Chapter 1

Sebastian Merritt ran out on our engagement five years ago. He came back with a girl on his arm.

They called me here for two reasons. One, to shame me. Two, to show her off.

Sebastian shut the whole room up with a single line. "Yvette Larson's pregnant. Anyone here without a kid, drink up."

Everyone took the penalty round. Everyone but me.

"Miss Sullivan, why aren't you drinking? Don't tell me you're too jealous to think straight."

Laughter went up around the table. Every one of them was certain I still couldn't get over him.

But all I was thinking was, if children were what decided the winner here, then I had one too.

Turned five this year.

1

It had rained hard in Harborough for three days, and I hadn't wanted to come to this welcome-back gala at all.

But over two hours, Sebastian's invitation was delivered to me fourteen times.

When I arrived, his buddies spoke first.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Sullivan. Nose like a bloodhound, this one. Seb's plane barely touched down and here you are."

The whole crowd broke up laughing. I pulled out an empty chair, and someone stopped me.

"Oh, we couldn't possibly let Miss Sullivan sit there."

They were all smiling, and none of it was kind.

Whichever chair I reached for, someone slid into it a beat ahead of me.

They were forcing me toward the seat beside Sebastian.

I lifted my head and met those cold eyes.

At his side sat a demure young woman.

The other side was empty.

I was here already, so I gave them what they wanted and sat down on Sebastian's other side.

The room erupted, one shriek after another.

"See? I told you. She's just as shameless as she was back then."

"Seb, you dog. A woman on each arm and you won't even share with the boys?"

Before I could say anything, the girl beside him let out a little laugh.

"Don't say things like that. I... Seb and I are only friends... Seb already has a fiancée, you know."

And with that, the girl dropped her head, all bashful.

The others were egging her on. "Ooh, look, she's blushing! Ha Haha! "

The girl stole an embarrassed glance at Sebastian.

"Really... I heard Seb's fiancée is coming today too. She must be someone impressive. When she gets here, I'll go greet her myself!"

The man who'd said nothing this whole time finally spoke. "No."

The girl leaned closer. "You won't go?"

Sebastian gave a scornful little smile. "No, she's not impressive."

"Then how is she your fiancée?"

Sebastian didn't even pause to think. "Because she's cheap. Disgusting."

I took a couple of sips of wine, and out of the corner of my eye I caught his gaze coming my way.

I set the glass down and smiled, meeting it head-on.

"Not as cheap as her."

Sebastian's face darkened. "What did you say?"

In case he hadn't caught it, I said it louder, loud enough for the whole room to hear.

"Nobody's cheaper than a girl who knows she's the other woman and plays the other woman anyway. Right, sweetie?"

The girl was still smiling, only the smile froze on her face fast.

Sebastian clicked his tongue. "Still got that poison tongue. Back then it shouldn't have been your mother who died. It should've been you."

My mother.

No one had brought her up in a long time.

Back when my family went bankrupt, our enemies came hunting for us.

They sewed my mother's mouth shut and threw her into the lake.

I was raised spoiled, never able to swallow a slight.

The one time in my life I ever bowed my head was to beg Sebastian to save my mother.

It was the third day of us not speaking. He came with two teams of men and stood on the shore, mourning.

No one went in to bring her up.

I begged him.

He said, "And here I thought the great Miss Sullivan was born with a spine of iron, that she'd never learn to bend in this life. Olivia Sullivan, say you were wrong. Kneel and kowtow to me. Say marrying me is a blessing you don't deserve. Say it! Ha. Boring."

The moment I watched my mother's body float to the surface, I didn't shed a single tear.

In my ear was Sebastian's absurd laughter. "Looks to me like Auntie's pretty comfortable down in that water. Take your time watching. I've got to head back for my mother's birthday."

Me, I'll eat anything but an insult.

That same night, I threw his mother into the lake.

Tied her to my mother's body and let the two of them drift out in the middle of the water all night.

When Sebastian showed up, I was smiling, having such a good time. "You were right. The water really is comfortable. Look how comfortable Auntie is, singing away this whole time."

After they dragged her out, his mother lost her mind.

If Sebastian didn't bring it up, no one would ever have remembered it.

He'd insisted on saying it to disgust me.

So I could only show a little concern. "Is Auntie still singing these days?"