Chapter One

Sitting in front of a pew during a funeral had always scared me because of how personal the loss felt.

I remembered watching a schoolgirl sit in the front pew during her father’s burial months ago. I remembered feeling sorry for her as she bawled her eyes out. What I couldn’t have imagined was becoming that girl a few months later.

It was a nightmare. It had to be. But no matter how many times I blinked or pinched my arm, I wouldn’t wake up. Instead, I was still sitting in the front pew, surrounded by pitying stares from friends and business associates, yet none of it made sense.

The only thing that made sense was the large portrait of my mother positioned in front of the casket. Her warm smile seemed to mock me, a cruel reminder of what I had lost.

I refused to believe she was the person inside that casket. It didn’t make any sense. One moment, she had been there with me, and the next, she was gone.

I scanned the crowd, meeting the pity-filled stares of those around me. Some faces were familiar, while others were complete strangers, but they all wore the same sympathetic expression. Yet, despite being surrounded by people, I felt utterly alone. I had no family, no true friend to lean on.

My phone lay in my lap, my boyfriend’s message a constant reminder of his absence.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it, princess. My dad gave me a shitload of work to do, but I’ll make it up to you. Be strong for me, love.”

His words brought me a fleeting sense of comfort, and despite everything, a faint smile touched my lips. At least Ethan was thinking about me, even though he couldn’t be here. I understood. I knew how demanding his father could be, especially since Ethan was being groomed to take over as CEO of the family company.

Between the sad smiles, gentle squeezes on my shoulders, and endless words of comfort, the rest of the funeral passed in a blur. Eventually, the casket was lowered into the ground in our backyard.

I stood there for what felt like hours, unable to move. Slowly, the crowd dispersed until I was completely alone. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the empty yard, and only then did I force myself back into the house.

Silent. Hollow. Empty.

The house was everything I felt inside. Unable to stand on my own two feet any longer, my knees buckled beneath me, and I collapsed onto the floor. I hugged my knees to my chest, and the first tear since that dreadful night finally rolled down my cheek.

How I had managed to hold back my tears for so long was a mystery even to me, but after that first tear, I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to. It felt as though my heart was being ripped apart as I wept for the loss of my mother. My best friend. The only family I had.

The pain was unbearable, and I knew I had to leave the house before it swallowed me whole. With shaky legs, I forced myself upright and ran out of the house, one destination in mind.

I needed Ethan. I couldn’t do this alone. I couldn’t spend another second in that house when everything reminded me of my mother and her scent still lingered in every room.

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. My lungs burned, my limbs protested, and every breath felt harder than the last, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. None of the physical pain compared to the unbearable ache in my chest.

I needed him.

I ran faster, stopping only when the tall roof of his house came into view. I collapsed beside the front door, gasping for breath. After a few seconds, I forced myself upright and walked inside.

I didn’t need a mirror to know I looked terrible, but Ethan wouldn’t care. He had seen me at my worst before and had always stayed by my side. At least, that was what I believed.

He was probably still busy with work, but I couldn’t stay away from him any longer. I felt like I was losing my mind. After what seemed like an eternity, though it had only been a few minutes, I took a deep breath and knocked.

The door opened, revealing Sandra, the family’s longtime maid.

“Oh, dear child.” She placed a hand over her chest, her expression immediately turning sympathetic.

There it was again. That same look I had received from everyone all day.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Where’s Ethan?” My voice sounded hoarse, almost unfamiliar to my own ears.

“I think he’s in his room. Do you need—”

Before she could finish, I was already climbing the spiral staircase. All I wanted was to disappear into my boyfriend’s arms and forget everything that had happened.

I reached the hallway leading to his room when a faint sound stopped me in my tracks. My mind immediately rebelled against what I was hearing.

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, hoping I was imagining it.

Then I heard Ethan’s voice.

My entire body went still, and my heart began pounding violently against my ribs. I shook my head, refusing to believe what was happening as I slowly approached his bedroom.

The door was slightly open. I pushed it wider, and the scene before me shattered whatever remained of my already broken heart.

Ethan was with another woman.

For a few seconds, I simply stood there, frozen. If anyone had told me I would find him betraying me like this, I would have called them a liar. But there he was, my boyfriend of four years, the man I had trusted more than anyone.

He was cheating on me.

They were so absorbed in what they were doing that they didn’t notice me until a sob escaped my lips.

Ethan turned, his eyes widening in shock. “Sophia!”

He hurriedly pulled himself together and grabbed something to cover himself before scrambling away from the woman.

“You didn’t tell me you were coming.”

My chest heaved as I stared at him. “So this was it?” I asked in a small, trembling voice. “The reason you couldn’t attend my mother’s funeral was because you were here with another woman?”

“I can explain, Sophie. Just hear me out, baby.”

“Go on.” My voice was quiet, but it trembled with rage. “Explain.”

Ethan stared at me. Just as I expected, he had absolutely nothing to say.

I shook my head as more tears slipped down my cheeks. “I hate you, Ethan.”

“Baby—”

“You’ve hurt me in the worst way possible, and I’ll never forgive you.”

“Please—”

“Four years, Ethan!” My voice broke as I screamed. “Four years! How could you do this to me?”

His expression hardened. “Don’t blame me when it’s your fault too!”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“We’ve been together for four years, but you never wanted to take that step with me. I have needs too! What did you expect me to do?”

My heart sank. “And betraying me was your solution?”

“Well, maybe if you weren’t so difficult, it wouldn’t have gotten to this.” He scoffed. “Who even knows if you’re as innocent as you claim? For all I know, you could be pretending while doing whatever you want behind my back.”

My hand moved before I could stop myself.

The slap echoed through the room.

Ethan’s head snapped to the side.

I stared at him, tears streaming down my face. “You’re despicable.”

My voice was barely above a whisper. “We picked our baby names together.”

His expression flickered, but I no longer cared.

“I loved you.” I shook my head. “But I hate you now.”

I turned around and ran.

Tears blurred my vision as I fled the room, leaving behind the man I had once believed would never be capable of breaking my heart.