Chapter 2

I'd heard that line from Imogen countless times.

But what exactly did she expect me to do? Did she want me to pretend none of it had happened?

"Callum's still young," she said, completely unfazed. "What's wrong with giving him a little extra attention? And stop turning everything into an argument. It was just a wedding. I'll make it up to you next time, okay?"

"Right." I shook my head bitterly. "So our wedding wasn't as important as Callum's upset stomach."

"It wasn't about his stomach," she retorted. "He had no one else to look after him, and I was worried something might happen to him if I left him alone."

She said it as though that explanation alone should've been enough to make things right.

But Callum had become indispensable to Imogen a long time ago. Whenever she felt lonely, she called him. Whenever something good happened, he was the first person she wanted to tell. Whenever she was upset, he was the one she turned to.

She was always saying, "Callum can't manage without me."

No wonder he'd grown so comfortable inserting himself into our relationship.

"So you knew my parents would both be at the wedding and that they both had heart problems, but you still chose not to come."

My voice tightened, my tone laced with reproach.

"Did you ever stop to think about what might happen if the shock was too much for them?"

Imogen froze for several seconds before asking, almost hesitantly, "Are Mr. and Mrs. Beckett okay?"

"Worry about yourself," I snapped, tossing the remark over my shoulder as I headed for the door.

"Jonas, wait!"

She got up and hurried after me. Before she could say anything else, Callum caught her by the arm.

"Immy, don't you see what he's doing?" he asked, glancing at me with a faint, mocking smile. "He's trying to guilt-trip you into staying. And I've known for a long time that his parents aren't exactly innocent. They'd do anything to get you to marry him. They even—"

I didn't let him finish. I clenched my fist and crossed the room in an instant, landing a punch squarely in his face.

The impact made Callum's eyes widen. He stared at me in shock, a dark bruise already forming around his eye as blood trickled down his nose.

"Jonas, did I hit a nerve?" he shouted. "Is that why you're freaking out?"

Imogen couldn't bear it anymore. She rushed forward and wedged herself between us, shielding Callum with her body.

"Jonas, you've completely lost your mind!" she screamed, her face twisting with anger. "What the hell are you trying to do?"

If this had happened in the past, I would've listened to her without question. For seven years, I'd done everything I could to keep her happy.

But now, that version of me was gone. I grabbed the nearest chair and raised it over my head, ready to bring it down on Callum.

I actually wanted to hurt him badly enough that he might never get back up.

"Jonas, if you're going to hit him, you'll have to hit me first!"

Imogen spread her arms, standing firmly between us.

I stared at her, unable to believe this was what we'd become after seven years together.

"Am I wrong, though?" Callum shouted, his voice shrill. "If your parents hadn't dragged Immy around to pick out wedding dresses, bought her an expensive diamond ring, and even pretended to be sick just to pressure her into marrying you, do you honestly think she'd have said yes?"

My eyes never left Imogen as I lowered the chair.

"Is that what you think too?"

She looked away and didn't say a word.

My heart sank.

And for the first time, I understood the suffering Mom had gone through.

A month earlier, she'd suddenly developed severe heart palpitations and had barely made it to the hospital in time. After that, she seemed to have a feeling that she didn't have much time left.

There was only one thing she wanted before she died—to see me marry Imogen. Only then could she rest in peace.

To fulfill Mom's wish, I'd spent an entire day and night kneeling outside the Steele family's house, begging Imogen to agree.

Eventually, she reluctantly said yes.

Mom and Dad had always told me that their greatest wish was to see their children start families of their own and spend their later years surrounded by children and grandchildren.

They'd spent their entire life's savings to make our wedding happen. They had me take Imogen shopping for the most beautiful wedding dresses in town and buy the most expensive diamond ring they could afford.

But when the day finally came, Imogen didn't even show up.

Realization finally dawned on me. To her, none of us had ever mattered.