Chapter 1

When mom was dying, her last wish was to see me married.

I begged my boyfriend Jake Morrison for 27 days before he finally agreed to go get our marriage certificate.

I waited at County Clerk Office until closing time. He never showed.

That same day, Jake's childhood sweetheart Riley Sterling posted their marriage certificate on social media:

[Time flies—three more days and we'll be married a whole month.]

That's when I realized: the very first day I started begging Jake, he'd already married his little princess.

I received Jake's apology text shortly after:

[Chloe, Riley's family was forcing her into marriage. I couldn't watch her marry some random guy and ruin her life.]

[Just three more days and we'll be divorced.]

[I'll marry you right after.]

Three days later, when Jake showed up at County Clerk Office in his wedding suit, he only received my message:

[Jake, goodbye FOREVER.]

...

In the morgue, I stared down at Mom's face, tears streaming down my cheeks like a damn waterfall.

Mom raised me all by herself, never asked me for a single thing in return.

And I couldn't even make her last wish come true.

When the doctors told me Mom was dying, I begged my boyfriend of six years, Jake, to marry me. I just wanted Mom to know that when she was gone, someone would be there for me.

I begged him for twenty-seven straight days.

But Jake kept making excuses.

Day one: "Babe, Riley's car broke down. Gotta go pick her up."

Day two: "Sorry, helping Riley move today. Rain check?"

...

Day twenty-six: "Riley's stomach thing is acting up again. She really needs me right now."

If Riley hadn't posted that marriage certificate on Instagram today, I'd still be completely clueless.

I'd made up a million excuses for Jake in my head, but somehow "he's already married" never made the list.

I knelt beside Mom's hospital bed until evening, when Jake finally called.

His voice was as sweet as ever: "Hey gorgeous, it's getting late. Why aren't you home yet? Tell me where you are and I'll come get you."

I opened my mouth but couldn't get a word out.

Before, I would've played up the drama, made him work to win me over, then waited all giddy for him to show up.

But now? I couldn't bring myself to say a single flirty thing to him.

Jake's voice got a little worried: "Chloe, where are you right now?"

"The hospital."

Jake went quiet, like it just hit him that I'd been taking care of Mom this whole time.

"I... just wait for me, okay? I'm coming to the hospital."

After he hung up, I forced myself to get up and start handling Mom's funeral arrangements, fighting back the grief.

But ten minutes later, he texted me:

[Chloe, I have to go with Riley to meet her parents tonight. I promise I'll come see your mom next time!]

I wasn't even surprised.

Because for the past two years, the phrase I'd heard most from him was: "Next time, I promise."

Missed our anniversary? "I'll make it up to you next time, I swear."

Bailed on meeting Mom? "Next time for sure."

Wouldn't get married? "Tomorrow I'll definitely be free."

He knew I'd always forgive him, so he just kept hurting me without giving a damn.

But this time, there wouldn't be a next time.

Because Mom would never get another chance.

And I was done forgiving him.

Chapter 2

That night, I didn't go home. I stayed at the hospital instead.

Jake blew up my phone all night long—texts, calls, the whole nine yards.

I didn't read a single message or pick up once.

The next morning, I got to the office early to type up my resignation letter.

Jake was the company's founder and CEO.

I was just some designer on the payroll.

I'd been there since day one, back when he was broke and working out of his garage.

Now? I was basically invisible around here.

If I disappeared tomorrow, Jake probably wouldn't even notice.

I was printing out my resignation when Jake suddenly appeared behind me like a damn ghost.

Under his stare, I calmly grabbed the papers from the printer.

He looked at me with that gentle voice of his: "All done printing?"

"Yep."

Jake kept staring at me, completely oblivious to how cold I was being.

He cleared his throat: "Chloe, come to my office for a sec."

The moment Jake called me away, my coworkers started gossiping like vultures.

"Did you guys hear? Mr. Morrison's married."

"No way! That explains why Chloe and Mr. Morrison kept their thing so hush-hush. She's totally the other woman."

"Chloe's always going on about how much she hates homewreckers. Talk about a total hypocrite."

My dad left me and Mom for some woman, put us through hell for years.

And now, thanks to Jake, I was getting called a homewrecker too. How's that for karma?

In his office, Jake tried to hug me.

I stepped back: "We're at work, Mr. Morrison."

Jake frowned. "Come on, don't be mad. I'll come see your mom with you tonight, okay?"

I shook my head.

"There's no point anymore."

Mom was already gone, and honestly? I didn't want her to see you anyway.

If she knew people were calling me a homewrecker because of Jake, she'd be so disappointed in me.

Jake seemed to pick up on something being off.

After a beat, he said: "Look, I can divorce Riley in two days. Then we can get married, just like you wanted."

He handed me a fancy gift box.

"This is premium ginseng for your mom. Really high-quality stuff to help with her recovery."

I stared at the ginseng, feeling numb.

His thoughtfulness was about a week too late.

Mom didn't need it anymore.

When I didn't respond, Jake's eyes flashed with worry. He was about to say something when his phone started buzzing, completely killing the moment.

Jake glanced at his phone, then at me.

After hesitating for a second, he walked away to take the call.

I knew it was Riley calling.

After all, she was his actual wife now.

I felt... nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Because I was done caring.

Later, I submitted my resignation.

When I handed it over, the VP didn't seem surprised at all.

"Chloe, I'm sure Mr. Morrison will take good care of you."

I bit my lip, feeling like I was in some twisted alternate reality.

Everyone just assumed I was Jake's kept woman—his little office pet.

They thought he had everything figured out for me.

None of them could believe that I was his actual girlfriend of six years, and that I was leaving because he'd completely shattered my heart.

As I was heading out, I ran into Jake and Riley at the elevators.

Chapter 3

When Jake saw me, his eyes went all shifty and he immediately started explaining:

"Don't get the wrong idea. I brought Riley here to—"

Before he could finish, Riley wrapped her arm around his and cut him off:

"Tour my husband's company."

I stayed quiet. Then Riley spoke up again:

"You don't mind, do you, Chloe?"

Riley was practically smirking at me, all smug and territorial.

I silently stepped out of the elevator to make room for them.

Jake looked at me with this conflicted expression, like he wanted to say something, but Riley just dragged him away.

That afternoon, I stood at the crematorium watching Mom get reduced to ashes.

I took her to the cemetery and stayed until dark.

Jake never showed. Not even a text.

I didn't care.

At least without him there, Mom could rest in peace.

I think her spirit wouldn't want me tangled up with him anymore anyway.

She definitely wouldn't want to see me marry him now.

Our six years together needed to end. For good.

I walked home from the cemetery. The whole way.

I hadn't walked alone at night in forever.

When I was little, I'd hold Mom's hand.

Later, I'd walk arm-in-arm with Jake.

From now on, I'd be walking alone.

I figured I'd get used to it.

I didn't get home until after midnight.

The living room lights were on, and Jake was sprawled on the couch, texting someone.

When he saw me come in, his worried frown melted away and he rushed over to grab my hands:

"Where the hell have you been? You wouldn't answer your phone or texts. I was about to call the cops!"

I froze for a second, then pulled my hands away.

"I was with Mom. Didn't want her to be disturbed."

When I mentioned Mom, Jake remembered what he'd said earlier and looked guilty as hell.

Suddenly his face lit up with anticipation. He pulled out this fancy box and handed it to me all ceremoniously.

I automatically opened it. Inside was a diamond ring.

I just stared at it.

Once upon a time, Jake had grabbed my hands and sworn up and down that he'd put a ring on my finger and get me that marriage certificate so Mom could see how happy I was.

I'd waited forever for this moment. Dreamed about it countless times.

But that was before.

I snapped the box shut and handed it back.

Jake frowned, like something had just occurred to him. He looked embarrassed:

"It's already past midnight. Just one more day and I can divorce Riley."

"Don't worry, I remember what I promised you."

"Tomorrow, I'll put this ring on your finger myself, and then we'll go get married."

His sweet talk didn't move me at all. I just said:

"Okay. Got it. I'm exhausted. Going to bed."

Jake's smile froze. For the first time, he seemed to realize I was just going through the motions.

Panic flashed in his eyes and he reached for my hand.

That's when Riley walked out of the bedroom wearing my pajamas.

She rubbed her sleepy eyes, glanced at me, then immediately clung to Jake's arm all cute and whiny:

"Jake, now that Chloe's home, come to bed already."

Jake quickly looked at me to explain:

"Riley had a fight with her family. I told her she could crash in the guest room for one night."