Chapter 1

Seven years with Jacob Gilbert, and our engagement was almost here.

On a whim, I called him pretending to be the girl I'd been ten years ago.

He picked up, and I asked, my heart full of hope.

"Jake, how are we in the future? Are we happy?"

There was a long silence on his end before he spoke, slow and even.

"Audrey, I'm going to fake my death before the engagement. I'm with Valerie Fox now."

"She's pregnant. I have to give her a name."

"The whole family knows. We just kept it from you.

With your temper, if you found out, there's no telling what you'd do."

"I want you to let us have this.

You're strong. You'll be fine without me.

But Valerie isn't like that. She needs me."

My hand shook around the phone, and I couldn't stop it.

I opened my mouth to say something, and the line went dead.

Then Jacob's mother called, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.

"Audrey, Jacob was in a car accident on his way to buy you a gift.

He died on the spot. They've already taken him to be cremated…"

"……"

After I hung up.

For a moment I couldn't tell which was more absurd, or which was more vicious.

When I came back to myself, I was standing outside Valerie's door.

When she moved in, she'd insisted on registering my fingerprint.

Because she said it only felt like home with me here.

She heard the door and saw me, and her eyes went red.

"Audrey, I already heard what happened."

I didn't say anything. I stood in the doorway, and the room still held the warmth of two people.

I forced down everything rising in my chest.

I looked at the plate on the coffee table, half-eaten cherries.

The kind Jacob had specially flown in from overseas.

Two weeks ago, I'd said I wanted some.

Jacob had only said, flatly,

"I've been too busy. I'll get them when I have time."

So it turned out he hadn't forgotten. He just hadn't wanted to give them to me.

Valerie seemed to sense it and hooked her arm through mine.

"Jacob wouldn't want you this upset. You still have me."

I tilted my head and looked at her, my eyes blurring.

From the orphanage to college and all the way to now.

Valerie had always been the warmest light in my barren years.

Back at the orphanage, I was thin and timid.

The older kids were always taking the little bit of snacks I got.

Every time, Valerie charged in and gave those older kids a beating.

Then she'd push the candy back into my hand, scratches on her face.

"From now on I've got you. Anyone who dares bully you, I'll bite them to death."

Later I got into college.

Without a second thought she handed over all the money she'd earned working and put together my tuition.

Back then she said,

"Audrey Delgado, when you make it big, don't forget me!"

So the first time Jacob told me he thought Valerie relied on me too much.

I chose to protect her without hesitation.

"Without her, there'd be no me. If you love me, you have to accept her."

Valerie grew uneasy under my stare and tightened her grip on my arm.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

I yanked my hand back.

Her hand froze in midair.

I spoke slowly, the tears and the question falling together.

"Stop pretending. You and Jacob, when did you two start this?"

"Honestly, I wouldn't even mind you being the other woman. But why did it have to be me?"

Valerie's face changed in an instant.

She stumbled back a step.

We stood there facing each other, nothing left in the living room but the laughter from the TV.

After a long moment, she sighed.

She sank onto the couch, her voice as faint as talking in her sleep.

"Audrey, all my life I've given in to you.

This time, just let me have Jacob, okay?"

Her words nearly made me laugh out of sheer anger.

My heart felt like a hand had it in a tight grip, hurting so much I couldn't breathe.

"Valerie, taking without asking, that's called stealing."

She lifted her head, wearing that pitiful, heartbreaking look.

"I didn't want this either. I didn't want to hold on to him…"

"It's just… I'm carrying his child."

She grabbed my hand, crying.

"Audrey, you're so capable. You'll be fine without him.

But I can't. I can't lose him…"

I shook her hand off, a rush of blood-tinged sweetness coming up my throat.

"The two of you really make me sick."

With that, I turned and left.

At some point it had started to rain outside.

I rushed out of the apartment building and walked through the rain with nowhere to go.

Until a taxi pulled up beside me and the driver leaned out.

"Miss, where to? It's really coming down, get in."

Numbly, I pulled the door open and sat down.

The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror and passed back a pack of tissues.

"Fight with your boyfriend?"

I took the tissues and wiped my face without care.

"No. My boyfriend's dead."