Chapter 002

ALICE

{Days Before The Wedding}

The stadium was alive with the sound of thousands of fans shouting as the hockey game began. I sat in the very front row, holding up a bright cardboard sign to cheer for Dominic. I had arrived early just to secure this exact spot so he could see me. Dominic was a rising national hockey star and the love of my life.

We had been together since our final year of high school. When he first asked me to be his girlfriend, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world, and I had spent every moment since then supporting his dream. Even though the team gave him a professional assistant, he still came to me for advice on big decisions.

"Go Dominic!" I screamed, my voice cutting through the noise. Beside me, my best friend Brea made a face and shook her head.

"Alice, save your voice or you won't be able to speak at your own wedding," Brea said, though she laughed as she lifted her own sign.

"I can't help it," I said, my chest tight with excitement. "I need them to win this game so badly."

"I know, I know, he's your fiancé," Brea muttered, rolling her eyes in a playful way. "Of course you want him to win." She gestured toward the ice with her sign. "But look at Devon. That man looks like a statue carved by a master artist. The genetics on him are just not fair."

I gave her a playful look of mock disgust before turning my attention right back to Dominic. He glided across the ice, moving the puck with total control and speed. For three years, if anyone asked me who the most handsome man alive was, my answer would always be Dominic.

Suddenly, the team took a shot and scored, sending the crowd into a frenzy. I waved my sign high as the players skated around the rink, smiling and waving back at their fans. Dominic's blue eyes found mine for a second, but then his gaze slid past me. He looked toward the other section of the front row, locking eyes with Amber.

Amber was a redhead with striking green eyes and a perfect figure that I had envied since high school. The rumors were that Dominic had dated her briefly, breaking things off just days before he asked me out. Dominic stared at her, a boyish smile spreading across his face.

My stomach twisted into a hard knot, and the sign in my hands went limp. "Why is she even here?" I whispered.

Brea followed my gaze and groaned loudly. "The snake actually showed up," Brea said, crossing her arms. "It’s ridiculous how she gets a front-row seat even when she shows up late. I know her family has money, but it’s totally unfair."

I barely heard what Brea was saying. My eyes stayed glued to Dominic, who couldn't seem to look away from Amber until another player slapped his shoulder to drag him back to reality. The game ended shortly after, but the joy I usually felt was completely gone.

"Alice, look," Brea said, tapping her phone screen. "They're handing out limited-edition team stickers in the main hallway. We have to go get some before they run out."

I forced a smile and let Brea pull me out of the stands toward the exit, taking one last look back at the ice before we left. I tried to tell myself I was overreacting. Dominic told me he loved me every single day. He wanted to spend his life with me. I looked down at the diamond ring on my finger, letting the spark of the stone quiet the doubts in my mind.

The hallway was packed with fans pushing and shoving to get to the table. "Alright, I'm going to have to fight my way through this crowd," Brea said, rollings up her sleeves. "Watch my back."

"You are ridiculous, Brea," I said, laughing for the first time in an hour. "I don't know how we became friends."

"Because we're a team," Brea yelled over her shoulder as she disappeared into the sea of people. I stood against the wall for a few minutes, watching the crowd, but grew restless. I decided to walk down the quieter back hallway toward the locker room to surprise Dominic.

I was walking quickly when Brea’s voice echoed from far behind me, calling my name. I turned my head to look for her and walked straight into a solid chest. The impact knocked me back a step. I looked up and found Devon standing there, a sharp smirk touched his lips as his gray eyes dropped to my hand.

"You should look where you're going," Devon said, his voice flat. "I really don't want to deal with Dominic bunny."

I rolled my eyes and held my hand up, purposely letting the diamond catch the light right in front of his face. It had become a reflex to show it off. "I am not his bunny, Devon. I am his future wife."

Devon looked at the ring with clear distaste before stepping past me. He paused, looking over his shoulder. "If I were you, I’d turn around. The locker room isn't a good place for you right now."

He walked away without waiting for a response. I stared after him for a second, annoyed by his attitude, and ignored the warning completely. I kept walking toward the door, assuming he was just being his usual arrogant self.

As I reached the short entrance to the locker room, the sound of loud laughter filtered through the doorway. It was the normal post-game celebration, the guys teasing each other after a win. But then, I heard my name, and my feet froze to the floor.

"You should have seen Alice's face when you were staring at Amber out there," one of the players jeered, followed by a chorus of laughs. "She looked like she was about to cry right into her cheer sign."

"Leave her alone, Gerald," another voice laughed. "Poor girl really thinks she won the lottery with Dominic."

My chest went completely cold. I crept closer to the edge of the open door, peering through the gap. Dominic was sitting on the bench, stripping off his gear, a wide smirk on his face.

"Seriously, man, when are you going to end the game?" Gerald asked, leaning against a locker. "The wedding is in two days. You can't actually go through with marrying Alice when everyone knows you've been spending your nights with Amber."

Dominic let out a chuckle, shaking his head as he untied his skates. "I'm not ending anything yet. Do you know how much good press this wedding is giving the team? The loyal high school sweetheart story is perfect for my image. Besides, Amber understands the deal. She knows who holds my heart."

"Yeah, well, Amber is going to start showing pretty soon," Gerald said, dropping his voice slightly, though it still reached my ears perfectly. "You can't hide a pregnant mistress forever, Dominic. Especially not from your new wife."

Dominic stood up, tossing his towel onto the bench with a shrug. "I'll handle Alice. She’s quiet, she’s sweet, and she does whatever I say. She won't find out until after the papers are signed, and by then, it won't matter."