Chapter 4

The pre-wedding charity gala was Daniel's idea. An event to showcase his beautiful, happy fiancée to his business partners and the city's elite. For me, it was a stage for my public humiliation.

He stood beside me at the entrance to the grand ballroom, his hand a possessive weight on the small of my back. I wore a sapphire blue dress he had chosen, a diamond necklace he had clasped around my throat. I felt like a doll, perfectly dressed and utterly lifeless.

"Smile, Olivia," he murmured in my ear, his breath warm against my skin. "Everyone is watching."

I forced my lips into a curve that felt alien on my face. The room was a blur of glittering chandeliers, champagne flutes, and fake smiles. Every person who came up to congratulate us felt like another turn of the knife.

Then, I saw her.

She was standing across the room, by the large French doors that led to the terrace. Sarah Miller. In person, she was even more striking than in the photo. She wore a slinky red dress that commanded attention, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders. She was laughing, a throaty, confident sound that cut through the polite chatter of the room.

And Daniel saw her too. I felt the subtle shift in his body, the way his hand on my back tensed. His eyes were locked on her, a hunger in his gaze that I had mistaken for love when it was directed at me.

A small boy, about six years old with a shock of dark hair, clung to her hand. Kevin.

As if feeling our eyes on her, Sarah looked over. Her smile widened when she met Daniel's gaze. Then, her eyes slid to me, still standing at his side. Her smile didn't falter, but it changed. It became mocking, triumphant. She knew exactly who I was. She knew she had already won.

Daniel started to move, pulling me along with him as if I were an afterthought. "Come," he said, his voice tight. "There are people we need to greet."

But he wasn't heading for his business partners. He was walking directly toward her.

My blood ran cold. He was going to introduce us. He was going to stand me next to my replacement, the original model, and expect me to play the part of the happy fiancée.

The chatter around us seemed to fade as we approached. I heard whispers, saw the curious and pitying glances from the people nearby.

"Isn't that Sarah Miller? I thought she left town years ago."

"That's her, all right. And look, she's with Daniel Hayes. But isn't he engaged to that young ward of his?"

"This is awkward. The poor girl looks like a deer in the headlights."

The words were tiny, sharp cuts against my raw nerves. I wanted the floor to swallow me whole.

When we reached them, Daniel dropped his hand from my back. The small act of abandonment felt like a shove.

"Sarah," he said, his voice softer than I'd heard it in days.

"Daniel," she purred, her eyes flicking from him to me and back again. "It's been a long time. You look well." She gestured to the boy beside her. "This is my son, Kevin."

Daniel's gaze softened as he looked at the child. "Hello, Kevin."

Kevin just stared, his expression sullen.

Sarah's eyes landed on me again, a predatory glint in them. "And this must be Olivia. You didn't tell me how much she looks like I used to."

The insult was delivered with a sweet smile. It was designed to gut me, and it did.

Daniel didn't defend me. He just stood there, caught between his past and his present. He offered a weak, placating smile. "Sarah, Olivia. It's good you can finally meet."

I couldn't breathe. My vision started to tunnel. I needed to get out of there. "Excuse me," I mumbled, turning to flee.

I took two steps before I bumped into someone, stumbling. Strong hands gripped my arms, steadying me.

"Whoa there. Are you alright?"

I looked up into a pair of kind, concerned blue eyes. The man was handsome, with light brown hair and a face that was open and honest. He wasn't part of Daniel's cold, polished world.

"I'm fine," I lied, pulling away. "Thank you."

"You don't look fine," he said gently. "My name is Jack Peterson. Can I get you a glass of water? Maybe some air?"

His voice was a lifeline in a sea of cruelty. I looked back. Daniel was now deep in conversation with Sarah, his back completely turned to me. He hadn't even noticed I was gone.

I was invisible.

"Yes," I said to the kind stranger, my voice cracking. "Air. Please."

He nodded, his brow furrowed with worry, and gently guided me through the crowd toward the terrace, away from the scene of my own execution.