Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Two days before our engagement party, Kaden Hartwell grabbed my hand and kissed my fingertips.
“Cora, don’t all girls love getting their nails done? How come you never do?”
I was scrolling through engagement dress options from our wedding planner, laughing. “I’m glued to my laptop all day. Long nails are a nightmare for typing.”
“You should totally get some. French almond nails are gorgeous.”
His thumb traced my nail edge with suspicious expertise.
“The sheer pink base with that gradient effect… would look incredible on you.”
My heart STOPPED.
I looked up at him, alarm bells going off.
‘Since when are you a nail art expert?”
The air went dead for a few seconds.
Panic flashed in his eyes before he forced a smile.
Just saw it scrolling online.”
Fifteen years of knowing him, ten years together-I knew him way too well.
When he lied, he’d look away and flash that stiff smile.
Then he’d change the subject.
‘Oh, I just remembered-I never grabbed that package downstairs. Be right back.”
He ruffled my hair like always and headed for the door.
Didn’t even change out of his slippers.
His phone was just sitting there on the couch.
I stared at it for a few seconds, punched in the passcode, and unlocked it.
14:48
Walgreens Notified Me About His ‘Plan R’ Purchase So I Unoraded Him to ‘Plan Bankruptcy
86.4%
Chapter 1
Everything was clean. TOO clean.
I was his only pinned contact, saved as “Wifey.”
His chat history showed nothing but family and mutual friends.
Plus some coworkers.
By this point, I should’ve felt relieved.
But that heavy feeling in my chest wouldn’t budge.
On impulse, I clicked into his contacts and scrolled to recently added friends.
Only one person in the past three months.
Profile pic was Irving in a jersey-Kaden’s favorite basketball player.
Clicked on her info-a girl named Tessa.
The chat history had been deleted. Even the “friend request accepted” notification was gone.
I backed out and searched her name.
Found a group chat called “Drinking Buddies.”
Kaden had muted it, but all the messages were still there.
Five people total: Kaden, Tessa, and three of his childhood friends.
Had no clue that for the past three months, all those nights Kaden claimed he was working late… he’d been hitting up bars.
Tessa was a bartender.
The four guys were regulars at her place,
July 6th, his buddy Chase posted a photo-
Tessa was curled up in Kaden’s arms, eyes glazed from drinking, laughing as she clung to his arm.
I spotted those long fingers right away-French almond nails.
[This shot is EPIC!]
[Yo Kaden, if you weren’t with Cora, I’d totally set you up with Tessa Sterling.]
14:48
Walgreens Notified Me About His ‘Plan R’ Purchase So I Ungraded Him to ‘Plan Bankruptcy
86.6
Chapter 1
Kaden replied:
[Without Cora, would I need you playing matchmaker?]
July 15th, Kaden sent a message:
Whatever you do, don’t share that video of me and Tessa from last night. That was just… an accident.]
Chase: [Got your back, bro.]
Tessa Sterling: [It was just a drunk kiss, no biggie.]
Your girl isn’t THAT uptight, right?]
Followed by a string of emojis.
uly 25th, Chase messaged:
Dude, what the hell? Tessa’s a LEGEND-she gave you a hickey!]
His friend Marcus: [Kaden, you’re screwed if Cora sees that. She’ll murder you!]
Kaden: [Haven’t been home in two days. Staying at Tessa’s place.]
That’s when I realized those two days he said he was on a business trip… he was just hiding the marks on his
leck.
Kept scrolling to August 1st-the day Kaden proposed to me.
That night he left me to “hang with the guys” and didn’t come home.
Next day he showed up with scratches on his face.
Said one of his buddies got drunk and started a fight.
Total lie,
Chase: [Kaden’s a beast! Way to play the hero!]
Kaden: [That asshole was hitting on Tessa. Should’ve broken his damn hands.]
Tessa Sterling: [Thanks for last night. Who’s gonna protect me like that once you’re married?]
Kaden: [You’re MY girl. Married or not, I’ll protect you forever.]
My heart felt like it was being crushed by a giant fist.
14:48
Walgreens Nouilled My Alv
So 1 Hvaraded Him to Plan Bankruptcy
86.8%
Chapter 1
Couldn’t breathe.
After reading all the messages, everything from the past few months finally made sense.
Kaden’s random overtime, the cat hair on his clothes, the weird new playlists on his Spotify…
All of it led back to Tessa Sterling.
It took me about a minute to fully process this reality.
During the year we were supposed to be getting ready for marriage, my fiancé had been cheating.
14:48
Walgreens Notlled Me show the plan BiDaveliess
Usounded Ulm to ‘Plan Bankruptcy
87.0%
