3
Two days before my flight, I went to the bank to exchange currency for my new life in London. As I stepped out, a person in a fluffy
mascot costume–a promotion for the mall–blocked my way.
The oversized head came off, revealing a familiar, friendly face. ““Rachel? It’s Mark! From back home. I haven’t seen you in forever!
When are you coming back for a visit?“”
I was an orphan. Damian and Bruno had been the only family I’d ever known. I’d given up everything for them, and it had all been a
terrible mistake.
Mark’s simple, honest concern was almost too much to bear. I forced a smile. ““I’m not going back, Mark.”
ww
He grinned. “I always thought I had a shot with you, you know. Then you found that Damian guy six years ago. But hey, it all worked
out. You married into a good family. I’m happy for you. Come on, let me buy you lunch.”
FFOR
He made a hundred bucks a day wearing that stupid costume, but he insisted on taking me to a restaurant where a single meal
cost five hundred. He said we didn’t know when we’d see each other again. I couldn’t refuse his kindness.
The restaurant was next to the most luxurious bridal salon in New York.
Damian had once promised me a fairy–tale wedding, a dress made just for me. It was another promise that had dissolved into thin
air.
I glanced through the window and froze. There they were. Damian and Seraphina, trying on wedding attire. And Bruno was with
them, beaming.
Damian saw me at the same moment. His face contorted with rage. He stormed out of the shop and, without a word, punched Mark squarely in the jaw.
He spun on me, his voice dripping with venom. ““Rachel, are you that desperate? Scrabbling around in the gutter for trash like this? Then again,” he sneered, ““I guess a poor girl from the sticks can only attract a loser like him.”
OF ST
““Damian, are you insane?!“” I scrambled to help Mark up, putting myself between them.
Mark looked utterly bewildered, unable to comprehend that this was the same man who had once loved me so fiercely.
A raw, burning anger rose in my throat. I stared at Damian and Seraphina, a perfect couple in their wedding finery. “And what are you two doing?“” I spat. “Playing house? Getting married? Should I send a wedding gift?“”
He looked stunned for a second, shocked that I’d dared to talk back. Then his expression hardened into self–righteous fury.
“This is your fault! You’re an embarrassment! Bruno wanted to see his mother looking beautiful and elegant for once. Seraphina was just doing this for him, to make him happy! Don’t you dare project your own filthy, cheating mind onto everyone else!“”
Bruno, clutching Seraphina’s pristine white dress, nodded eagerly. ““You’re ugly! You’re not my mom! I want Seraphina to be my mom! Why don’t you just get out of our lives?
Seraphina smirked, a look of pure triumph on her face. “Rachel, darling, a woman has to accept when she’s past her prime. You really should consider some work. It does wonders.“”
My fists clenched, my nails digging into my palms so hard I should have felt pain, but I felt nothing but a cold, spreading numbness.
“Damian,” I said, my voice dangerously low. “Who the hell do you think you are? You’re the father of my son. That’s it. You have no right to control my life. You three can play your sick little family game all you want. Just keep it out of my sight.“”
Chapter 1
16:48.0
I turned to Seraphina. ““And you. If you enjoy picking up my leftovers, be my guest.”
With that, I helped Mark to his feet and walked away, not looking back. Behind me, I could hear Damian’s furious shouts and Serap-
hina’s fake, soothing reassurances fading into the city noise.
““Rachel,” Mark murmured, ““don’t listen to them. You’re the best person I know.“”
Back in our small town, everyone thought so. Even as an orphan, I’d had countless people trying to set me up. But with Damian, I
was less than nothing. An object of disgust.
Not anymore. I would never give him the power to hurt me again.
