A Misdirected Love Letter Destroyed My Marriage

He'd even fallen asleep at her bedside.

Mia leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. When she looked up and saw me, she froze.

The hospital corridor was cold and sterile.

Mia stepped out, her voice dripping with pitiful sincerity as she pleaded with me.

"Serena, I know you used to have feelings for Carter too, but he's already said it himself—he doesn't love you anymore."

"You've been clinging to him for so long. If you were really his true love, he would've married you ages ago. But clearly, that's not the case."

"Please, for old times' sake, just give us a little dignity."

"Stop clinging to him, okay?"

The way she said it, you'd think I was the homewrecker who wouldn't let go.

I stared at her, my expression ice-cold.

Everyone knew the Prescott beauty queen—talented, gorgeous, delicate as a flower. The kind of girl people instinctively wanted to protect.

Even at the reunion.

All she'd had to say was that she'd been clumsy back in high school and accidentally slipped her love letter into the wrong bag, and that one silly mistake had kept them apart all these years.

Every single person believed her without question.

But I just smiled coldly.

"Mia, drop the act. Who exactly are you performing for right now?"

The color drained from her face.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Other people might not know, but did you really think I didn't?"

"I saw it with my own eyes back then. You never put that letter in the wrong bag. That love letter was always meant for Brendan."

Mia's composure cracked. Her eyes darted sideways. "You're lying."

"Brendan? That chubby kid who couldn't pass a test and looked like a toad? Why would I ever be interested in him?"

The cold smile on my face only deepened.

"Because he was rich."

I'd seen it all back then.

Brendan's car would pick Mia up and drop her off at a bus stop just far enough from school that no one would notice. Only after she got out would the car pull away.

I'd even stumbled across them on a weekend once.

Mia on Brendan's arm, strolling through shops, before the two of them disappeared into a hotel.

And Carter back then?

Sure, he was handsome. But he was quiet, aloof, and aside from good grades, he had nothing. Between classes, he spent most of his time working part-time jobs and handing out flyers on street corners.

I'd also heard Mia trash-talking him to her little clique with my own ears.

"Carter Delgado, that broke loser. So what if he gets good grades? The second he steps into the real world, he'll be nothing."

"If I ended up with him, I'd be suffering for the rest of my life. I'm not that stupid."

"As for that idiot Serena—if she wants him so bad, she can have him."

So of course I knew exactly why Mia was circling Carter now.

It was obvious.

She'd seen that he'd made something of himself. That he had money.

Just days ago, Mia's sugar daddy had dumped her. His wife had dragged her to a clinic and forced her through an abortion.

To survive, she needed to latch onto someone new.

And Carter was her next target.

Mia eyed me warily. "If you've got the guts, go tell Carter all of this right now. Let's see who he believes—you or me."

I laughed.

"Why would I tell him?"

"I came here to tell you something. Carter is all yours."

Mia stared at me, completely bewildered.

But my gaze had already drifted downward, settling on the wedding ring on my left hand.

Carter had bought it the year he first started his company.

He'd spent every last cent he had on it.

After paying, he'd had fifty-two dollars left to his name. Not even enough to get through the week.

But that was when he told me he loved me.

He said that once he made it, he'd give me everything good this world had to offer.

And I'd held him close, my eyes shining like they held every star in the sky.

"Carter, I know things are only going to get better for us."

"As long as you still love me, as long as I'm still by your side."

"Everything is going to be amazing."

Those words still echoed in my ears.

Now they felt like nothing but a cruel joke.

Carter, there's no future for us anymore.

I drew a deep breath, slipped the ring off my finger, and held it out to Mia.

"Here. You can have this too."

Her gaze landed on the enormous diamond. Light danced in her eyes, but she still watched me with suspicion. "Why would you be this generous?"

"It's not unconditional."

I reached into my bag and pulled out the signed divorce papers.

"Tell Carter to sign them. We're done."

Mia stood frozen. Before she could respond, Carter's voice drifted out from the hospital room.

"Mia? Who are you talking to?"