Chapter 1

The eighth year of loving him in secret.

At our class reunion, during a game of truth or dare, Aaron Stephens stood up and confessed, in front of everyone, to the first love he'd once wanted and never gotten.

He didn't spare a single thought for how I'd feel. He linked arms with Regina Fox and drank with her, then kissed her through a sheet of paper.

Someone finally noticed me, forgotten in the corner of the private room.

Grinning, they teased Aaron.

"Back in school Lois Sullivan was crazy about you. She works under you now. You really don't want to give her a chance?"

Aaron shot me a guilty glance and said, with forced calm, "Lois and I are just ordinary friends."

The stone that had been sitting on my chest crashed down.

There was still a message in my chat window, sent by my mother a minute earlier.

"Lois, even if you don't want the marriage alliance, you should at least come home and meet him. Don't let a match this good slip away."

I didn't hesitate. I typed out a line, fast.

"Mom, I agree to the alliance. I'll be home next week."

Just then the bottle spun and pointed at me.

Everyone jeered. "Lois, your turn! Truth challenge, tell us the one thing you most want to show off right now!"

I smiled, stood up, and said, each word clear.

"I'm getting married soon."

1

The words landed and the whole room gasped. Only Aaron glared at me with a warning in his eyes.

I knew what he was afraid of. He didn't want me making our relationship public.

Behind my back, my classmates all called me his lapdog.

It wasn't until we graduated college that Aaron finally accepted me.

But he set his terms.

We could date, as long as no one on the outside knew.

Back then I was so happy I agreed without a second thought.

To stay by his side, I gave up the future my parents had arranged for me, turned down a generous offer, and took an ordinary staff job at his company.

I knew Aaron didn't love me all that much.

But I still bent over backwards to please him, going along with everything.

I thought sincerity would eventually warm him up.

But after eight years together...

To him, I would always be the backup he had to keep in the dark.

I didn't answer my classmates' questions. I made an excuse and went to the restroom.

Coming out, Aaron dragged me into a storage room.

The fury in his eyes was about to spill over.

"Lois, have you lost your mind? I already told you, my career's still on the rise. I'm not planning to get married!"

My voice stayed level. "I never said I was marrying you."

He sighed and took my hand, going through the motions.

"I know you're angry, but there's really nothing between me and Regina. It was just a game."

My gaze dropped to his bare ring finger.

For today's reunion, Aaron had taken off the matching couple's rings we'd worn for five years.

Noticing where I was looking, he explained on his own.

"I was afraid people would figure out our relationship... We work at the same company, after all. If word got out, it'd affect us both."

I'd heard scripts like this more times than I could count.

Right now all I felt was exhaustion.

I pulled my hand free of his and said flatly, "I'm tired. I'm heading back first. You all keep playing."

I'd taken barely two steps when Aaron came after me.

His voice softened a little.

"Lo, don't worry. Give me two more years, and I'll marry you."

But it never once occurred to him that in two years, I'd be thirty.

Eight years of push and pull had drained every last bit of hope I had.

Where Aaron was concerned, my heart was completely dead.