Chapter 1

My father's funeral was stark and simple, just as he had wanted.

I moved through the motions and greeted the attendees like a robot, hoping the bustle would dull the ache in my chest.

But on this day of all days, Blake Cole, the man who was supposed to be my partner, never showed up.

My dad, Alex Holmes, had spent his final years fretting over my happiness. Now I could handle the rest, and he could rest in peace.

The attendees whispered to each other, looking at me with pity.

"Kate's father is gone, but her fiancé doesn't even show? What kind of man does that?"

"No respect and no decency. What kind of family raises a guy like that?"

"Bet he's off playing house with someone else. Shameless!"

My friends' faces were flushed with indignation, and a few spat on the ground in disgust.

I shook my head but made no moves to stop them.

Shame was nothing new to me and my family. I had been used to it.

By now, Blake was wrapped up in his fairy-tale wedding with his first love, Megan Burns, and had no time to say goodbye to my father.

His heart had long since drifted, so requesting his presence was meaningless.

In fact, we were better off without him. I didn't want him to appear and taint the memorial.

As the coffin was lowered into the earth, the weight of loss crushed me. The man who'd loved me unconditionally was gone.

Staring at his photo on the tombstone, I couldn't hold it together any longer. My knees hit the cold ground, and a wail tore from my throat, raw and unstoppable.

It was all my fault that he had left the world with regrets.

Drained and hollow, I sent Blake a text.

[It's over. My dad is gone.]

There was no reply.

I presumed he was toasting champagne as the world's happiest groom or tangled up in Megan's arms.

I bet he wouldn't care even if he saw my message. I just had never mattered to him.

But it didn't matter anymore.

From now on, I creased caring about him. He was just another stranger to me.

When I dragged myself home, my phone buzzed with a video from Megan.

The screen glowed with a romantic wedding venue. She clung to Blake sweetly, and they kissed as the crowd cheered.

Blake's usually icy face somehow softened with a shy, contented smile that I had never earned.

It turned out he could smile. It was just not for me.

A guest's voice cut through the noise. "Blake, who's the better catch, Megan or that deadweight ex of yours?"

Blake smirked, his tone dripping with disdain. "Megan, hands down. Don't mention that woman. Being with her was the worst mistake of my life. She makes my skin crawl."

Laughter erupted, cruel and mocking.

Megan, grinning, pointed at the camera. "Why don't you send this to her? Let her see how happy we are."

Blake nodded. "Her dad is ill, but I bet he's faking it to ruin my wedding. What a pain!"

My hands trembled, the phone nearly slipping from my grip. I gritted my teeth, fighting to keep my emotions from spiraling.

His words were harsh. Obviously, he had no respect for Alex or me at all.

I couldn't believe someone in this world could be so callous.

Clinging to a fading hope, I dialed his number. It rang unanswered, again and again, until Megan's voice purred through the line. "Blake is in the shower. He's exhausted from the long day. You get it, right?"

I hung up without a word. Then I cursed the pair of cheaters.