chapter 2

I pulled my hand back, disgusted.

He froze for a second but didn’t say anything. Gently, he helped me into the wheelchair.

After tucking a blanket around me, he said, “Natalie, that’s enough rehab for today. We need to head back early.”

“Why?”

“You forgot? It’s Graham’s engagement party.”

The softness in his eyes cut right through me.

I had suspected it for a long time. I just didn’t want to believe it.

Months ago, he had already started preparing a gift for Sierra.

He said, “Graham’s always been good to me. The least I can do is get his fiancée something special.”

Zach, the ultimate workaholic, somehow found time to fly overseas and commission custom jewelry.

A butterfly. Wings outstretched.

I knew exactly what it meant. It was the signature move that won Sierra her world champion title in dance.

But that title should have been mine.

My teacher had told me—if I’d made it to the stage, no one could’ve taken that spotlight from me.

Then came the crash.

And Sierra stood on that podium, soaking in the glory that should’ve been mine.

And none of it was fate. Zach made it happen.

I was supposed to marry into the Sutton family. If I had entered as the Foster heiress and a world-class dancer, Sierra, who had nothing, would’ve disappeared in my shadow.

Just like Zach said, once I was crippled, everything changed.

From the start, I was nothing but a pawn.

My chest ached. The tears came before I could stop them.

Zach must’ve thought I was just caught in old memories. He reached over to comfort me.

“I’ll find the best doctors for you, Natalie. We’ll fix your legs.”

I looked at him, almost laughing.

Really?

He always said the right things. But behind my back, he told the doctors not to try too hard.

After I found out the truth, I sent my medical records to a top rehab clinic overseas. They were shocked.

“From your scans, even with the damage, you should’ve been walking again by now. What happened?”

That was when I finally saw who he really was.

All those sweet words had been lies.

We arrived at the Sutton estate, and Zach wheeled me inside.

Sierra appeared just as we got in.

The second he heard her voice, Zach froze.

The always-composed man completely lost it. His eyes locked on her like she was the only person in the room.

I had just settled into the chair. Because he forgot to lock the brakes, I fell right out of it.

Pain shot through my body. I winced.

Zach barely turned around. He told someone else to help me with my injury, like it was nothing.

Then he looked right back at Sierra. He didn’t even blink.

I had never seen that kind of softness in him before.

“You’re here,” Sierra said with a smile.

“Yeah,” he said.

It was just small talk, but even standing on the sidelines, I could see it. He looked at her like she was his entire world.

“You came too, Natalie.”

Sierra turned to me and waved.

I looked up, and saw the ring on her finger.

It was identical to the one on Zach’s hand.

That was when it hit me. I was nothing but a complete joke in this marriage!