Chapter 1

The first time I went home with my boyfriend.

When we walked into the living room of Jackson's family estate, aside from a group of older people who I assumed were relatives, there was a woman sitting there… in a wedding dress.

As soon as she saw Jackson, she stood up, her face flushed with a coy smile.

“Honey, you’re back! Once you transfer the $50,000 to my account, we can go to the courthouse to get our marriage license.”

Wait. What?!

Jackson is getting married? And the bride isn’t me?

I was furious and turned on my heel to leave.

But Jackson grabbed me, panic plastered on his face. “Harper, don’t go!”

He held on tight. My hand hurt.

But more than anything, I was completely speechless.

First relationship ever, and I end up with a guy like this?

Seriously, my luck couldn't be worse.

I tried to pull his hand off. “Jackson Stone, let go. Don’t think I won’t slap you!”

He wrapped his arms around me, almost as if he was afraid I’d run. “I don’t know her, Harper. You have to believe me.”

His usual embrace—the one that used to make me feel safe—now felt like a mockery.

But the panic on his face seemed real enough.

The woman’s expression quickly shifted from shy to smug.

“Who is she, honey?” she sneered, her finger pointed at me, dripping with jealousy.

The way she looked at me—like I was some homewrecker—infuriated me.

I yanked Jackson’s hair, forcing his head to tilt painfully to one side.

“Let go of me, you scumbag, or I’ll rip all your hair out.”

Jackson blinked in confusion, holding my waist tightly, refusing to let go. The other woman stared at him, her face full of sympathy.

Then she lunged at me, claws out. “Let go of my husband!”

I flinched.

Crap, she’s going to scratch my face!