Part 1Stolen Vows

On the day of my wedding, my bitter rival slammed his foot onto the gas pedal and broadsided my bridal car.

His logic was simple: if he couldn't have me, we would die together.

Instead, he was critically injured, and I woke up with complete amnesia.

Dragging his broken leg into my hospital room, he pulled me into his arms with delirious ecstasy, whispering that he was the love of my life.

For five years after we married, Scott Sterling guarded me like his most prized possession.

Until he grew bored.

At an intimate dinner party, an unfamiliar girl appeared at his side. Her face and fiery demeanor were the spitting image of how I used to be.

Giggling, she insisted on playing a round of Never Have I Ever.

"Never have I ever slept with my boss."

"Never have I ever received his wife's stolen wedding band as a keepsake. And..."

She flashed an arrogant, triumphant smirk across the table.

"I'm four months pregnant with his child."

"You lose, Mrs. Sterling. As your forfeit, Mr. Sterling belongs to me for the next six months. He already promised to be by my side when I deliver."

The entire room went dead silent. Nobody dared to breathe.

Only Scott sat motionless, his gaze heavy and conflicted, shifting between her and me.

After a long pause, he parted his lips to speak.

I didn't care to hear his answer.

"Sure. Take him."

* * *

Scott’s expression hardened instantly.

What he didn't know was that my memories had already returned.

Before him, the man I truly loved was named Gabriel Cross.

Breathtakingly handsome, completely unhinged, and mercilessly vengeful.

And I was cut from the exact same cloth.

Scott Sterling was finished.

...

"Summer, let me explain. I warned her not to run her mouth, she just—"

Scott leaned forward across the lounge booth, reaching out to take my hand.

I lifted my foot and planted the tip of my high heel firmly against his chest.

With measured force, I shoved him backward toward the girl.

Scarlett Hayes seized the opening. She linked her arm through his, tilting her chin up with a smug, defiant grin.

"Why are you so nervous, Scott? You made her out to be terrifying, warning me never to cross her. I thought she was actually someone formidable."

She tilted her head, looking me up and down with open condescension.

"Turns out she’s a pushover. I laid all my cards on the table and she didn't even squeak. What a pathetic doormat."

She tugged his sleeve playfully. "Come on, baby daddy. Come home with me and cook dinner for our baby."

Scott didn't budge an inch.

His dark, heavy gaze remained locked onto me.

My utter lack of reaction seemed to disturb him. He was searching my face, hunting for any flicker of jealousy or grief.

I slowly held up three fingers, a faint, mocking smile touching my lips.

"Who gave you permission to leave? The game isn't over."

"First, I have an official marriage certificate. I'm not a side piece."

Scarlett’s footsteps halted. Her smile froze.

"Second, I actually have dozens of wedding bands. He bought out the entire display case of every ring I so much as glanced at, letting me rotate them on a whim."

"The one he stole and gave to you happens to be the cheapest one I own, and the one I despise the most."

Scarlett’s face darkened completely, her eyes flaring with hostility.

Scott’s friends rushed to intercede:

"Summer, drop it! Scarlett’s completely unhinged—if you push her, she’s capable of anything!"

I smiled softly, my gaze dropping to her lower stomach.

"Third, Scott strapped himself into a labor simulator once."

"He said the contractions were torture, that he couldn't bear to put my body through that kind of agony. He told me we would either adopt or stay child-free."

I tilted my head, looking straight into her eyes. "Now I'm wondering... did he just decide to let someone else carry the burden for me?"

Scarlett’s face twisted into an ugly mask of rage.

I lowered my fingers, flashing her a radiant, empty smile.

"You lose."

The silence in the lounge was suffocating.

It took several seconds for anyone to find their voice, stammering to break the tension.

"See? Summer could never let Scott go. She’s just playing to win him back!"

"Right, right! It’s just a drinking game, none of this is real. Let’s all calm down..."

Scott visibly relaxed.

He immediately pulled his arm free from Scarlett’s grip and stepped toward me with a relieved smile.

I shook my head, keeping my eyes locked on Scarlett.

"You can have Scott. But as your forfeit, I want your baby."

"Are you out of your mind, you bitch?!" Scarlett shrieked. "This is my child! It will only ever call me mother—"

I rested my chin in my hand, laughing softly as I cut her off.

"I mean right now."

With a flick of my wrist, a fruit paring knife slid across the marble table, stopping inches from Scarlett’s hands.

The polished steel reflected her violent, disbelieving glare.