Chapter 1

1

I dated Ethan once, back in the day. Lasted about three months before he dumped me.

Said I was too much of a good girl, didn't have enough edge. So, I tried hanging with my childhood friend, the one who thought she was a rebel. She blew smoke rings at me, told me to go back to my books; I didn't have the bad girl thing in me.

I got the message. After some serious soul-searching about my dumb teenage ideas and my belief in "love conquers all", I did the smart thing and found myself a rich guy.

This guy was Liam, loaded, generous, and hot. Only problem? He had a major past, with a revolving door of women.

I'd barely gotten Liam's engagement ring on my finger when I got hit with a sonogram from his "close friend", showing she was eight weeks pregnant.

I sat in the coffee shop for ages, brainstorming. Finally, I decided to be honest: "I'm just so hopelessly in love with Liam, I can't help it."

"Why don't you have the kid? I know I'm young, but I'm totally cool with being a stepmom."

...

I swear, I meant it when I said that.

But I guess she took it as sarcasm.

Because I wasn't going to just let Liam go, she started going through their history. Paris trips to see the Eiffel Tower, mountain climbs, New Year's Eve celebrations.

How Liam would be on FaceTime with me, telling me how much he missed me, then hang up and hook up with her.

Her writing skills were incredible. It was like listening to a dramatic novel.

After about fifteen minutes of this, I glanced at my watch and interrupted politely. "Sorry, I gotta get back to work."

Her face went pale, and she just stared at me, speechless.

I put on my coat and scarf, and headed for the door.

"Are you seriously going to cling to Liam like this? A woman with a 'basic' style like you, do you really think a rich guy like him, who's seen so many beautiful women, would actually want you?"

Her voice was high-pitched and bitter, and the coffee shop went quiet.

I stopped and turned around.

Her expression was twisted with emotion, and a little scary.

But even an angry beauty is still a beauty, and she was definitely way prettier than me.

I smiled, and ultimately, I said nothing.

Honestly, I really didn't want to break up with Liam.

He was the best guy I'd met, all things considered.

His family had money, he was fun to be around, and he spent cash on me like it was water.

His only flaw was his wandering eye.

But who isn't a little wild if they're rich, right?

He loved the parties, the girls, the whole lifestyle thing. It was all good with me. As long as I was the main girlfriend, the one he wanted to marry, that was enough.

I was very self-aware when it came to my own worth. If I broke up with Liam, I knew I wouldn't find anyone like him again.

I looked at myself in the elevator mirror.

Wool scarf, a simple mid-length coat, snow boots. I screamed "basic", like some Pinterest board for "how to be marriageable."

My best friend's words came back to me:

"You're too uptight, not the kind of girl who can seduce a man."

"You read too much; you need some street smarts. You're just gonna end up in some dead-end government job, not some powerful career woman."

"The only way you're gonna make a good life is if you play the 'good girl' card. Find someone with money while you're still young."

"A trust fund kid is good, a self-made millionaire will work, just be nice to them, attentive. Most importantly, you need to be forgiving and agreeable."

"But you have to act fast, you know your window for this is small. When you start aging, the guys with money won't want you anymore, no matter how sweet you are."

I looked at my ring, and sighed.

I just needed to get to the wedding without any more drama. If Liam wanted to have kids with another woman after we were married, I would deal with it.

But life is a cruel joke.