Chapter 1

1

I was arguing with Jake, my husband, in our crummy apartment on Valentine's Day, of all days, when some extremist psycho set the place on fire and burned us both alive. It was horrific.

Then I woke up. And we were back. Back when I was pregnant, and we were making the worst decision of our lives �C the abortion.

Last time around, Jake and I were high school sweethearts. Married for three years. But the second I told him I was expecting, he wanted me to terminate. Looking back, I know there was another woman. Some sweet-talking, back-stabbing little witch waiting in the wings.

This time, though, I decided to give him what he wanted. To really set him free.

We went through with the abortion. No tears, no regrets. We deleted each other's numbers, unfriended each other on Facebook, the whole nine yards. I took off for Europe, and he stayed put in the States.

Eight years later, we bumped into each other again.

He was Ethan Hayes now, one of Hollywood's hottest A-listers, an Oscar winner. And clinging to his arm was Lily Hart, America's darling.

When he saw me, dressed like I was headed to a PTA meeting and completely alone, he couldn't resist taking a jab.

"Bianca, baby, I know you've always been obsessed with me. You're nothing without me. Tell you what, I'll give you a shot at being my mistress. I'll set you up, keep you comfortable."

I just smiled, squeezed my fiancé, Richard's hand (a Hollywood mogul!), and watched the blood drain from Ethan's face. Our kids, Ava and Ryan, were right there with us.

"Sponsor me? You should probably ask my fiancé if he's okay with that."

......

Ethan and I were face to face again. It was at an audition for a new TV series on Valentine's Day, what a world. I was running behind, and I had to rush to the event.

I walked in and saw Ethan standing in the middle of the room, with Lily on his arm, lapping up all the attention.

"Ethan, we're so honored you're here. Knowing that you were coming, we should have stayed home."

"Yeah, everyone knows you're the youngest actor ever to win three Oscars. This show, 'Daylight', is a huge project that everyone is talking about. People like you and Lily are the only ones who can be in it. We're just here for fun."

Everyone looked at the two of them, and someone asked, "Ethan, people are saying you proposed to Lily in Times Square. Is that true? Are you going to get married?"

Ethan looked down at Lily, a gentle expression on his face.

"That's right. As soon as we're done filming, we'll be tying the knot."

"It's my promise to her."

The heartfelt confession started up a bunch of cheers, and everyone began talking about how much they cared for one another.

Last time around, me and Ethan were together since the beginning. We met when we were kids, fell in love as teens, and tried to find our way through Hollywood.

When he got his first role as the main character, he looked me in the eye, and said, "Bianca, wait for me. After this, we'll get married. It's my promise to you."

Same words.

Different people.

Last time, I believed him, and he married me.