Chapter 1

The smell of roasted garlic and rosemary filled our small apartment.

Our best friends, Sarah and Ben, were already here, laughing at something Ben said.

Tonight was supposed to be special.

We were finalizing wedding plans, and I' d just landed a big research grant.

But Jess was late.

Really late.

"Client emergency," her text had read two hours ago.

I tried her cell.

A guy' s voice answered, young, a little too smooth. "Jess' s phone."

"This is Mike, her fiancé. Who is this?"

"Ethan. Her intern. She' s swamped, man, helping me set up my new downtown loft. Place is a mess, but she' s a miracle worker."

My stomach tightened. A loft?

"Tell her to call me," I said, my voice flat.

He chuckled. "Will do, when she comes up for air."

Click.

Thirty minutes crawled by. The food was getting cold. Sarah kept shooting me worried glances.

Then my phone buzzed. Jess.

"Mike, honey, I am so sorry," she began, her voice rushed, a little breathless. "This client crisis is a nightmare. Old Mr. Henderson is threatening to pull his account. I' m still at the office, buried in paperwork."

Lies. So many lies.

I looked at the cooling roast chicken, the carefully chosen wine.

"No problem," I said, my voice surprisingly calm. "I' ll wait up."

"You' re the best, baby. Love you."

Click.

I didn't say it back.

I immediately dialed Dr. Hayes, my PhD advisor.

She answered on the second ring. "Mike? Everything alright?"

"Dr. Hayes," I said, my voice clear and steady. "About that post-doc in Zurich. I'm in. I'll sign the papers tomorrow morning."

There was a pause. "Mike? Are you sure? What about the wedding? You said..."

"The wedding is no longer a concern," I stated. "Zurich sounds good. I'm ready."

"Well," she said, a note of surprise still in her voice, but supportive as always. "Alright then. I'll have everything ready for you."

"Thank you, Dr. Hayes."

I hung up.

I walked to the coffee table.

The custom-designed engagement ring, the one I' d spent months saving for, the one she' d gushed over, sat in its velvet box.

I picked it up, then tossed the box, ring and all, onto the polished wood. It landed with a small, dull thud.

Sarah gasped. Ben just stared.

"The engagement," I announced to the quiet room, "is off."

I tried to smile, but it felt like my face was cracking. "Sorry to ruin the party. Seven years... guess it just ran its course."

My heart felt like a block of ice.

I pulled out my phone, a sick feeling growing.

Instagram.

Ethan Vance. Public profile.

His latest story, posted ten minutes ago.

A video.

Jess, her head thrown back, laughing.

She was in a sleek, modern loft, fairy lights twinkling in the background. Ethan' s arm was casually draped around her shoulder.

The caption: "Best mentor ever! Helping me make this new place a home. #NewBeginnings #WorkPerks"

New beginnings.

The screen went blurry.

I didn't need to confront her.

I knew.

I started packing a mental suitcase.