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Prologue

—Autumn—

“I’m sorry, Autumn”

Three little words that left a gaping hole in my heart I should’ve listened to my brother I should’ve known this man would break me He didn’t just tear me open, no… He shattered me into a million tiny pieces

“You’re sorry?” I countered in a condescending tone “What exactly are you sorry for, Julian? The fact that you not only pushed me away but also led inity, and now you’re telling me you’re sorry for it? Which is it? Because I honestly don’t know”

“Kid, you know that’s not true I’ve been back inside of you since I took your virginity o”

I scoffed out, shaking ust “That’s all you’ve ever seen me as I’m just a kid to you”

“You think I see you as a child?” He jerked back Offended was an understatement “For fuck’s sake! Your mouth’s been wrapped around my cock, Autumn, so your statement is full of shit”

I couldn’t help but remember the first time he’d called me kid I was six years old, and he was almost thirteen Even back then I knew I loved him There ere, alirl with a crush on her older brother’s best friend

Noas a woman as madly in love with him instead

“I can’t do this anymore We can’t do this anymore”

It pained me to hear him say that He sounded so unbelievably defeated which wasn’t in his nature Julian was always determined in whatever he wanted, and he never backed down froe

“So what? Are we just supposed to pretend like you don’t love me?”

With the utued, “I don’t love you, Autumn”

I sturound from his cruel response “You don’t mean that”

Our relationship wasn’t supposed to be this hard Today was supposed to be Christian’s day My brother was gettingWe both were Julian was the bestthe love of his life that he’d known since childhood They were high school sweethearts

Throughout the entire ceremony Julian and I cautiously locked eyes, and I wondered if his thoughtsin front of all our fa our vows to one another?

Our love for each other?

I’d known Julian for as long as I could reh thick and thin,with everyone else at the reception, not ing in the illusions I’d made up in my mind of a future that existed only in my mind

“I’ve nevermore in all my life”

I didn’t knohat to say or how to act All I could do was feel this powerful pain spiraling inside of le tear fell down the side ofover him

Over us

“Why are you doing this? Is it because I told you I loved you?”