When the 99th Chance Was Gone

My husband thought I would never leave him. He was wrong. Ethan Cole proposed to me ninety-nine times before I finally said yes on his hundredth try. So on our wedding night, I gave him ninety-nine make-up cards. Every time he broke a promise, chose someone else over me, or hurt me badly enough to need forgiveness, he could use one. As long as there was still a card left, I promised myself I would give our marriage one more chance. For three years, Ethan never needed them. Then Madeline Avery came back. His childhood best friend. The woman who always needed help. The woman who always needed protecting. And somehow, every time she needed something, I was the one expected to lose it. My time. My opportunities. My career. Ethan never saw it as choosing her over me. In his mind, I was stronger. I could handle disappointment. I could rebuild what I lost. I would always be fine. So he kept using the cards. One after another. By the time he reached number ninety-seven, I had stopped arguing. I stopped asking when he would come home. I stopped reminding him of the promises he had made me. Ethan thought I had finally learned to accept Madeline. He had no idea I was counting down. Two cards left. Two more chances. Then the woman who had forgiven him ninety-nine times would disappear from his life for good. And this time, no apology would bring me back.