Chapter One

FLORA'S POV

     I had spent nearly the entire day in the kitchen, sweating over a stove. This wasn’t just any meal; this was the Kensington family memorial feast. Cooking was my therapy, my happy place—unless I was doing it for people who saw me as the human equivalent of a smudge on their designer shoes. But this time, I was determined to blow their heads off, even if they would probably still complain that the soufflé wasn’t fluffy enough.

Jayden’s family began to file into the dining room, taking their places around the long, intimidating table that looked like it belonged in some Gothic castle. Today marked the first anniversary of Mr. Kensington’s passing, Jayden’s grandfather. The old man had died of heart failure, though, knowing this family, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had faked it just to escape their company.

The Kensingtons were loaded—like, "buy a small island without blinking" loaded—and they had never accepted me as anything more than the gardener’s daughter who somehow fumbled her way into their precious family. Why? Well, out of all the perfectly groomed sons-in-law and daughters-in-law they had, I was the black sheep, the odd one out—the one who made them choke on their caviar when I walked into a room. My marriage to Jayden was the result of an unfortunate series of events, mainly involving a scandal that rocked their pristine reputation. It was less of a romantic union and more of a "damage control" situation.

Jayden never loved me. I, on the other hand, had fallen for him harder than a clumsy waiter with a tray full of drinks. From the first moment I laid eyes on him, I was a goner. So, for three years, I lived in this marriage, holding onto hope and enduring their cold shoulders because I was too stubborn to let go of the dream.

Everyone had arrived, including some of the family friends who I was convinced were just there to gawk at the poor, unfortunate soul who dared marry into the Kensington clan. Everyone, that is, except Jayden. Of course, he wouldn’t miss his grandfather’s memorial. He had already missed our third wedding anniversary last week—oh, and when I reminded him, he said I was nagging. Classic. I stared at my phone, debating whether I should call him or just text him. 

Just as the first course was served, Jayden sauntered into the room. My heart stopped immediately. It didn't stop because of Jayden, but because of the person beside him. He walked into the room arm in arm with his ex, Melissa Pembroke.

Melissa—the woman whose name sounded like a designer perfume and who looked like she stepped out of a fashion magazine. She was the daughter of one of Jayden’s grandfather’s business partners, and they had been an item before my "unfortunate incident" happened. Melissa left shortly after our marriage, but now she was here again like a bad sequel.

“Oh, my, oh my,” Lisette, Jayden’s mother, gasped, her voice dripping with fake delight as Jayden led Melissa to the table. “Look at you!” She practically launched herself out of her chair to hug Melissa, who was grinning widely.

I grabbed a glass of water and downed it like it was something stronger. The whole family treated me like I was the gum stuck to the bottom of their shoe, but Lisette—oh, Lisette—she took it to a whole new level. She hated me with the intensity of a thousand suns. I could hear her voice in my head, her favorite insult: “Even a college certificate doesn’t make you worthy.” She reminded me of this every time we met, which was probably why I had the urge to pour the water over my head and cool off.

“Oh, mother,” Melissa cooed, her voice like syrup poured over sugar, “You look as beautiful as ever.”

Lisette glowed as she kissed Melissa’s cheek like she was her long-lost daughter. And Jayden—oh, Jayden—smiled as he pulled out a chair for Melissa right next to him, like they were filming some twisted rom-com. Not even a glance my way. I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to keep my composure. Was this the reason he had slipped out of the memorial service early? To fetch Melissa, his golden girl?

“When did you get back, honey?” Lisette asked as soon as they were seated, her eyes practically shining with admiration.

“Oh, I’ve been back for a while,” Melissa replied, waving a perfectly manicured hand dismissively, as if her absence had been no big deal. “I went abroad for my master’s degree after the...unfortunate incident.” She gestured in my direction, clearly marking me as said "incident." “But now, I’m back and ready to run my father’s company. Jayden and I are partnering together.”

“Wow!” Lisette clapped her hands together. “You two always were a perfect match.” Her voice practically dripped with satisfaction, as if she had just discovered that diamonds grow on trees.

“Thank you,” Melissa replied with the grace of a pageant queen, her eyes doing that subtle side-eye thing that made me want to throw my drink in her face. And then there it was—the smirk. The kind that said, "I’m back, and I’m better than you."

The time had come to eat, and I waited with bated breath, secretly praying that someone would choke on their food—not fatally, just enough to make them rethink their life choices.

Jayden’s aunt, Lydia, was the first to break the awkward silence. “Did you make this, Flora?” Her tone was skeptical, like she was asking if I had tried cooking with actual ingredients this time instead of, say, cardboard.

“Yes, I did,” I replied, forcing a smile so wide I could feel my cheeks twitching.

Lydia made a face that suggested she had just tasted something from the depths of culinary hell. “Well, it’s... interesting. Not quite what we’re used to.”

I felt the sting of disappointment, like a slap to the face with a wet fish, but I plastered on another smile. “I can bring something else if you don’t like it.”

Jayden’s cousin, Jason, snickered, leaning back in his chair like he was king of the table. “Yeah, maybe something edible next time.”

And that’s when the table erupted in laughter, like he had just told the funniest joke in the world. My eyes stung, but I blinked back the tears. I glanced over at Jayden, hoping for some kind of support—a nod, a smile, maybe even just a raised eyebrow. But no, he was too busy laughing with the rest of them, his shoulders shaking as if he had never heard anything funnier in his life.

I had slaved over that meal. Every bite, every dish was my attempt at proving to them that I was more than just the gardener’s daughter who somehow married into their prestigious family. I glanced around the room and noticed that despite their snide comments, everyone else seemed to be enjoying the food. But Jayden’s family? Oh, they would always find a way to make me feel like I was serving up reheated leftovers.

“I’m so sorry if this isn’t up to your taste, Melissa,” Lisette said, her voice dripping with false concern. “We should’ve hired a professional chef.”

Yes, they should have. But no, they didn’t, because, in their eyes, I was the help. Ever since I married Jayden, I had become the family’s personal chef by default—just like my mother before me. They didn’t see me as a wife, just as someone who could whip up a good soufflé when needed.

I began to fill my plate with food. But before I could even take a bite, Lisette, my ever-so-lovely mother-in-law, chimed in. 

"Salad, dear," she chirped, her eyes twinkling with faux concern. "Stick to the salad." 

I blinked, wondering if I had misheard. "Excuse me?" 

   "Wouldn't want to expand that waistline any further, would we?" Lisette said to the air, blatantly ignoring my confusion.

I sighed in defeat and dropped the plate, filling another plate with salad, and started stuffing it into my mouth. 

The party dragged on, and I watched Jayden play the perfect host with Melissa draped over his arm like she was a designer accessory. They greeted guests together, laughing and smiling like they were lovers. Meanwhile, I stood in the shadows, the invisible wife. Most people didn’t even know Jayden was married—he didn’t wear our wedding ring, so why would they? And I had to endure all this because of the benefits this marriage gave to my family.

I’d had enough of watching their little reunion tour. I needed to tell Jayden the good news, hoping it would shift his attention back to me, even if only for a moment. As I approached him, his smile faded, and he looked at me like I was a mosquito buzzing in his ear, just waiting to ruin his perfect day.

“Jay, I need to speak to you,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, despite the knot of nerves tightening in my stomach.

“Flora, I’m busy right now. Whatever it is, it can wait,” he replied, not even bothering to look me in the eye.

"Jay, I'm pre—"

“Oh my God!” Melissa exclaimed, clutching her stomach like she had just been shot.

Jayden’s attention snapped away from me as if I had suddenly vanished into thin air. He rushed to her side, his hands on her shoulders, his voice full of concern. “Are you alright?”

“I think something I ate didn’t agree with my stomach. Ouch!” Melissa winced, making a show of it, her face twisted in pain.

“I’m so sorry about that,” Jayden said, his voice dripping with concern as he hovered over Melissa like she was a fragile piece of china about to shatter. “Do you want me to take you home?” His words were all gentle and sweet. 

Meanwhile, I stood there, watching the drama unfold. I knew Melissa was putting on a show, milking the situation for every ounce of Jayden’s attention. She was as sick as a cat lounging in the sun, but try telling that to Jayden.

"Jay, I need you to listen to me—"

Jayden whirled around to face me, his eyes narrowing as if I had just suggested something outrageous, like serving pineapple on pizza. “Can’t you see she’s sick?” he snapped, his voice low and venomous. “Must you make everything about you? You don’t always have to show how vile you are. Melissa is a friend I haven’t seen in years. Let me catch up with her,” he growled through clenched teeth, his frustration radiating off him like heat from a furnace.

With that, he turned his back on me and led Melissa away, leaving me standing there like I was the villain in some twisted soap opera. I blinked back the tears that threatened to spill, refusing to let them see me break. Instead, I plastered on a fake smile and walked back into the party, pretending everything was fine—because what else could I do? Scream? Throw a cake at someone? Tempting, but not today.

After what felt like an eternity of pretending to enjoy the festivities, I realized I hadn’t seen Jayden or Melissa for a while. My gut twisted with suspicion, but I pushed it down, telling myself not to jump to conclusions. Maybe they were just talking. Maybe he was explaining how much he loved his wife... right?

Yeah, right.

Exhaustion hit me like a freight train, and I decided it was time to call it a night. After all, I’d been on my feet all day, even after discovering this morning that I was pregnant. A little rest sounded like heaven. But as I climbed the stairs and opened the door to our bedroom, what I saw made my blood freeze in my veins.

There they were. Jayden and Melissa. On our matrimonial bed. They weren’t naked, but the way they were tangled up in each other’s arms, lips locked. On. Our. Bed.

For a split second, Jayden’s eyes met mine, and I saw the flicker of guilt in them. But whatever excuse he was about to spit out, I didn’t want to hear it. My heart shattered into a million pieces as I slammed the door shut and ran. I ran like my life depended on it, tears streaming down my face, blurring my vision.