Chapter 1

The night before Valentine's Day, my fiancé texted me that our wedding had to be postponed again.

[Babe, I’m sorry. Something came up with the team before the hockey game. We’ll have to postpone the wedding again.]

Then I looked up.

Right there at the arena entrance, Liam had Chloe, his cheer captain, pinned inside his open jacket.

He lost patience, pressed Chloe against the wall, and devoured her mouth.

"Just to keep your little game going, I've stood Ava up six times," Liam said.

"This is the last time. Next year, no matter what, I'm marrying her."

Chloe was laughing against his mouth.

"I heard your new bed's ready. I think I’ll try you out in it first."

"Don't thank me. Call it an early wedding gift."

I dug my nails into my palm and called Liam's parents.

[Mr. and Mrs. Carter, can you gather everyone and come to the apartment tonight? Let's get it ready early.]

[Yes. I want to surprise Liam.]

If this was how he wanted to play, I would make sure he regretted it.

......

[Don't tell Liam we're all in the city yet.]

[Perfect. I'll meet you all downstairs.]

After I hung up, I opened the security app on my phone.

The footage showed everything — from the front door all the way to the master bedroom.

On screen, they tangled together from the moment they entered, kissing their way down the hallway, hands everywhere, until they disappeared into the bedroom.

I saw the custom team mascot charm I'd had made with his jersey number.

It was lying on the floor in the wreckage.

I stood still and let the cold go through me.

Both families arrived before long.

My parents reached me first.

"Did you find him, Ava? Did you see Liam?"

"Don't worry — your dad already called the team's front office. Nobody is pulling Liam into a meeting this weekend. The wedding goes ahead."

I held everything down and made myself smile.

"Good."

"Ava, weren't you going to surprise him? Stop standing there — let's go up."

I looked at the red balloons and streamers in everyone's hands.

My nose stung. The tears came anyway.

Liam and I had known each other ten years. Together for eight. The wedding had been pushed back six times.

Six years ago, one month out — he said he was going for team captain. I agreed to delay.

Three years ago, one week out — closed playoff camp. I agreed again.

This year, as I got older, my parents couldn't wait any longer.

Three days ago, they arrived in our city with a whole group of relatives, ready to help me prepare for the wedding.

But I never imagined that the apartment I had spent six years decorating with hope, every piece of furniture I chose, every inch of flooring, would be occupied by another woman.

She settled in like she belonged there.

My stomach turned.

I made it to a trash can and stayed there for a while.

I wanted to tell them everything.

Half an hour ago, Liam texted me personally to say the wedding was being pushed back another year.

I wanted to tell my parents he had been cheating.

That every time he called off the wedding weekend, he was with Chloe.

But I found that my throat had been seized by something invisible.

Not a single word came out.

In the elevator, I forced down a mouthful of cold water.

"Liam. It's time you found out what it feels like to be the one made a fool of."