Chapter 1

On our first wedding anniversary, Carter and his childhood best friend’s couple vlog went viral all over the internet.

Chloe’s caption on TikTok was loud and proud: *Finally, my dream came true.*

In the video, they kissed in a sea of roses and hugged under the moonlight. Even our mutual friends commented, calling them a match made in heaven.

Seeing my scowl, Carter snapped impatiently, "Can you stop overreacting? This is just her job. What’s wrong with me helping her shoot a video?"

Later, when Julian and I were filming our civil ceremony at City Hall, Carter saw us.

He sneered at me. "Don't think this will make me jealous. You're delusional!"

But the moment he saw our signed marriage certificate, his eyes turned bloodshot. He whispered, "It's all fake, right?"

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The vlog reached a hundred million views. Tens of thousands of comments praised their chemistry, wishing them a happy life together.

Among them was one of Carter’s close friends, who asked: "So, when are you guys making it legal at City Hall?"

Carter replied instantly: "Soon."

Meanwhile, the Snapchat messages I sent him this morning remained unread. When I tried to call him, he declined it immediately.

Clutching my stomach, which was cramping from hunger, I dialed Chloe’s number.

"Summer, please don't be mad," Chloe’s sweet, innocent voice came through. "Carter is just helping me shoot a video. It’s not what you think."

Before I could say a word, Carter snatched the phone from her.

"Summer, what the hell is wrong with you?" Carter yelled. "I told you Chloe has severe depression! She can't handle stress. Are you trying to kill her?"

It was our first wedding anniversary. Yet, he was screaming at me because of another woman.

"You know Chloe is a TikToker. Her videos are just for her fans. I’m just helping her with her work. What's the big deal?"

In the video, he went down on one knee and slid a diamond ring onto Chloe’s ring finger.

That was a custom-made ring he had pre-ordered from Europe six months ago.

I had foolishly thought he hid it under our bed to surprise me today.

A year ago, he said he was too busy with work and proposed to me with a cheap ring he bought on a whim.

Even he felt it was too pathetic, so he promised that on our first anniversary—today—he would give me a proposal I’d never forget.

Suddenly, I lost all energy to fight.

I hung up, reheated the cold dinner on the counter, and forced myself to eat it, bite by bite.

By the time Carter came home, I was already packing my bags.

He kicked my suitcase open. "Cut the act. If you leave this apartment, do you even have a home to go back to?"

He pulled a small velvet box from his pocket and threw it at me.

"Chloe insisted I bring this back to make it up to you. She was worried you'd be mad. When will you learn to be as mature as her? Hurry up and text her an apology!"

I opened the box. It was indeed the custom ring from the video.

But the ring was tarnished now. And so was Carter.

"Carter, let's break up. You can go shoot videos with her from now until you're six feet under."

He didn't take my words seriously. He stared at me with a mocking smirk, as if I were just throwing another tantrum.

But when I tossed the ring onto the couch like trash, he lost it.

"I’ve spoiled you too much! Don't push your luck, Summer. If Chloe hadn't begged me to come home, do you think I’d even be standing here?"

I couldn't remember when it started, but Chloe’s name was now constantly on his lips.

No wonder even his friends thought they were the ones getting married.

Carter stormed over and grabbed my arm tightly.

Instantly, his hand was covered in fresh blood.

Earlier, while washing the dishes, I had gotten so angry that I smashed a plate, cutting my hand deeply on a piece of porcelain.

There was a band-aid right there, but Carter had grabbed me so violently he didn't even notice.

He quickly let go, panic flitting across his face. "What happened? Where’s the first-aid kit? Let me bandage it."

Suddenly, Chloe’s custom ringtone blared from his phone. His hand froze on the medical box, and he put the call on speaker.

"Carter! I hear someone scratching at my front door! Please come save me, I'm so scared!"

"The power went out too! What should I do? Am I going to die?"

Carter dropped the medical box right onto my lap.

Chloe always claimed she was being stalked by crazy fans just to lure Carter away from me. And it worked every single time.

I grabbed his jacket.

Before he left, there was something he needed to know.

But he shoved me off irritably. "Chloe is in danger! And you're still trying to use this cheap sympathy play to keep me here? If something happens to her because I'm late, you'll be a murderer!"

He pushed me hard. My knees buckled, and my lower back slammed violently against the sharp corner of the coffee table.

A sharp, agonizing pain shot through my abdomen, causing it to spasm.

I gasped, clutching my stomach. "Carter... I'm hurt. Take me to the hospital, please."

Seeing my face turn pale and covered in cold sweat, a flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes.

But Chloe’s cries for help on the phone grew louder. After a two-second pause, he made his choice.

He tossed my phone onto the couch. "It was just a bump. Stop being so dramatic. Chloe’s life is actually on the line!"

He snatched his car keys and bolted out the door.

I collapsed onto the floor, and slowly, a pool of blood began to spread beneath me.

That was my baby. Two months old. Gone.

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