Chapter 1

Alex and I had been childhood sweethearts for ten years. But because of a stupid mistake he made in the lab, a chemical mixture exploded.

To save him, I threw myself in front of him. The blast left massive, horrific burn scars all over my neck and shoulder.

Those hideous scars made me insecure and terrified of socializing. For years, I wrapped myself up in thick, high-collared clothes, hiding from the world.

Alex repented over and over again. He showered me with guilty love, slowly coaxing me out of my shell.

Under the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower, he gave me a romantic wedding of the century.

He cried as he kissed my scar, promising me,

"Kate, I swear to God, I will never let you suffer another day in your life."

But four years into our marriage, his love turned into disgust.

He told me, "I wish you hadn't saved me back then. At least I wouldn't have been forced to marry you out of sheer guilt."

Later, I saw the flirty Snapchat messages on his phone that he hadn't had time to delete.

That was the moment I knew this marriage was over.

It was time for me to finally start loving myself.