Chapter 1

In the sixth year of my relationship with my boyfriend, he brought his first love to live in our future marital home just to make her happy.

I angrily tried to throw her out, but my boyfriend stopped me.

“Claire, Ava is only like a little sister to me. If you act like this, how am I supposed to feel comfortable marrying you?”

I didn’t cry or make a scene. I simply deleted every way to contact him.

Six months later, he knelt before me at our college reunion and proposed.

In front of everyone, I slapped him hard across the face.

“Ethan, let me make this clear. I don’t recycle trash.”

When I got home, I found a woman inside.

My boyfriend, Ethan, was smiling as he leaned forward and took a bite of cake from the woman’s hand. The intimacy between them was impossible to miss.

A woman’s instincts told me their relationship was anything but ordinary.

I slammed my purse down on the cabinet by the entrance.

The two of them turned toward me at the same time.

The woman wore a smile, but her eyes were full of provocation.

Ethan quickly stood up and put some distance between them. A flash of panic crossed his face.

I raised an eyebrow at him. “Ethan, who is this? Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Before Ethan could answer, the woman came over and hooked her arm through mine.

“Hi, I’m Ava. Ethan and my family are neighbors. We grew up together.”

I expressionlessly pulled my arm free.

“Don’t call me your sister. My mother never gave me one.”

Embarrassment flashed across Ava’s face, and her eyes instantly filled with tears. She turned to Ethan and whined, “Ethan, look what she’s doing.”

To my disbelief, this idiot actually fell for it. He immediately turned toward me with a reproachful look.

“Claire, Ava’s the little sister I’ve cared for since we were kids. You can’t be so harsh with her.”

I glared at him, then pointed at the personal belongings scattered across the couch.

“You still haven’t told me what’s going on.”

Ethan looked awkward as he came over and took the suitcase from my hand.

“These are Ava’s things. She just came back from overseas, and her parents are still out of town. She doesn’t know anyone here, so my mom was worried about her. She asked me to bring Ava here for a couple of days.”

“Claire, she’s basically my sister. Don’t be so petty.”

I was so angry I almost laughed.

“So what you’re saying is that because your mom was worried about her, you brought this so-called sister to live in our future marital home?”

“You’re being completely unreasonable! She’s my sister. What’s wrong with letting her stay here for a few days?”

Ava stepped in as well.

“Exactly. I’m only staying for a few days, Claire. Once I find a job, I’ll move out.”

“Ethan, this is our future marital home. Do you even understand what that means? I personally oversaw every part of the renovation. We chose all the furniture together. How could you let another woman move in without even telling me?”

Ethan looked troubled.

“My mom insisted that I take care of Ava. I didn’t dare refuse.”

“And as for why I didn’t discuss it with you first…” He hesitated. “I was afraid you’d get angry.”

His words made me want to crack open his skull and see what was inside.

“So I’m supposed to thank you for thinking of me?”

Maybe the anger on my face was too obvious, because Ethan finally realized I was truly furious. He hurried over to placate me.

“I’m sorry, Claire. I didn’t know you’d care this much. I promise that as soon as Ava finds a job, I’ll make her move out. So please, don’t be angry.”