All Chapters of Dodged a Lifetime Disaster: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

I looked around the house I'd decked out for after the wedding—hearts, ribbons, all of it—and it suddenly felt like a joke.I used to think it needed more. Now it all just looked cruel.I chased him for two years in college. Dated him for three. Our wedding was supposed to be tomorrow.And I'd just found out he hooked up with Cassie—my best friend—three years ago. Their kid's already two.The betrayal hit like a wrecking ball.I swallowed the tears. I just needed to get out of that suffocating place.My phone buzzed."Arya, Cassie's tied up with the kid and hasn't eaten. I haven't either. Bring us some food," Luke said like he was giving orders—then hung up before I could even breathe.I forced a tight smile. It burned.Cassie's pregnancy was rough. From the first trimester to Lucas turning two, I handled everything. As her best friend and his godmother, I thought I was doing the right thing.Every time she dodged questions about the dad, I felt bad for her.Never crossed my

Chapter 2

My smile snapped in place. This two-year-old—who could barely string a sentence together—just called me a homewrecker.Cassie shot me a quick look, then fake-scolded him."Lucas, what are you saying? She's your godmother! She's always loved you the most."Luke quickly covered the kid's ears. "Cassie, don't yell at him. He's just a kid. Arya's gonna be my wife—she won't take it to heart."I gave a tight, bitter smile, sitting there like some outsider crashing their perfect little family. "His wife"? That felt like a joke.Never heard a toddler say 'homewrecker' so clearly before.Lucas—Luke + Cassie. Took me this long to realize what his name actually meant.Luke didn't even flinch. Tried to hand the kid to me like nothing happened.I stepped back. "Enough. I'm leaving."Luke grabbed my wrist. "Arya, you're free now. Might as well start getting used to taking care of a kid."I let out a cold, dry laugh. "I might be dumb, but I'm not insane. Why would I raise your side chick's

Chapter 3

The tears finally came.I couldn't hold them back. I broke down, full-on sobbing.Luke just stood there, frozen. Then he grabbed my face, made me look at him.Like he was offering some big favor, he said, "I'll stay with you a few days a week, then go back to take care of Lucas. That cool?"When I didn't answer, he sighed hard. "Arya, this is the best I can do. Can you stop being so unreasonable?"I took a deep breath, forcing the sobs down."That's too much. Just thinking about it drains me. We're done, Luke. Go be with her and Lucas. How I'm doing? Not your problem anymore."He grabbed my shoulder, thinking I was just being dramatic. "Are you serious?"I didn't say a word. Just turned to get in the car.Then he shoved me—hard. "So that's it? Dropping the act now? Gonna throw your rich girl tantrum?"My head slammed into the car roof. I lost my balance and hit the ground.Luke didn't even flinch. Just shot me a bitter look and walked off.At some point, Cassie showed up. B

Chapter 4

Luke called out of nowhere."Wanna hang? Cassie just put Lucas to bed."He never shopped with me, never just hung out. This had to be his version of a grand gesture. Maybe guilt finally pushed him to throw me a pity favor.I was seconds from hanging up when I heard her in the background—flirty, smug."It's so late and you're still sweet-talking your princess? I'm beat. Come rub my shoulders. It's your fault—I'm handling the kid and you."Luke cut in fast. "Alright, next time," then hung up.The call cut off, leaving a nasty pit in my chest.If I'd just shut it down—stopped them from getting close—maybe none of this would've happened.The next day, the wedding was officially off. Luke set up a class reunion. I went, thinking maybe it'd be my final goodbye to this trainwreck.People were mingling, chatting like nothing happened. Then they spotted Cassie holding Lucas, and someone piped up—loud on purpose:"Cassie's got a kid? When'd you get married? We didn't hear a thing.""W

Chapter 5

Right by the door, I spotted someone I knew. Our eyes locked.He saw my swollen face, and his jaw tightened.Without a word, he scooped me up, set me in the passenger seat, and buckled me in."I'm taking you home."I watched his hands on the wheel, then blurted, "Brandon Beaumont, marry me."He froze. His eyes lit up, all shock and hope. Then he pulled me close, gentle like I might vanish. His hands were sweaty."Arya... I've been waiting forever."We were childhood friends. If Luke hadn't shown up, I probably would've married Brandon ages ago.After we got back, Brandon stuck around like he didn't wanna leave—but eventually, he did.I stood in the place Luke and I had set up for our future and let out this dry, bitter laugh.I'd loved him forever. Waited forever. One more day and we would've been married.But honestly? Dodged a bullet—a full-blown lifetime disaster.I slipped off the ring, tossed it in a drawer, grabbed everything that was mine, blocked Luke's number, and

Chapter 6

Brandon and I grew up side by side—he knew me inside out.The wedding he pulled off? Totally nailed it. Every detail screamed me.He stood there in a sleek suit.I rocked a black wedding dress with a five-meter train, custom-made by some top-tier designer, according to Brandon.It wasn't just a dress—it was his way of saying I'd always be his queen.Right as Brandon and I linked arms, ready to say our vows, Luke barged into view."Arya, I was only gone for a few days and you're already getting hitched?"His eyes zeroed in on my hand holding Brandon's."I don't even care about your mood swings anymore. I cut Cassie and Lucas out. Just drop him and I'll marry you right now."I shut my eyes. Didn't flinch.That set him off. "Arya Addington! Are you deaf? I said come with me!"He lunged, reaching for my wrist.Brandon had enough. He decked Luke—hard.Luke staggered, blood already dripping from his lip.He swung back, but Brandon dropped him with a sharp kick.Brandon stood o

Chapter 7

Luke's eyes flickered, but he stayed stubborn. "I messed up, okay? Same mistake every guy makes. I won't do it again. Once the kid's in school and things calm down, I'll cut Cassie off for good."I laughed—cold and silent. Luke always had a fallback excuse.I gave the officiant a nod to keep going.Panic kicked in Luke. "Arya, just admit it—you're marrying him to get back at me, aren't you?"Before I could answer, Brandon shot him a look like he was staring at roadkill."Thought I beat the fear into you back in school. Didn't think you'd actually show, just 'cause you got the address."***Luke froze. Flashbacks hit hard.Back then, random guys would jump him almost daily. He never saw who sent them.Every time, the warning was the same: 'Arya's mine. Keep showing up with her, and I'll wreck you.'He was always covered in bruises. Even ended up in the hospital more than once.Dating Arya had terrified him—no matter how much he tried to act tough.Now, staring down the guy w

Chapter 8

Luke came to in his own bed, voices buzzing around him.Paulina rushed in. "Luke, you seriously tried to throw your life away over her? If you're gone, what happens to me, your dad, and Lucas?"He winced, barely awake. "Cassie said she'd handle Lucas herself. Why's that suddenly my problem?"Paulina just stared at his dad, totally out of moves.His dad cleared his throat. "Luke... your kid's two now. We talked to Cassie's dad. Everyone thinks it's time you step up and marry her. Let's just get this sorted. We're regular folks—keep it simple."Luke shot up, eyes locked on Cassie. "Say something! You were Arya's best friend—how the hell could you agree to marry me?"Don't forget who begged for comfort that night, then crawled into my bed."You got pregnant, said ending it would mess you up, and swore you'd keep it from Arya and raise him alone."That's the only reason I went along. Now you're trying to replace her?"Cassie clutched the baby, voice shaking as she faced her dad an

Chapter 9

Six months after the wedding, I found out I was pregnant.Brandon dropped everything and sped home.Said he had to get me something special—wouldn't take no for an answer. I just smiled and rolled with it.But the second we stepped out, there was Luke.Sitting on the steps, head down like a statue.I grabbed Brandon's arm and kept walking, eyes straight ahead.Luke looked up, eyes full of something messy, but stayed quiet.We took off, hit the mall hard, even snagged a vacation house."This place'll be our secret base once the baby's bigger," Brandon said.My heart just melted.When we got back, Luke hadn't moved—same steps, same slouch.This time, he looked up. "Arya, is there really no chance for us?"His eyes were bloodshot. I didn't even flinch—just walked right past. That's when panic kicked in."It was all my fault," he blurted. "Cassie only got close to you because she liked me. She was playing us. I messed up. I never meant to marry her."Next thing I knew, he was

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