Chapter 1
Yasmine Guzman had just signed the surgery form when her phone buzzed with a news alert. The hashtag read: [Mr. Sebastian Zimmerman spotted kissing mystery woman downtown–wedding soon?]
She squinted at the grainy photo. Sebastian’s sharp features glowed golden, his strong arms wrapped around the woman like he was trying to melt into her. His eyes were soft, lowered, practically dripping with love.
Yasmine had never seen him like this. She zoomed in, stared at it for ages, and then called him.
“What?” His voice was icy, impatient.
She clenched her nails into her palms and took a breath. But a cheerful female voice cut in first, “Sebastian, who’re you talking to?”
“No one,” he said, still cold.
Yasmine hung up. She stared at her phone, a chill crawling up her neck.
Three years married, and he couldn’t even say her name. Her devotion felt like a joke. Their whole marriage felt like a joke.
“Ms. Guzman, time for surgery,” the nurse called.
Yasmine hugged herself, ears ringing. She dragged herself up, walking toward the OR only after the nurse shouted her name a fourth time.
Lying on the table, she heard the nurse ask, “Anyone coming with you?”
Yasmine opened her eyes, calm and steady, and looked at her. “I’m a widow.”
The nurse’s eyes softened. She went quiet.
As the anesthesia took hold, Yasmine heard the nurses gossiping. “Did you see? Sebastian’s tying the knot. Wonder who’ll be the new Mrs. Zimmerman.”
Yasmine closed her eyes. ‘Mrs. Zimmerman? Nothing good about that, she thought. ‘I’m lying here dying, and no one gives a damn.‘
Yasmine woke at midnight. She checked her phone, holding onto a sliver of hope. But no one called her. Her heart sank. Just then, the phone rang.
“Yasmine. Pick me up at Twin Peaks Parkway.” With that, Sebastian hung up.
She froze for a second, and then yanked out her IV.
The wind bit through her. The anesthesia wore off, her wound throbbing. She pulled over, dry–swallowed two painkillers, and waited for them to kick in. Then she kept driving.
When she reached Twin Peaks Parkway, she saw Sebastian with the woman. A knife twisted in her chest. Even the pills couldn’t dull this.
“You’re here,” Sebastian said, tapping the car window.
Yasmine got it. She stepped out of the car.
He had an arm around the woman, a cigarette in the other. His face softened into a smile, eyebrow raised. Like the first thaw of winter, his smile was too warm, making Yasmine dizzying.
He’d never smiled at her like that. Yasmine’s eyes dropped to the woman. Her breath hitched. She had seen the woman before,
The woman looked up, flashing a mocking and defiant smile.
The smirk made Yasmine’s head spin. Suddenly, it hit her–Sebastian had let those rumors fly because of this woman.
10:25 AM
