Claire thought her whirlwind romance was the start of her happily ever after—until an overheard conversation between her mother and her husband, James. Betrayed by the two people she trusted most, Claire embarks on a journey to uncover their motives and reclaim her life.

They say hindsight is 20/20, but no one tells you how much it can hurt. Looking back, the warning signs were there, flashing like neon lights. I just didn’t want to see them.

It all started a few months ago when I met James during a rushed lunch break at a tiny coffee shop downtown. He was charming, attentive, and just the right kind of confident—the kind that makes you feel like you’re the only person in the room.

And he stole my attention away from the club sandwich I’d been craving all morning. Not to mention, his smile…

Four whirlwind months later, he proposed while we were taking a walk on the beach. I said yes without hesitation. I mean, sure, people raised their eyebrows.

“Too fast,” Cyril, James’ uncle, said.

“Claire must be pregnant,” another person hissed at our engagement party.

“Maybe it’s about money,” my cousin, Melody, said.