Chapter 1

I have a stutter.

Growing up, everyone loved to speak for me.

My dad always said, "If you can't spit it out, shut your mouth and let Serena talk."

My fiancé said, "You'll only humiliate yourself on stage. It's a blessing Serena is willing to help you."

Serena said, "What's wrong with me being your voice? You should be grateful."

She accepted my writing awards on my behalf. She presented my project pitches. She even wrote my wedding vows.

They called it a favor.

I called it having my lips stitched shut.

...

At the annual gala, the host announced my name.

"The Best Investigative Feature of the Year goes to—'The Sinking Fishing Village' by Chloe Evans! Let's welcome Chloe to the stage!"

The moment I stood up, Serena's hand pressed hard against my shoulder.

"Chloe, there are six hundred people out there."

I said, "I—I know."

She smiled, shaking her head, and neatly slid the index card with my acceptance speech right out of my fingers.

"If you get stuck up there, it'll be agonizing. I'll just say a few words for you, just like old times."

Julian was sitting right beside me. He patted the back of my hand.

"Let Serena go. Just stay in your seat."

I looked at him.

"B-But... I wrote the piece."

He let out a heavy sigh—that familiar, condescending sigh that meant *why can't you just be obedient?*

"Everyone knows you wrote it. But if you freeze on stage, isn't that just a waste of an opportunity? Serena is a great speaker. She'll say a few sweet thank-yous, and you'll still get all the credit."

Serena was already smoothing down her designer dress.

She turned back and gave me a playful wink.

"Don't worry, sweetie! I'll make sure to praise you to high heaven."

She walked onto the stage. The spotlights fell directly over her, illuminating her radiant, flawless smile.

"Hi, everyone. I'm Serena, Chloe's best friend. She struggles with severe social anxiety, so she asked me to step up and say a few words on her behalf—"

Warm, indulgent laughter rippled through the audience.

To thunderous applause, the golden trophy was placed into her hands.

She held it with both hands, standing dead center in the spotlight while six hundred people gazed up at her in admiration.

Julian clapped softly, a satisfied smirk curling on his lips.

"See? Absolutely perfect."

I stared at Serena's glowing face projected on the giant screen above.

"Yeah. Absolutely perfect."

Back at our table, Serena handed me the trophy.

"Here you go. Hold onto your shiny little prize."

I took it. My name was engraved into the metal, but I wasn't the one who stood in the light.

Julian leaned in close, his whisper brushing my ear.

"For the wedding toast next month, let's have Serena read it for you too. What do you think?"

My fingers tightened around the cold metal of the trophy.

"I want to speak for myself."

Both of them froze.

Serena was the first to chuckle, nudging Julian with her elbow.

"Oh, look at that. Chloe's feeling ambitious today."

Julian ruffled my hair like I was an unruly pet.

"Fine. Start practicing now, then. Just don't blame me for not warning you if you mess up on our big day."

I nodded.

What he didn't realize was that I was already terrified of the wedding.

I wasn't afraid of marriage itself.

I was terrified of being forced into a chair yet again, watching someone else live my life for me.