Chapter 1

At our high school reunion, my wife’s first love looked me dead in the eye and asked, with a smug, teasing smile, "If Ethan and I had pursued you at the same time back then, Chloe, who would you have chosen?"

To everyone's absolute shock, my wife replied, "I would have chosen you."

The entire room went dead silent. Everyone stared at me.

Right then, I decided to let them be together. I would let her pay the ultimate price of her entire life to finally see who this man really was.

The reunion was in full swing in the grand ballroom of a luxury hotel.

I looked around, watching my old classmates cluster together, laughing about the good old days and bragging about their current lives.

I sat on a couch in the corner, holding a glass of scotch, my eyes searching the crowd for Chloe.

When I finally spotted her, she was giggling and whispering with Marcus. A sharp, unnameable sting pierced my chest.

I stood up and walked toward them.

As I got closer, I heard Marcus telling her, "Chloe, you were our high school Prom Queen back then, and honestly? You’re still just as gorgeous today."

Chloe blushed, looking away shyly. "Stop it. I’m getting old."

Marcus looked at her with intense, lingering affection. "If you could do it all over again, would you marry me instead?"

"Yes."

Chloe murmured the word, then lowered her head, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Hearing that, a bitter taste filled my mouth.

I stepped into their space and cleared my throat loudly, cutting off their little moment.

Both Chloe and Marcus snapped their heads toward me. When Chloe saw it was me, a flicker of panic flashed across her face. Marcus, on the other hand, just smirked mockingly.

"Oh, you're here," Chloe stammered, trying to ease the tension.

I looked at her, my voice cold. "Yeah, I'm here. I couldn't miss our Prom Queen having such a great time with her ex, could I?"

Marcus let out a soft laugh. "What? Are you jealous, Ethan? Relax, man. Chloe and I are just two old friends catching up."

I glared at him and scoffed. "Catching up? Does catching up require leaning in that close? If people didn't know better, they’d think you two were the ones married."

Marcus stood up, confronting me face-to-face.

"Watch your mouth, Ethan. Chloe and I are completely innocent. You, on the other hand, are just insecure. You don’t even have the most basic trust in your own wife."

His words set my temper ablaze.

"I’m insecure? You two are practically sitting in each other's laps, and the whole class is watching. Do you think everyone here is stupid, or just blind?"

By now, the surrounding classmates had turned to look at us, whispering and pointing.

Chloe stood up too, trying to play peacemaker. "Guys, come on. We’re all old friends. Let's not ruin the night."

But neither Marcus nor I was backing down. We were both furious.

Marcus seized the opportunity to play the victim. "Look at him, everyone! This is how petty he is. He doesn't even trust his own wife."

Hearing him say "wife" only made me angrier. "Wife? Oh, so you know she’s my wife? Then why the hell are you hitting on her right in front of me?"

Marcus faked a look of pure innocence. "Hitting on her? You need proof before you make accusations, man. Chloe and I were just having a normal conversation."

Chloe stood there awkwardly. She wanted to defend me, but she also didn't want to offend her wealthy old classmates. She gently tugged at my sleeve. "Ethan, let's just go home."

But I was too far gone. I brushed her hand off.

"Go home? For what? At a reunion, this asshole is practically wrapping his arms around my wife, asking if you’d marry him if you could do it over, and you freaking said *yes*! If I tolerate this, am I even a man? Ask any guy in this room—who would put up with this shit?"

Our shouting match grew louder. The crowd was buzzing. Some tried to intervene, some were just enjoying the drama, and a few even pulled out their phones to record.

Marcus suddenly smirked. "Since you don't trust Chloe anyway, why don't you just divorce her? I’m sure once she leaves you, she’ll find a much better home."

My vision went red. I grabbed a nearby chair, ready to smash it over his head, but Tyler and a few other guys rushed in and held me back.

Marcus didn't even flinch. He just laughed. "You make barely forty grand a year at your dead-end desk job. Go home and buy a dog, or marry some ugly loser. What can you even give Chloe? I can give her the life she actually deserves. Houses, sports cars, black cards—whatever she wants."

Pure rage consumed me. I broke free and swung a fist at his face.

But he was quick. He dodged it and punched me right back in the jaw.

We clashed, tumbling to the floor. The rest of the guys scrambled to pull us apart.

Chloe was frantic, pacing around and crying, but she was completely useless.

It took four guys to finally drag us away from each other.

I gave Marcus one last death glare and stormed out of the ballroom.

Chloe reluctantly followed me, while Marcus shouted behind us, "Ethan! Chloe is going to be mine sooner or later! A broke loser like you doesn't stand a chance!"