chapter 1

When my childhood sweetheart proposed after eight years together, I heard a weird electronic voice in my head.

"His love level has dropped to zero. Please reconsider."

I didn't believe it. I said yes anyway.

At our wedding, my little sister suddenly started crying and asked him, "Do you really want this?"

He left me standing at the altar and chased after her.

That was when I figured it out. He loved her, not me. Marrying me was just his way of teaching me a lesson.

"You can't steal what was never yours."

Later, when I was making out with his biggest rival on Belmont, Tyler called me up screaming. "What the hell am I to you?"

I laughed so hard I could barely breathe. "You're a fucking idiot."

*****

"Olivia Collions, are you sure you want to marry Tyler Wilson?"

The ceremony was about to start, and my best friend, Amanda Clark, was still questioning my decision.

I turned around and gave her my brightest smile. "I know you don't like Tyler, but he's serious this time."

I couldn't help defending him.

Amanda stared at me for a long moment, then rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. You've known each other forever, it's perfect."

Then she raised her fist. "But if he hurts you, I swear I'll beat the crap out of him."

I couldn't help but smile when Tyler suddenly burst through the door, looking panicked. "Have you guys seen Maya?"

I looked up at him in his white suit—God, he was gorgeous—and froze for a second. "No, we haven't. What's wrong?"

Amanda shot Tyler a dirty look. "Your wife is right here. Why are you looking for her sister?"

I tugged on Amanda's arm and walked over to take Tyler's hand, but he pulled away from me.

I dug my nails into my palm and waited for him to explain.

"She has the ring. That's why I'm freaking out."

I nodded and asked Amanda to help him look for her.

We found Maya in the bathroom, and the ceremony started on time. Everything went smoothly until we got to the part where family members gave their blessings.

Maya Collins—my own sister—got maybe one sentence out before she started crying. She stared at Tyler with this heartbroken expression and choked out, "Do you really want this?"

Under the spotlight, they looked like star-crossed lovers being torn apart.

The guests started whispering. The officiant tried to pull Maya away, but she shoved him off, threw down the microphone, and ran out of the reception.

I was still processing what had happened when I saw Tyler turn around and chase after her.

The whole scene turned into complete chaos.

Then my brother and the groomsmen took off after them, cursing as they ran.

Watching him run away like that, I felt my heart hit rock bottom.

I remembered what happened a month ago when Tyler proposed to me. This electronic voice suddenly echoed in my head.

"His love level has dropped to zero. Please reconsider."

I didn't believe it back then. I thought I was just being paranoid, so I said yes to his proposal.

Now I could see the system was right. He didn't even look back at me once.

The wedding came to a complete halt because the groom had run off.

Tyler's parents were furious. They kept apologizing to my dad and trying to comfort me.

"Olivia, this is Tyler's fault. We're so sorry. But don't worry, we'll drag him back here to marry you. You're the only girl for him, and we won't accept anyone else."

I looked at Tyler's parents and forced the ugliest smile I'd ever made.

Tyler and I had grown up together. We'd been childhood sweethearts since we were kids.

Tyler was kind of a loner when he was little. I was the one who pulled him into games and made him come out of his shell.

After my mom died, her best friend swooped right in and married my dad. Less than a year later, she had Maya.

Maya was nothing like her mother. She was this bright, sunny kid who always wanted to follow me around.

Because of who her mom was, I kept my distance. I was cold to her every single day.

My dad, our relatives, everyone at school said I was heartless. They all said the kid wasn't responsible for what the adults did.

Only Tyler took my side. Whoever I hated, he hated too.

I spent eight years quietly loving him from the sidelines.

When I found out Maya had feelings for him too, I couldn't wait anymore. I wasn't about to lose to my own sister, so at my birthday party, I kissed Tyler and poured my heart out. "I like you, Tyler. Will you be my boyfriend?"

His face turned red, and he took my hand. "Yes."

After we got together, things didn't change much between us. But I started noticing how Tyler would bring up Maya in conversation, always suggesting I should be nicer to her since we were sisters.

I was so head-over-heels in love that I didn't think twice about it. I actually started making an effort with Maya.

I never thought they would both betray me like this.