Chapter 1

It had been three years since Everet and I broke up, and then I received his wedding invitation.

I went, sitting at the head table.

My friends at the table just laughed, their words laced with mockery.

"If you hadn't been the one to break it off back then, you'd be the one in the wedding dress today."

I just smiled, saying nothing.

Chloe, Everet's new bride, deliberately walked over to me, raising her glass.

"Thank you for stepping aside and giving me such a wonderful man."

I drained the wine glass in one gulp, revealing the hideous scar that marred the side of my face.

"I wish you both happiness!"

My love for Everet had been completely consumed by that fire years ago.

Everet's gaze drifted over me, subtle yet persistent.

The tension in the room was palpable, and sensing it, others quickly tried to lighten the mood.

"Chloe doesn't seem to be in the best spirits today!"

Everet chuckled, drawing Chloe closer into his embrace, his eyes dropping to her belly with a tenderness that stung.

"My apologies, my wife is pregnant. Please forgive us."

A wave of gasps and congratulations rippled through the guests.

I sat motionless in my chair, my hand instinctively caressing my own stomach.

There had once been a life there, too.

Chloe, nestled in Everet's arms, looked at me, her smile laced with a venomous triumph.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Everet's just *so* invested in this baby."

"The day we found out our good news, he already had names picked out for our child."

My friends at the table turned envious eyes towards her.

"Wow, that's just too sweet! What names did he choose? We want to hear if he put some real thought into them."

Chloe beamed, happily sharing with everyone.

"If it's a boy, he'll be Arthur. If it's a girl, Daphne."

The wine glass in my hand froze.

My heart lurched.

Those were the names Everet and I had picked out together.

He had spent a whole week poring over baby name books, even asking everyone for suggestions.

But those carefully chosen names never found a home, because my baby was gone.

While I was lost in thought, Everet had already taken Chloe's hand and moved on to the next table.

My friends, seeing my despondent look, mistook it for sadness.

One of them patted my hand.

"Don't be upset. You pushed him away yourself. You have no one to blame but yourself for not cherishing what you had."

My phone rang, a perfectly timed escape. I excused myself to take the call, heading for the restroom. To them, it must have looked like I was running away.

The moment I stepped out, a large hand clamped around my wrist, pulling me into a small, private room nearby.

A familiar scent hit me, and my body recognized him even before my eyes could register his face.

"You came back for me?"

Everet's arrogant words grated on my ears, and all I felt was a bitter amusement.

"You invited me, so I came, of course."

I pulled his invitation from my bag, opened it, and held my name up to his face.

A flicker of surprise crossed Everet's face as he saw his own invitation.

He slowly released his grip on my shoulder, his gaze falling on the scar etched across my cheek.

"Have you been well these past few years?"

I nodded.

"Of course."

At my firm affirmation, a shadow of disappointment passed over Everet's eyes.

"I thought you..."

I knew the unspoken words.

"I did die once."

The old Cassidy had burned away in that asylum fire.

Sensing my cold demeanor, a hint of guilt flickered in Everet's eyes.

"I went back for you that year..."

I cut him off before he could finish.

"It doesn't matter anymore."

"Everet, it doesn't matter."

Everet opened his mouth, wanting to explain, to plead his case.

I pointed to his suit, a well-meaning reminder.

"Don't forget, you're the groom today."

"Isn't this exactly what you fought so hard for back then?"

Everet clenched his fists, rendered speechless.

The silence that fell between us was unnerving.

"Husband?"

Chloe's voice echoed down the hall, shattering the fragile silence.