The day before our wedding, Luke Murray got wasted.

On the ride home, he looked right at me and slurred, "Cassie, don't bring the kid to the ceremony. Arya can't know I'm the dad."

I hit the brakes. Hard. He smacked into the seatback, halfway sobering up.

When he finally realized it was me, he just... froze. Then he said real slow, "Guess you heard. Wedding's off—for now. Cassie doesn't want marriage, but the kid's mine, so I gotta step up. She's your bestie, right? You probably feel bad she's doing this alone. So once he's in school, I'll come back and marry you."

I let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "...That's fine. I don't mind."

He didn't say a word when we got home—just grabbed his suitcase and left.

I wiped the last tear off my face, sat on the bed, and just stared at nothing.

Then my phone lit up. My childhood friend's voice cracked on the other end. "Arya, don't marry him. Please."

I didn't say anything for a sec.

"Okay."

I looked around the house I'd decked out for after the wedding—hearts, ribbons, all of it—and it suddenly felt like a joke.

I used to think it needed more. Now it all just looked cruel.

I chased him for two years in college. Dated him for three. Our wedding was supposed to be tomorrow.

And I'd just found out he hooked up with Cassie—my best friend—three years ago. Their kid's already two.

The betrayal hit like a wrecking ball.

I swallowed the tears. I just needed to get out of that suffocating place.

My phone buzzed.

"Arya, Cassie's tied up with the kid and hasn't eaten. I haven't either. Bring us some food," Luke said like he was giving orders—then hung up before I could even breathe.

I forced a tight smile. It burned.

Cassie's pregnancy was rough. From the first trimester to Lucas turning two, I handled everything. As her best friend and his godmother, I thought I was doing the right thing.

Every time she dodged questions about the dad, I felt bad for her.

Never crossed my mind the guy who bailed on her... was my fiancé.

And the worst part? I used to think she was the clueless one. Joke's on me.

The signs were all there.

Whenever we went out, Cassie rocked skimpy outfits, always brushing up against Luke, flirting like it was no big deal.

It was all planned. Right in front of me.

I used to get jealous, even told Luke maybe they needed some space.

He'd just shrug it off. "Cassie's your bestie, and I'm your man. If you can't trust us, who can you trust?"

A few smooth lines and I'd drop it. Worse—I thought he had a point.

Looking back, I was so dumb.

I let out a dry, bitter laugh.

***

I opened a food app and picked the worst-rated spot I could find. Ordered whatever.

When it showed up, I dumped it on some plates, packed it up, and left.

Honestly, I just wanted to see how Luke—Mr. Can't-Lift-a-Finger—handled a kid.

At Cassie's door, I rang the bell. For a second, I just stood there, dazed.

She opened up in a skin-tight skirt, cheeks flushed.

My face iced over. I knew exactly what she'd been up to.

She didn't care. Gave me this sugary smile and tugged me inside.

When I stayed quiet, she jumped right in. "Arya, come sit. Luke's washing Lucas' face. You should've seen how happy the FATHER AND SON were playing just now!"

The way she said Luke's name—so casual, so close.

Crazy I never caught it before.

'Father and son.' They weren't even hiding it now.

I sat down, stiff and cold.

Luke came out holding Lucas.

I smiled at the kid without thinking.

But Lucas didn't run into my arms like usual.

He pointed right at me.

"Homewrecker."

My smile snapped in place. This two-year-old—who could barely string a sentence together—just called me a homewrecker.

Cassie shot me a quick look, then fake-scolded him.

"Lucas, what are you saying? She's your godmother! She's always loved you the most."

Luke quickly covered the kid's ears. "Cassie, don't yell at him. He's just a kid. Arya's gonna be my wife—she won't take it to heart."

I gave a tight, bitter smile, sitting there like some outsider crashing their perfect little family. "His wife"? That felt like a joke.

Never heard a toddler say 'homewrecker' so clearly before.

Lucas—Luke + Cassie. Took me this long to realize what his name actually meant.

Luke didn't even flinch. Tried to hand the kid to me like nothing happened.

I stepped back. "Enough. I'm leaving."

Luke grabbed my wrist. "Arya, you're free now. Might as well start getting used to taking care of a kid."

I let out a cold, dry laugh. "I might be dumb, but I'm not insane. Why would I raise your side chick's kid? If you three don't think I'm in the way, well—I do."

Cassie, catching the vibe, jumped in with a smile.

"Arya, you know I never wanted to get married. The baby was an accident... If you want him, I'll sign over guardianship. That way your marriage to Luke won't be affected."

She nudged Luke while she talked, her chest brushing against his shoulder like it was nothing.

"Go home with your wife. I've been doing this solo for two years—I can keep going. If Arya ever wants a kid, she can take over anytime."

Lucas suddenly burst into tears in Luke's arms.

Luke freaked, fumbling for tissues, whispering comfort till the kid calmed down.

Then he handed Lucas to Cassie and finally turned on me.

"Arya Addington, enough! I couldn't be there for my son because of you—and now you wanna take him from his mom too? You've been taking care of him. He's used to you. You either keep doing it or forget about marrying me."

I couldn't breathe.

I stormed out.

Because of me he couldn't be there for his son? What kind of twisted logic was that?

I bolted down the stairs, yanked open the car door—just as I was about to slam it shut, Luke stepped in the way.

He frowned, blocking it. "Arya, I was gonna tell you when Cassie got pregnant. I didn't mean to hide it. But she's your best friend, and she never wanted to get married... I figured when the kid got older and things got tough, she'd hand guardianship over to you."

I stared at him, eyes burning. "Too bad you said it out loud. If I hadn't known, maybe I would've raised her kid. But now? I'm not raising some love child you made with your side chick."

He saw the tears in my eyes and scoffed. "You're the Addington heiress, and you can't even handle this? You're nothing compared to Cassie. She grew up in the slums and still has more backbone than you."

My nose stung. I forced back the tears. "I'm not gonna argue with you. I'm done."

Luke yanked me out of the driver's seat and pulled me into a tight hug. "Come on, don't cry. I'll make it right—just not now."

I let out a hollow laugh and slipped out of his arms.

Looked away for a second before whispering, "Forget it. Let's break up."

The tears finally came.

I couldn't hold them back. I broke down, full-on sobbing.

Luke just stood there, frozen. Then he grabbed my face, made me look at him.

Like he was offering some big favor, he said, "I'll stay with you a few days a week, then go back to take care of Lucas. That cool?"

When I didn't answer, he sighed hard. "Arya, this is the best I can do. Can you stop being so unreasonable?"

I took a deep breath, forcing the sobs down.

"That's too much. Just thinking about it drains me. We're done, Luke. Go be with her and Lucas. How I'm doing? Not your problem anymore."

He grabbed my shoulder, thinking I was just being dramatic. "Are you serious?"

I didn't say a word. Just turned to get in the car.

Then he shoved me—hard. "So that's it? Dropping the act now? Gonna throw your rich girl tantrum?"

My head slammed into the car roof. I lost my balance and hit the ground.

Luke didn't even flinch. Just shot me a bitter look and walked off.

At some point, Cassie showed up. Barely even tried to scold him. "Arya's from money. Isn't it normal for her to be a little dramatic? Can't you cut her some slack?"

Luke scoffed, slipping his arm around her waist like it was nothing.

"I'm human too. Why should I baby her? She's the one who chased after me. Now she thinks she can throw tantrums?"

He gave me a cold glance, then turned to Cassie with this soft tenderness.

"You're better—understanding, chill. If Arya had been the one with a baby, she'd lose it every other day. Just thinking about it annoys me."

Watching them play house right in front of me made me want to throw up. I didn't say a word.

Just got in the car and drove off.

But everything kept replaying in my head, over and over.

The pain in my chest made it hard to breathe.

My phone rang—Luke's mom.

"Arya, I heard what happened. Luke canceled the wedding. He was wrong to keep it from us. The kid's already two, but look—the whole thing was an accident. Cassie's willing to give up parental rights. As long as Luke still wants to marry you, nothing has to change. You're still his fiancée. And if it really bothers you, I'll raise the kid myself so he's not in your way."

My throat tightened. I had to swallow hard before I could speak. "Paulina, it's over. Luke and I are done."

Her voice went cold. "You rich girls are all the same. I had doubts from the start. I didn't want my son feeling small next to you. He messed up—like any man. He owned it. Can't you just let it go?"

My hands locked on the wheel, knuckles white. "It's fine. Your son doesn't have to feel small anymore. He and Cassie are perfect for each other. I'm out. For real."

I hung up, slammed the brakes, and pulled over.

Couldn't breathe.

Back then, I gave it all up—my world, my comfort—just to protect his ego. Traded everything for "simple."

He finally chose me, but the digs never stopped. One jab after another.

And I took it. Smiled. Nodded. Thought if I stayed sweet long enough, he'd finally mean it.

Then came the family party.

"I heard Luke's dating some rich girl? Where is she? Don't tell me it's that plain one next to him."

"She looks poorer than we do. No way she's from money. Luke probably made it up."

Laughter all around.

Luke?

He glanced at me like I was gum on his shoe.

***

I spaced out for a bit before finally driving myself home.