Prologue
“Oh, come on! You need a break, Mauve!” Tessa, my co-owner at the shop, told me one night.
Honestly, I don’t even know what kind of break she’s talking about. Our shop isn’t exactly overflowing with customers. If I’m being honest, sales haven’t been good this month. And if it weren’t for my side hustle as a freelance writer, my child and I wouldn’t even have anything to eat.
Now she’s sulking because I won’t go clubbing. She always forgets—I’m not alone in this life. My daughter’s waiting for me. It’s just fortunate that my aunt is here in Toronto for vacation, so I have someone to watch over Luna. And now, she wants to go clubbing?
If I were still single, maybe. But now? I don’t have the luxury to do those things. I gotta straight my priorities. First, my daughter’s turning four next year. Second, she’ll be starting school. And now, I have to think of her future. My life isn’t about me anymore.
“Mauve, promise! You’ll have so much fun!” Tessa insisted.
I set the sales record book aside on the corner of my office desk and sighed, adjusting my glasses. Across from me, she stood from the small couch, hands clasped together like she was about to pray.
“Look,” I muttered. Her eyebrows lifted in question. “My daughter’s waiting for me, so no. Just call Avi and the others instead, Tessa.”
“You’re so damn hard to convince, you know?” she said with a pout.
I know.
I offered a small smile and started packing my bag. One glance at my watch—8 p.m. Luna might already be asleep. I hope so, because the last time I got home, she was still up watching her favorite show on TV—which, weirdly enough, is a hockey league. She even has a favorite player, though I forgot his name.
“You know, you only have one child, but you act like you’ve got a whole husband and ten kids waiting at home,” Tessa snarked.
I laughed and turned to her. “Well, Nathan will be coming home, too.”
Her eyes widened, then her face twisted into pure disgust as she marched up to me. She grabbed my shoulders, her expression a mess of disbelief and irritation. I already knew what was going through her mind.
“You got back together?!”
I shook my head and gently removed her hands from my shoulders.
“We’re trying… for Luna’s sake.”
That was the truth. We weren’t exactly together, but we were trying. Nathan and I have been on and off for years. Maybe we’re both just tired in our long relationship. Still, neither of us could walk away completely. Luna’s arrival was a huge factor in that.
We’re not perfect as partners, but we’re trying to be good parents. I don’t want my daughter to grow up without a father. And Nathan, while flawed, wasn’t a bad dad. He had his shortcomings, sure—but don’t all dads?
“Masochist! Stupid idiot! Knobhead!”
Tessa’s outburst nearly gave me a heart attack. She hates Nathan. Why, exactly? I’m not even sure anymore. Maybe because of everything I’ve confided to her—our history, our issues.
“I gotta go, Tess. You take care of things here,” I said as I slung my bag over my shoulder.
She rolled her eyes and waved me off. “Whatever! There are a million guys in the world and you’re suffering over one jerk. My god! You're too pretty for him!”
I could only laugh at her dramatics. I booked a taxi since my car was still in the repair shop, and Nathan was still at work. I couldn’t ask him to pick me up either way.
“Mommy, home! Miss you, Mommy!” my daughter Luna greeted me as soon as I stepped inside.
She got up from the couch just to run into my arms.
She was in the living room watching her favorite NHL player. Looks like my aunt fell asleep again while putting her to bed. I’ll probably need to take a few days off to personally look after Luna. It’s not healthy for her to stay up this late.
Nathan really got her into watching hockey, and now she’s learned to stay up just to finish games. I picked her up and kissed her cheek. “How’s my baby?” I asked gently.
Luna smiled sweetly, her dimples showing deep on her cheeks. She was too cute—I smothered her with kisses, and she giggled in delight.
We went to our room, and I tucked her in. She fell asleep quickly since she was already drowsy when I arrived. She just liked it when I was the one to put her to bed.
It was already past eleven, and Nathan still wasn’t home. I tried calling him, but no answer. No replies to my texts either.
After six months of trying to fix our relationship for Luna’s sake, this was the first time he hadn’t returned a single call or message. He usually sends a quick “I’m busy” or calls back within a few minutes. So this worried me.
To Nathan:
Hun, I’m worried. What time are you coming home? Please text back.
I sighed and stared up at the ceiling. The ticking of the clock echoed in the silence. Waiting felt awful.
In our long relationship, this wasn’t the first time this had happened. But the last time he went quiet like this… it was right before our last breakup.
Of course, that doesn’t mean he’s doing it again.
We already talked. We promised we were past that.
So I shouldn’t overthink.
Maybe he’s just busy. Maybe he’s stuck in traffic.
God, I feel so terrible even thinking like this.
I looked at Luna, sleeping soundly beside me. My chest tightened from the swirl of thoughts in my head, but I brushed them aside and gently stroked her cheek. She’s the only light in my life now. Her smile and happiness are everything to me. I’ll endure anything for her. I have to.
My phone vibrated, and I sat up in a rush—only to regret it when Luna stirred. I soothed her back to sleep before checking the message. I thought it was from Nathan.
But it wasn’t. It was from Tessa.
I almost ignored it—until I read the contents. And tt felt like someone dumped a bucket of cold water over me. My chest thudded painfully, and every part of my body felt like it lost all strength.
Please, not again.
The loud music immediately greeted me when I entered the club. It was loud and thumping—felt like my hearing would be damaged, and it echoed in my chest. This wasn’t the first time I’ve stepped into a place like this, but it’s been years since the last time, so it felt unfamiliar. The neon lights were blinding, especially when they hit my sight.
It was packed with people, laughing, chatting, and some were even making out. The club was high-end enough, and if not for my friend Tessa, who has many connections, I definitely wouldn’t have been allowed in.
“Hey, sweetie. You feelin’ like having a little fun tonight?” a man my age hit on me.
I just shook my head and quickly walked away. God, I’m even in my nightwear. I only had my coat on, so I wasn’t too noticeable. I was in such a rush that I didn’t bother changing. My head was already bombarded with what Tessa had texted me.
I went to the place Tessa told me about, and I saw her, probably waiting for me.
Each step I took felt heavy, my chest rising and falling slowly with each breath. Every step made it harder to breathe. I was even praying that Tessa was wrong. Though I knew deep down there was a possibility, I was still hoping it wasn’t true.
I don’t want Luna to suffer, to get her heart broken.
“Mauve…” I shook my head at her.
I wasn’t in the right mindset to talk right now. Not when I was walking on a thread of hopelessness. I prayed that I was wrong. I hoped it wasn’t true.
I slowly opened the door, and as soon as there was a slight opening, I could already hear disgusting moans. Across the room, in one of the darker areas near the back, I saw him.
Nathan. He was in bed with a woman.
“Oh fuck, Hailey!”
My long-time boyfriend, the man who promised me six months ago that he’d do better this time. That we would try again—for Luna, for our family. But here he was, his body pressed against someone else’s, making the same mistake he did before Luna. And now, it was happening after Luna was born, when our daughter is already three year old.
I felt all the exhaustion slowly dragging me down. All the quiet doubts I swallowed, the hope I clung to like a fool, for Luna, for him, for us, it all unraveled in a heartbeat. I sighed deeply, trying to calm myself.
I turned around and didn’t go in or continue my confrontation. Maybe I’m really a coward. I thought I could shout at him, get angry, but all I could feel was numb.
I walked away, feeling the tears fall down my cheeks. I can hear Tessa calling me but I didn't look back. My body was weak, but I forced myself to leave that place. Instead, I drifted toward the bathroom, the floor sticky under my flat sandals. Inside, I stared at my reflection. My face looked pale under the fluorescent lights. Eyes glassy, mascara smudged. I looked like someone who’d just had their world ripped out from under them.
Because I had. And the worst.
Moments after, I found myself at the bar counter, ordering alcohols I’d never tasted before.
I’ll probably regret this by tomorrow morning, but I’ll think about that later. I just want to get wasted tonight. I watched the amber liquid swirl in my glass, the tequila catching the dim light as it settled around the ice cubes. The loudness of the sleek club in Toronto began to dull in my ears. The image of what I saw earlier kept flashing in my mind.
My heart ached, not because I still loved him—maybe I do, but it was the whole truth that my daughter would get hurt. She had just gotten to know Nathan, and she was already adjusting to his presence, but now this. I feel like I’m failing as a mother. I should have done better for her.
“Rough night?” A man’s voice cut through my thoughts.
I quickly wiped away the tears on my face.
Even though I was already dizzy, I looked at the man who spoke. And because my vision was blurry, I could barely make out his face. He was a man in his late 20s, muscular and clearly from a wealthy background. He wore a simple white shirt tucked into his black trousers. His brown hair was slightly long, and though I couldn’t fully see his face, I noticed there was no mustache or beard. All I could make out were his sharp jaw and tall, Greek-like nose.
I turned my eyes back to my drink and straightened in my seat slightly, gripping the glass to keep myself steady.
“Nothing a stranger needs to worry about,” I said softly, managing a tight smile. “But… thank you.”
I wasn’t in the mood to talk, but some part of me welcomed the distraction, anything to pull me away from my thoughts. He chuckled or maybe that’s what I heard.
“One classic martini,” his voice was firm yet there was a hint of softness.
“Didn’t expect you tonight, D.” I heard the bartender said.
“Had a victory party,” the man who was sitting in the stool beside me, voice low, gravel-smooth.
“Your team won?” In my peripheral vision, the bartender leaned in a little, curious.
“Nah,” he said, tipping his glass. “A friend’s getting married.”
I didn’t mean to listen, but I had nowhere else to put my attention. The voices were just clear enough to catch over the pulse of the bass.
D. Victory party. Team.
Whatever.
I tried not to care about the surroundings anymore so I just downed the drink without saying a word. I felt the bitterness in my throat, but I didn’t back down. I ordered another shot of tequila.
I was hoping that through alcohol, the pain would subside, at least for a little while. Even just for tonight. So I could have the courage this time. So I wouldn’t beg like I did before, like I did years ago.
Another tear fell as I closed my eyes, and I was about to lift my hand to wipe it away when I felt a firm hand on my cheek. I opened my eyes and saw the man from earlier gently wiping my tears as if he could take all my pain away.
“A woman like you shouldn’t be crying like a mess,” his voice was low yet sure.
His eyes, though dimly seen, looked serious. Before I could pull away, he had already removed his hand. He took a drink from his glass without breaking eye contact.
I don’t know what came over me. I wasn’t even drunk yet, but somehow I found myself on my feet, slowly making my way toward him. Even with me standing, he still had a few inches on me. I’m 5'5, not exactly short, not exactly tall but next to him, I felt... smaller. And maybe that’s why I wondered just how tall he really was.
I stared at him. He didn’t react and just stayed still, watching me. Waiting for what I would do next. Now that I was closer, I realized his face seemed familiar. And undeniably gorgeous—not the usual macho type, but somewhere between pretty and dangerously handsome.
“Are you flirting with me?” I asked.
His eyebrows shot up, and a small grin appeared on his lips. “I’m not. But if it seems that way to you… maybe I am.”
I didn’t answer right away. Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the heartbreak. But I reached out, caressing his jaw. His muscles tensed under my touch. Still, he didn’t stop me. Just let me invade his space, like I had every right to.
I brought my face closer, testing the space between us. Still, he didn’t react—like he was waiting. Daring me. I furrowed my brow and stared at him. An inch apart, and he still didn’t blink. He just sat there, as stiff as every man who didn’t know what to do with a woman’s rage.
“Am I not pretty?” A hint of insecurity slipped out. It was too late to take it back.
“You are gorgeous, miss.”
I furrowed my brow even more. Liar!
“If I am, why aren’t you reacting to my touch? Don’t you want to kiss me?” Maybe I was being foolish.
I knew what I was doing. I knew it was definitely wrong. But his smirk told me to do more, to say more.
“I’m not one to take advantage of a drunk woman,” he stated, as if that was the truth.
I bit my lip while staring into his heavy-lidded eyes. My gaze fell to his lips before returning to his eyes.
In every way, this was so wrong. I had a daughter waiting for me at home. I was no better than Nathan.
But God, it was hard to resist. Maybe I’d condemn myself later, but right now… I wanted to spite it. Spite Nathan. For what he did to me.
“I’m not drunk,” I whispered, voice barely audible.
“Really?” he teased, his hand slowly moving up my waist.
I nodded at him. He grinned even more. “Just heartbroken then?”
I didn’t respond. I just stared at his lips like they were something forbidden I desperately wanted.
“Alright,” he said quietly, his voice close, “then let me be the mistake that makes it hurt a little less.” He breathed the words into the space between us, then kissed me like he’d been holding back.
His kisses weren’t rough. They were slow, almost passionate. Something new and off-limits. It wasn’t desperate or rushed. It was something else. Something that felt dangerously close to real.
And the next thing I knew… I woke up tangled in sheets that weren’t mine. My head was pounding, and my body was sore in places that felt too intimate for someone whose name I didn’t even catch until after.
What was supposed to be a reckless one-night stand to spite Nathan—to feel something other than betrayal—turned into something that made my stomach twist.
Because, news flash, Mauve Sydney!
You just spent the night with Achilles Dimitri, star center of the Toronto Vipers, national sweetheart, Luna’s favorite hockey player.
Just what the heck, Mauve!
