On the eve of our wedding, Julian abandoned me for the tenth time—always for Sophie, the “savior” of his parents’, insisted he care for. And I was always expected to be the gracious one, the understanding one, even be asked to s give up my own wedding, my own groom, and even stand beside Sophie as her bridesmaid… all for the sake of keeping her happy. Julian, there will be no eleventh forgiveness.

Chapter 1

Eleanor Vance's slender fingers gently brushed over the diamond-studded train of the wedding dress. It had waited here nine times already.

Julian Croft hugged her from behind. "Sophie Reed said she wanted to be a bride just once. It's just an act.

I promised her parents I'd go through fire for her ten times. This is the last time.

Eleanor, you've always been the most understanding."

Understanding. The word was like a dagger, plunging precisely into the softest part of her heart.

The past nine times, every time the wedding was canceled, he had praised her for being understanding.

Because she was understanding, she could accept him abandoning the wedding to fly abroad and bring back a crying Sophie who'd lost her passport.

Because she was understanding, she could forgive him for spending their wedding day in the hospital with Sophie after a small fender bender.

Because she was understanding, she could tolerate him postponing the wedding because Sophie was threatening s