Chapter 1

Raven's POV

When I arrived at the wedding venue using the location pin, Jesse Culver was slipping a wedding ring onto Nicki Jones' finger.

It was the diamond ring I'd taken to a shrine, where I'd knelt and prayed fervently for a blessing. The priest had told me it would protect our love and ensure we'd stay together for the rest of our lives.

Jesse had playfully tapped my nose and called me silly. "Of course, it will. I'll love you for the rest of my life."

It turned out his idea of the rest of his life had been painfully short.

The moment Jesse saw me, the ring slipped from his hand and fell to the floor with a sharp crack.

He asked, "Raven, what are you doing here?"

With everyone watching, I slowly made my way onto the stage.

Before Jesse could react, I slapped him hard across the face. "Why can't I be here? Were you afraid I'd ruin your big day?"

Jesse's head snapped to the side from the blow. He reached for my hand.

He pleaded, "Wait until I get home and explain. It's not what you think..."

"I want an explanation right now!" I screamed, my voice raw.

The next moment, Nicki let out a cold laugh beside him. "Raven, you're seriously pathetic. I've taken both of your men away from you, and all you ever do is cry like an idiot and demand an explanation. But you really do have great taste. I happen to like both of the men you chose."

Her mocking laughter dragged me back to five years ago.

I'd caught her in bed with my then-husband, Dave Grossman. The shock had triggered complications with my pregnancy, and my amniotic fluid had streamed down my legs onto the floor.

She had laughed at me then, too. "It was only one night. I'll give him back when I'm done with him."

A tidal wave of emotions crashed over me.

Suddenly, my dad, Chris Lillard, stormed up from the audience with a livid expression. "You're just like your mother! They're in love. Why are you standing here crying and making a scene?"

He had cheated on my mom, Rebecca Muller, years ago. Then, he'd abandoned both of us. He'd said those exact same words that angered Mom so much that she fell seriously ill.

My friends chimed in one after another.

"They held the wedding in secret because they were trying to spare your feelings. The least you can do is appreciate that."

"You can't use your depression to hold Jesse back for the rest of his life. That's not fair to either of them."

My vision kept going dark intermittently. Jesse grabbed me and forced me to stay upright.

He said, "Rae, it's just a wedding. Every time I thought about the fact that Dave had once married you, it tore me apart. Just think of this as us calling it even. Go home and take some time to calm down. I'll come back later."

Dazed and numb, I turned around.

The wedding march began playing again. It was as if I were the unreasonable villain who had barged in and ruined a family's happiest moment.

Once I stepped outside, I looked back at the wedding venue one last time.

Then, I sent my supervisor a confirmation message. "I'd like to join the overseas research project."