Prologue
Lia glared at her reflection in the mirror, as if trying to burn a hole through it, remembering every word he had said. She angrily swept a strand of her blonde hair from her face, the strand that kept falling out of her messy updo. How had she been so blind?
“Goddamn lying jerk,” she muttered, ready to rip her carefully styled hair apart. She had never been this angry in her life. She wasn’t the type to lose control easily, but today... today was one of those rare life challenges that could only be called a lesson.
Everyone was either a gift or a test.
Well, she could’ve done without this gift. With way too much force and energy, she smoothed down the soft, mint-green dress that hugged her body and flowed down to her knees in delicate waves. She practically attacked the fabric, unable to rein in her emotions.
Her best friend was getting married today, and it was her damn duty to be there when she said “I do” to the man Lia loved. The man Lia thought was the one.
Determined, Lia wiped away the desperate tears that had formed in the corners of her eyes—tears that, despite her best efforts, kept showing up. Betrayer. She wasn’t going to cry like some heartbroken teenager over a guy who didn’t deserve her. And she sure as hell wasn’t going to let her friend walk blindly into disaster.
She took a deep breath.
The gentle breeze drifting through the open window brought with it the scent of lilies and roses. But instead of being comforting, the sweet fragrance almost made her gag today. She was disappointed in herself, but even more so, she was furious, loaded with anger at herself for falling for this—this asshole.
She dealt with men every day who sent flowers to both their wives and their mistresses. She wasn’t going to let that happen to her friend.
Just wait, Lia thought to herself. But even as she formed her plan, doubts crept quietly into her mind, offering rational arguments about why she had no right to interfere.
Was she really going to insert herself into her friend’s life just because she couldn’t let go? Was it her duty to tell the truth? Faint whispers of doubt seeped into her heart, accompanied by a vision of the two of them, together—her and him. Was she being too selfish to let him go? Did she begrudge them their happiness?
She was about to ruin her friend’s wedding day. The one day she’d planned with so much care. But she couldn’t keep her eyes closed to the reality that had been hanging over her like a darkening storm cloud.
One last look in the mirror told her the summer dress looked great on her—but it wasn’t going to be any armor for the battle ahead. It wouldn’t protect her from the emotions that were crushing her and robbing her of sleep.
No matter how Lia felt, she had to go. One way or another, something was going to break. Maybe even her.
She had no choice.
