Shattered Proposal, Unexpected Bride

iamond ring, not too flashy, but elegant. It was for Sarah.

in the city, the kind of place Sarah always talked ab

ut that wasn't unusual. She was ambitious and o

d. But she wasn't alone. She was with Mark Peterson, a senior

ing led to a private balcony, the best spot in

. Maybe it was a su

e got down on one knee in front of Mark. I couldn't hear the words,

d kissed her deeply. The whole

my hand felt like a block of ice. It was my birthday. And

d out my phone. I didn't cal

ng. "Ethan, happy birthday!

ened to the cheering for Sara

Are yo

aw whisper. "Mom... abou

n the other end. "W

, the words tasting

e phone. "Oh, Ethan! That's wonderful news! Your fath

m champagne. I watched as Mark put his arm around Sarah' s waist, a possessive, triumphant ge

er voice buzzing with excitement. "The heiress to

I said

ou to meet her tomorr

ed on Sarah's smiling fac

et mine. Her smile froze. Shock, then guilt, then panic

a hundred-dollar bill on the table,

d someone say, "Congratulations to t

er even knew she was dating

rs. For five years, I was

zzed. A tex

got held up at work. On my wa

the custom cake I had ordered for us, with "Happy B

for a second, and then droppe

y. All the love I thought had filled these walls was a lie.