Chapter 1

"Zach, what do you think of this ring?"

I watched as my sister, Mia Shaw, picked out a pair of gold rings from the display case.

My boyfriend, Zach Young, held out his hand with a shy smile. "Why don't we try them on and find out?"

But I remembered the last time I'd brought Zach shopping for rings. He'd been upset for days afterward.

He told me his parents had once gotten into a fight over a ring. The argument ended in a car accident that killed them both. Ever since then, rings had brought back painful memories, which was why he'd refused to wear one with me.

I'd believed every word. I'd even started thinking of other things we could use instead of rings.

And yet now, Zach let Mia slide one onto his finger, looking almost bashful as she did.

A strange emptiness opened up inside me.

So that supposed childhood trauma had only ever been an excuse to reject me.

I slowly backed away and watched them hold hands as they slipped rings onto each other's fingers.

Then I took out my phone and called Zach, shattering the intimate moment between them.

He motioned for everyone to stay quiet before answering.

"Where are you?"

His voice was gentle. "At work, of course."

I gave a bitter little smile. "Oh. I thought maybe you'd snuck off on a date with Mia."

Zach stiffened for a split second.

"Of course not. I already told you, I only went along with those dates because I had no choice.

"All we ever did was have dinner so she'd calm down. You're the only one I love. Why would I meet her behind your back?"

He delivered the lie without so much as batting an eye.

I didn't even know when lying had become so effortless for him. He sounded completely sincere.

Now I couldn't tell which of his words had ever been true and which had been lies.

Just then, Mia mischievously leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Zach didn't push her away. Instead, he gave her a smiling sideways glance before speaking to me again.

"All right, I have to go. I've got important work to finish. Text me what you want for dinner, and I'll bring it home tonight."

He hurriedly ended the call, then reached for Mia's hand again.

All these years, the only thing that had kept me going was the little bit of love I believed Zach still had for me.

But apparently, even that had been a lie.

If that was all his love amounted to, I didn't want it anymore.

I called my supervisor.

"I already bought my ticket. I'll report for duty on time."

I accepted the transfer.

I would leave this place and let them have their happy little family.

They staggered their arrival times and came home one after another.