Chapter 1

Three years ago, my husband, Julian Rodriguez, allegedly died in a car crash to save me. My own mother, Betty, immediately sued me on behalf of his family.

Wishing for death, I didn’t even hire a lawyer. I signed the plea deal and walked straight into prison.

For three long years, I tried to end my life more times than I could count in that cold cell.

But today, the day of my release, I stood on the street and saw a giant billboard broadcasting Julian’s "wedding of the century" to my younger sister, Hailey.

My life was completely ruined, and as I would soon find out, my daughter had been diagnosed with an incurable illness.

I rushed to the wedding venue, only to be dragged out like a crazy person.

My mother, Betty, hurried out behind me, glaring at me. She warned me not to ruin Hailey’s big day.

"To be honest with you, Sophia, Julian didn't die."

"We faked the car crash. Hailey was already pregnant with his baby back then."

"We had no choice. We couldn't let Hailey be labeled a homewrecker and have people gossip about her."

"Now that you’re out, just forget the past and move on."

"Move on?"

I stared at Betty. I couldn't reconcile this cold woman with the mother who had held me three years ago, sobbing and claiming she wished she could go to prison in my place.

"My life is ruined. Everything I had is gone. And you’re telling me to just forget it?"

I pulled up my sleeves, revealing the countless ugly scars on my wrists from my suicide attempts in prison.

I wanted to scream, to ask them why they did this to me.

But Betty just slapped me across the face. "Have you not thrown enough tantrums? Did three years in prison not beat that stubbornness out of you?"

"Why can't you just let Hailey have this?"

"You’re already miserable. Do you have to ruin Hailey's happiness too?"