finished middle school just to pay Jarrett's tuition. Do you have any idea how hard she's had it?

"You come from a good family and have a great degree. You can find plenty of good men down the road. Why steal from a woman who has nothing? Just show some grace. Don't make a scene. It won't look good on anyone."

My chest throbbed so hard it hurt to breathe. "So everyone knew, except me? You all kept me in the dark like an idiot?"

Sean went silent for a moment. "You've always had a temper. We were afraid you'd throw a fit and ruin the university's reputation, so we didn't tell you. Jarrett is a loyal man. Now that he's made his choice, you should step back gracefully."

With that, he hung up, leaving me sobbing in the middle of a bustling airport terminal.

Before long, the boarding call echoed over the intercom. I let out a bitter laugh and tore the ticket to shreds.

My boyfriend, Jarrett Duke, had booked these two tickets half a month ago. He promised we'd go skydiving, where he would put a ring on my finger 10,000 feet in the air.

Instead, he was slipping a ring onto someone else's finger.

Suddenly desperate for answers, I dialed his number with trembling hands.

Noise flooded through the speaker. Cheering and hollering from our classmates rang in the background.

Jarrett ducked into a quiet corner before answering softly, "Olivia, I'm sorry. I'm having dinner with some old friends, so it's a bit loud."

Even now, he was still lying to my face.

I scoffed and called him out directly. "I saw the Venmo link in the group chat, Jarrett."

The line went dead silent.

Then came a long, weary sigh. "Yeah. I guess you were bound to find out. I'm sorry, okay? But I didn't have a choice. Sienna's health is terrible, and she suffered so much growing up back home. Her only wish in life was to wear a wedding dress.

"It's just a ceremony. We're not legally married. At the end of the day, I'm still yours. Can't you just understand what a tough spot I'm in?"

My eyes widened in disbelief. "You got engaged behind my back, and you expect me to be understanding?"

Noticing my anger, Jarrett softened his tone. "Olivia, you're usually so reasonable. Sienna has nothing. She only has me."

"You have everything. You have a loving grandmother and a bright future. Why hold a petty grudge over a meaningless title? Look, as soon as today is over, I'll take you to Suttonvale tomorrow, okay?"

His casual entitlement felt so utterly alien. It seemed that to him, betraying me was no big deal at all.

Speechless for a beat, I finally responded coldly, "We're done, Jarrett."

Right after I hung up, my roommate, Ava Dixon, sent me a photo.

In it, Jarrett stood in a sharp suit, tenderly slipping a ring onto a woman in a wedding dress.

Then came a long voice message from Ava. "See that, Olivia? That's what real love looks like. You always act like such a high-and-mighty princess. Jarrett was sick of it ages ago.

"Sienna is so gentle she barely speaks above a whisper. How could you ever compete with her? If you're smart, you'll get out of Jarrett's life."