Chapter 1

They shoved me into the bedroom, and my knee smashed into the bed frame.

Before I could catch myself, the door slammed shut.

I just stood there.

There was some noise outside, then the party kicked right back up.

They kept me locked in there from noon until dark.

Nobody opened the door.

Nobody even checked on me.

I yelled until my voice gave out.

Then all I could do was lean against the door and slide to the floor, listening as the voices outside slowly died down.

My head finally started to clear.

When the apartment went quiet, the door opened.

I braced myself against the bed and got up, my legs numb.

My parents came in first, with Juliet and Paul right behind them.

Mom's eyes were red, like this hurt her too.

"Noah, here's the deal. Remember those medical tests you and Juliet took before you planned to get married?"

"We saw the results. The doctor said you had a low sperm count and probably couldn't have kids."

I went stiff.

Juliet and I had done that screening before we planned to get married.

I never saw the results. Juliet said she'd pick them up, and I didn't think much of it.

Except that wasn't really it.

Everyone else had already made the decision for me.

I looked at Juliet.

"You knew this whole time?"

She dropped her gaze.

Dad kept going.

"Juliet's an only child. This was gonna become a problem sooner or later. If she actually broke up with you, could you handle it?"

Mom jumped in.

"So your dad and I talked it over. We figured Paul and Juliet could get married first and have a baby. Then you could come back, and everything would work out."

My head buzzed.

My lips started trembling.

"A-Are you guys insane?"

Paul stepped forward, eyes red, his voice low.

"Noah, your parents are just worried about you. I've been on my own for years, and your family's basically become mine. If this is what it takes to help you keep Juliet, I'll do it."

He looked at Juliet, his gaze soft and warm.

"Besides, she's already pregnant."

My gaze dropped to the slight bump under her clothes.

"You're seriously having his baby?"

She didn't say a word.

Everything went black. My chest tightened until I could barely breathe.

Then I hit the floor.

When I came to, the apartment was dark.

I grabbed my phone. The second the screen lit up, notifications blew up.

Missed calls. Texts from coworkers. Over a hundred messages in the group chat.

I opened them.

At first, everyone wanted to know why Juliet had suddenly married Paul.

Then the comments took a turn.

[OMG, the couple I've been shipping is finally together! She's mature, he's sweet, and they're literally perfect. Obsessed!]

[Right? Paul's such a sweetheart. Who wouldn't want him? Unlike some people who have a temper and live for drama.]

I kept scrolling until another comment stopped me.

[Remember when Juliet worked late and he still made her pick him up from a bar? Like, seriously?]

[For real. Dude deserved to get dumped.]

I stared at the comments, my fingers going cold.

That night, Juliet had insisted on knowing where I was.

I'd told her not to come. It was too late.

She got upset and came anyway.

But somehow, I was the jerk in their version.

My chest tightened as I typed:

[You guys all knew?]

The second I sent it, the group chat went dead.

Then they kicked me out.

No explanation. Nothing.

I sat on the edge of the bed and let out a bitter laugh.

So it wasn't just my parents and Juliet.

My friends and coworkers had been lying to me too.

I got up and started packing.

I was done with this place.