Chapter 1

Lucius said. "You're still the one I love."

Those words were all it took.

I zipped the dress back up. I decided to give him one last chance.

What I got instead was a phone call.

"I'm sorry, Miss Ashford. Mr. Hayes said the wedding is canceled. Miss Chase had a heart attack. She's in the emergency room."

The bouquet slipped from my hands.

Something inside me cracked clean in half.

I ran out of the hotel.

All I saw was the taillights of his car disappearing into the distance.

I called him, my voice breaking.

"Lucius! If you go to her today, I swear I'll go to the hospital tomorrow and make sure you never see your child again."

He was silent for a moment.

Then he hung up.

The dial tone droned in my ear.

I stood at the hotel entrance in my wedding dress. Guests whispered around me. The emcee stood frozen on the stage, microphone in hand, not knowing what to say.

Lucius's mother hurried over and grabbed my hand.

"Nora, come inside. You're making a scene."

I looked at her.

"The wedding is over, Madam Hayes."

"Don't be ridiculous." Her voice dropped. "Vivian could've died, for God's sake. He didn't have a choice and you know it."

"So he could go to her, but not to me?"

"You're the woman he's marrying. You need to be understanding."

I smiled. I pulled my hand from hers.

"Then I won't be Mrs. Hayes."

I turned and walked toward the back, lifting my skirt so I wouldn't trip.

"Nora Ashford!" she called after me.

"If you walk out that door today, I'll make sure my son doesn't marry you!"

I didn't look back.

In the dressing room, I took off the wedding dress and put on my own clothes.

The makeup artist carefully removed my hair accessories.

"Miss Ashford, your makeup…"

"Leave it."

I picked up my bag and left.

Outside, the sky was gray. I hailed a taxi.

"Graystone General Hospital, please."

My phone buzzed in my bag.

Jensen. Lucius's assistant.

I didn't answer.

I knew what he would say.

*Mr. Hayes is dealing with an emergency. It's not his fault. He'll explain later.*

Ten years of the same damn excuses. I could've recited them in my sleep.

Vivian Chase was Lucius's responsibility. Her brother, Leo, had died saving Lucius five years ago.

I used to think it was right—that he should look after her.

That it was the kind of man he was, and part of why I loved him.

It took me until today to understand.

Some debts never get paid.

They just turn into a leash — you can't tell who's holding the other end.

The taxi stopped at the hospital.

I paid and walked into the emergency building.

Lucius sat on a bench outside the resuscitation room. Head bowed. Elbows on his knees. Hands buried in his hair. His suit jacket crumpled on the seat beside him.

I walked toward him.

He heard the footsteps. Looked up.

When he saw me, he stood.

His eyes were bloodshot.

"Nora. You came. I'm sorry about today—"

"How is she?" I cut him off, my eyes cutting to the closed ER doors.

"The doctor said acute heart failure. She's still being resuscitated. It's not good."

I nodded. "I see."

I turned to leave.

He grabbed my arm.

"Nora, don't be like this. Leo died because of me. I can't not take care of Vivian. She has no one left in this world."

I pulled my arm free.

"Lucius. I'm not being anything. I just realized our wedding seems to matter less than a sister you've known for five years."

"That's not true! You're the most important person to me, Nora. But she could have died."

"The doctor didn't say she would die," I said quietly.

His lips moved, but no words came.

The doors of the ER swung open.

A doctor stepped out.

"Family of Vivian Chase?"

Lucius stood immediately. "That's me."

"Patient's heart rate spiked due to acute emotional distress. We've stabilized her. No immediate danger. We'll move her to a regular ward for observation. Two days, just to be safe."

Lucius exhaled in relief.

He turned to me, his eyes carrying a trace of reproach.

"See how fragile she is? Can't you be more understanding?"

I said nothing.

The bed was wheeled out.

Vivian lay there, pale, eyes closed.

As the gurney passed me, her eyes opened just enough to find my face, tears welled up immediately.

Lucius hurried to her side and took her hand.

"Vivian, don't be scared. I'm here."

I turned and walked out of the hospital.

The cold wind hit my face.

It was only then that I realized my heart was pounding—

Not from grief, not from rage, but from something I hadn't felt in ten years of loving Lucius Hayes.

It was the cold, clean feeling of finally seeing him for what he was.