Chapter 1

I'd broken up with Ethan six times, and every single time it was because of Mara.

To support this bankrupt heiress and her extravagant lifestyle, he'd always sneak behind my back to fight in illegal underground matches, trading his life for money.

Every time I steeled myself to break things off, he'd kneel before me, eyes red, swearing it was the last time.

Seeing him covered in bruises, I'd soften every single time.

Today was supposed to be the day we met each other's parents and set our wedding date.

I sat in the private dining room, enduring judgmental looks from relatives, waiting from noon until dark.

Ethan never showed up.

It wasn't until ten at night that I got a call from his buddy, Marcus.

"Gianna, Ethan went to fight again. He's in the emergency room right now, you need to—"

I cut him off.

"Let me guess. For Mara again?"

Marcus stammered an explanation.

"Mara had her eye on some limited edition bag..."

Through the phone, I could hear chaos on his end, and faintly, Mara calling out Ethan's name.

Suddenly I felt so tired.

This endless cycle of boundary-crossing and breaking up and getting back together—it was like torture with no end in sight.

I closed my eyes and spoke calmly into the phone.

"I'm not coming. Tell him we're completely done this time."