Chapter 1
On the day I graduated from Cambridge University, I immediately boarded a plane home, my heart full of joy and anticipation for my wedding with my boyfriend of ten years.[]
But while setting up our wedding suite, I accidentally discovered over a thousand carefully preserved plane tickets my boyfriend had kept–judging by the dates, he’d been flying to England at least once a month, but never to see me, even though I was only sixty miles from his destinations.[]
Filled with confusion, I arrived early at the wedding venue he’d arranged, only to witness him kneeling on one knee, proposing to another woman:]
“Ruelle, will you marry me? Just say yes and I’ll arrange to switch brides immediately“]
The earnest devotion in his gaze made me unable to take another step forward.[]
1
Since I wasn’t the woman he wanted to spend his life with, I’d let them have the wedding.
But why, after I ran from the wedding, did he panic and search the world over for me…]
The proposal scene was decked out in roses, bathed in warm golden light that screamed romance and intimacy.
Caspian’s silhouette, down on one knee, matched every fantasy I’d ever had about my own proposal.
Except the woman standing across from him? That wasn’t me.[]
‘Ruelle, will you marry me?”
Ruelle accepted the roses, covering her mouth with a shy laugh, a dazzling diamond ring already gleaming on her ring finger.
They crashed together in a passionate embrace, their heated whispers carriek to my ears on the evening breeze.[]
I found myself absently fidgeting with the promise ring Caspian had shipped overseas to me.]
I’d never told him it was too big.]
To keep it from sliding off. I’d wound thread around the band until it fit just right:
After all this time, the thread had worn thin. With one sharp tug. If snapped.[]
Without that binding, the ring slipped right off my finger and rolled away, disappearing down a storm drain
Just like Caspian during my two years abroad–without me there to hold him back.
An ill–fitting ring wasn’t worth retrieving, and a man who didn’t love me wasn’t worth fighting for.]
“Cas, I really hope you go through with the wedding as planned.”
“Why would you say that? You’re the only one I want to marry!”
“Because… I want to object at your wedding! That way I can prove you love me most!”
I stopped mid–stride.]
I was morbidly curious to see just how far Caspian would go to hurt me for Ruelle’s sake.[]
“You little troublemaker, only you would come up with such a devious plan!”
“Guess I better pack some running shoes so w
can make our escape faster.“]
“You’d really do that to Posey?”
“Marrying her is already pushing my limits. If she can’t keep her husband from being stolen away, that’s not exactly my fault, is it?”
Their delighted laughter cut through me like a knife.
I turned and leaned against a tree, my legs too weak to carry me another step.
- ay.
Terrified my sobs would give me away, I clamped my hand over my mouth and stumbled away.
Halfway home, my unsteady legs gave out completely and I went down hard on the pavement.]
I limped back to my apartment, battered and humiliated, and called my thesis advisor:[]
“Professor, about that research project you mentioned–count me in.“I
My advisor was thrilled but confused:
“Didn’t you say you were getting married and settling down hack home? Or did your fiancé agree to keep doing the long–distance thing? Either way, being separated after marriage isn’t exactly ideal. You sure you don’t want to think this through?”
I dabbed at my scraped and bleeding knees, each touch sending shockwaves of pain through me:]
“The wedding’s off. From now on, I’m going to be your right–hand woman, completely devoted to research“]
My advisor had always treated me like his own daughter, and he immediately picked up on my distress:
“Today’s actually the deadline, so I’ll get your name on the roster. Come back as soon as you can–we’ll dive straight into work. Keeping busy is the best way to avoid dwelling on things.“]
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but these past two years, you’ve been the one flying back to see him. He never once made the trip to Cambridge. That tells you everything you need to know about how much he really loves you.“]
“Once you’ve decided to let go, don’t torture yourself by looking back.“[]
If I hadn’t seen that thick stack of plane tickets, I could have confidently argued with my advisor’s assessment that “he doesn’t love you that much.”
But now? I finally understood everything.
No wonder he always went radio silent at the end of every month.]
Turns out he was busy flying halfway around the world to be with Ruelle
For two solid years. I’d been a complete fool, busting my ass with coursework and publications just to free up time for visits home.
Those brief reunions after fifteen–hour flights used to be the highlight of my existence.
But my love that crossed oceans became a joke in the face of that stack of tickets Caspian had been hoarding.]
On my way to the proposal scene, I’d even tried to convince myself that maybe his trips to Cambridge were work–related
But watching him propose to Ruelle–the same woman who’d tormented me for years–finally made it crystal clear why he’d never bothered to visit me, even when I was just sixty miles away.[]
Ruelle wouldn’t let him see me.]
So he’d sweet–talk me with lies about missing me terribly.]]
He knew damn well that Ruelle and I were mortal enemies.]
More specifically, after Dad remarried, Ruelle and her mother had become the biggest nightmare of
my childhood.]
I’d imagined a thousand scenarios where Caspian might fall for someone else during our two years apart.]
But I never once thought it would be Ruelle, or that he’d agree to humiliate me at our wedding just to make her happy.[]
I cank into a hot bath, waiting for my body to stop shaking.
Caspian’s call came through:[]
“Posey, where are you? I’m already at Riverside Park!”
