Chapter 1

Everyone knew that whenever a daughter of the Holloway shipping dynasty got married, her family would launch a magnificent fleet of a hundred flower-decked ships to escort her to her wedding.

The main ship carrying the bride was always decorated by her parents themselves. The more lavish the flowers, jewels, and ornaments, the more cherished the daughter was considered—and the more respect she'd receive from her husband's family.

My bridal ship had been waiting for me for eight years.

But over the course of eighteen wedding dates, every ceremony was ruined. Either my foster sister, Chloe Holloway, would "accidentally" smash a hole through the hull and leave it taking on water, or the sails would mysteriously snap just as the procession was about to depart. Before long, everyone believed I was nothing but a curse.

After eighteen failed wedding dates, I decided to spend the night guarding the bridal ship myself.

Instead, someone knocked me unconscious and threw me into the river.

By the time I was pulled from the water and rushed to the wedding drenched from head to toe, the lead ship had already set sail.

Chloe stood proudly at the bow while my parents raised the sails with their own hands, carrying her across the river to my fiance, Julian Sterling.

The moment they saw me, my childhood friend, Mason Rowe, and my best friend, Natalie Hayes, blocked the entrance, refusing to let me through.

Neither of them looked the least bit guilty.

"We all planned the bride swap together," they admitted openly. "Make as much of a scene as you want. It won't change anything.

"Chloe's parents died saving us. We owe it to her to fulfill her dream of getting married. Just be the bigger person."

My brother, Ethan Holloway, looked at me with icy indifference.

"Mom and Dad said that if you don't cause trouble today, we'll finally tell everyone you're not cursed. But if you insist on making a scene, don't expect to remain a member of this family.

"And Julian made himself perfectly clear. If you ruin today's wedding, someone else will permanently be Mrs. Sterling."

I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms, refusing to let them see me cry.

What Julian didn't know was that someone else had been waiting for me all along. He was never my only choice.

And as for this family, I didn't want them anymore.

Chapter 1

My childhood friend, Mason Rowe, and my best friend, Natalie Hayes, stood shoulder to shoulder, blocking my path. They looked ready for me to make another scene like I always had before.

But what did they have to be afraid of?

Two years ago, on the night before my wedding, Chloe Holloway had "accidentally" smashed the sails of my bridal ship.

Furious, I'd shoved her.

The very next day, Mason pinned me down in the middle of downtown and slapped me ninety-nine times in front of a crowd.

Last year, Chloe had "accidentally" burned the wedding gown I'd spent six months embroidering.

I'd finally snapped and ripped her dress to shreds.

Ethan Holloway, my brother, dragged me away, stripped me down to my underclothes, and suspended me from the ship's mast for seven straight days.

"Chloe's dress took seven days to make. You'll spend seven days paying for what you did. That's only fair."

Even now, I could still remember the way they looked at me during those seven days.

It made me wish I'd died there.

Back then, at least Natalie had still been on my side. Somewhere along the way, though, she'd started siding with Chloe too, joining everyone else in lying to me.

Beside me, Mason spoke with obvious impatience, "We didn't mean to keep it from you. But you're always picking on Chloe, acting like the whole world owes you something."

He looked toward the dock, his eyes softening.

"Look at them. Julian and Chloe belong together. They make the perfect couple."

I stared at him blankly. It felt as though molten lead had been poured down my throat, burning so badly I couldn't force out a single word.

I'd found Mason when I was seven years old. He'd been nothing but skin and bones, always hiding in corners, too afraid to look anyone in the eye. He wouldn't let anyone get close to him.

I was the one who stayed by his side and led him out into the light.

Back then, he'd told me, "You'll always be the only person I'll ever stand by. If anyone hurts you, I'll risk my life to protect you."

Now he stood in front of me instead, his gaze colder than ice. It was as if the moment I laid a finger on Chloe, he'd be the first to fight me.

Congratulations and laughter drifted over from the ceremony.

"Julian finally married you. I've been waiting forever to have you as my sister-in-law," Julian's sister, Vanessa Sterling, said with a bright smile.

A few years ago, when her husband cheated on her, I was the one who stood up for her and helped recover the assets he'd secretly transferred away.

When she'd suffered a massive hemorrhage during her pregnancy, I was the one who raced through red lights to get her to the hospital in time, saving both her and her baby.

Afterward, she'd grabbed my hands and said, "You're the only sister-in-law I'll ever accept. I'd rather lose Ethan than lose you."

"The family's curse spent all night soaking in the river. She's probably lying in a hospital bed by now. If she'd been today's bride, she would've jinxed the whole wedding."

The room erupted in laughter. Every laugh pierced my ears like a thousand needles.

Ethan saw the resentment in my eyes and tightened his grip around my arm. "Don't go in there and humiliate yourself."

Then he looked at me without an ounce of pity. "I'll tell you the truth. The person who came up with sabotaging your bridal ship all these years... was Julian."

My head snapped toward him.

For years, every time something happened to my bridal ship before the wedding, everyone called me cursed. A walking bad omen.

But Julian had always stood in front of me.

"I don't care what they say. You're the woman I've chosen to marry. I love you. Nothing will stop me from making you my wife."

His every word still echoed in my ears.

"Audrey Holloway," Ethan said coldly, "if you still want me to think of you as my sister, turn around and leave. Right now."

I lowered my head.

One by one, I pried his fingers off my arm.

Then I looked up and stepped onto the boarding ramp.

Chapter 2

A massive screen played a montage of Julian and Chloe over and over again.

On the beach, they chased each other barefoot through the surf, Chloe laughing as she splashed water at him.

At an amusement park, they held hands and laughed together on a roller coaster.

When the Ferris wheel reached its highest point, Julian lowered his head and gently smoothed the windblown hair from her face.

In the corner of every scene, there I was, taking their pictures and carrying their bags.

"You don't enjoy this stuff anyway. Just wait out here for us," Julian had always said.

For the first time, I realized that sometime over the past few years, I had become the unwanted third person.

Onstage, Julian slipped the ring onto Chloe's finger.

"One day I'll put this ring on your finger in front of everyone," he'd once promised me. "I'll tell the whole world you're my wife."

My throat burned. I said, my voice hoarse. "Julian, I spent two whole months picking out those wedding bands. I even flew overseas to buy them."

The ballroom fell silent.

Every head turned toward me. A collective gasp swept through the guests.

Julian's expression changed instantly. He stepped in front of Chloe without thinking, shielding her with his body.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was guarded. "This was my idea. If you're angry, take it out on me. I'm the one who threw you into the river last night. Don't drag anyone innocent into this."

Dad hurried over and positioned himself in front of Chloe, as though terrified I might so much as touch her. "Audrey, today is supposed to be a happy occasion. Don't cause a scene.

"This wedding is for Chloe's late parents who gave their lives to save us. Looking after their daughter is the least we can do."

Mom glanced at me. "Chloe is beautiful, and she has a wonderful personality. Have you looked at your face lately? If you stood on the lead bridal ship, who would ever buy another ship from our family?"

Beneath my mask, the face that had once been torn apart by piranhas began to throb again.

Eight years ago, one of our ships had lost control and capsized. I had jumped into the water to save them, only to be mauled so badly that my face was left permanently disfigured.

Even after everything I'd suffered, I had never regretted saving them.

What I regretted was keeping quiet when Chloe begged me not to reveal that her parents' mistake had caused the accident.

She'd sobbed that she had already lost both her parents. If the Holloways cast her out too, she truly wouldn't be able to survive.

I'd felt sorry for her, so I'd kept her secret.

Instead, she built her place in this family on the gratitude that should have been mine, taking my parents, my brother, my friends, and finally my future husband from me, one by one.

No matter how many times I tried to tell the truth, no one believed me anymore.

Ethan frowned. "Chloe's parents gave their lives to save us. All you have to do is give her a ring. Do you really have to be this cruel?"

It felt as though a hand had closed around my heart, squeezing until I could barely breathe.

Hadn't I already given her enough?

Even during the Holloways' most important annual maritime ceremonies, Chloe now stood in the place of honor.

Everyone in the city knew Chloe as the treasured daughter of the Holloway shipping dynasty. But did anyone remember that the Holloways had a biological daughter named Audrey?

The emotions I'd buried for years finally broke free. My eyes burned as I stared at Ethan.

"My birthdays. My room in this house. Even the guaranteed university placement I earned. What haven't I given up for her?

"If all of you wanted to repay a debt, why did you have to use my life to do it?"

My hands trembled as violently as my voice.

"I told you years ago that I was the one who jumped into the ocean and saved you! My face was destroyed because I saved your lives. Did a single one of you ever believe me?"

Chapter 3

Chloe suddenly reached out and ripped the mask off my face.

The foundation I'd used to hide my scars had long since washed away in the river. My scarred face was laid bare for everyone to see. Jagged bite marks stretched from my forehead all the way to my chin.

A chorus of shocked gasps rippled through the room.

Even Julian instinctively took a step back. It was only a small movement, but it felt like a knife plunging straight into my heart.

In the corner, a little boy burst into tears. "Mommy, she looks scary!"

Dad's face darkened. "Get out of here this instant! Haven't you embarrassed this family enough?

"You actually had the nerve to claim credit for saving us. Audrey, have you no shame?

"And even if you were the one who saved us, so what? We love Chloe because she's kind. Thank God you're the one who ended up disfigured instead of her!"

At that moment, every last shred of hope I'd been clinging to disappeared.

Chloe's eyes reddened with tears. "Audrey, Mom and Dad both have heart problems. Please stop arguing with them."

Her fingernails dug painfully into my arm.

I winced and flung her hand away. "Don't touch me!"

Ethan immediately pulled her into his arms.

"Audrey, this is the last time I'm telling you. Stop making a scene. All we're doing today is honoring the final wish of the people who gave their lives for us. It isn't going to affect your future at all. Do you really have to be so unforgiving?"

Julian grabbed my arm next. "Apologize. Now. Do you even want to marry me anymore?

"My family already thinks you're too overbearing. If you keep bullying Chloe, they'll only hate you more. Why can't you ever think about what this does to me? Why do you always have to be so selfish?"

Even after seeing who he truly was, his words still made my heart ache.

I took a slow breath. "I'm not marrying you."

Julian frowned, impatience written all over his face. "What game are you playing now? Save it. Playing hard to get doesn't work on me."

Chloe let out a soft laugh. "She's just trying to make you chase her. Everyone in town knows she's desperate to marry Julian. She even talks about marrying him in her sleep."

I ignored her.

Instead, I began taking the things from my arms one by one.

First came the Holloway heirloom sapphire pendant Julian had once given me. He'd told me it was the symbol of the family's future matriarch.

Next was the protective charm my parents and Ethan had gone miles out of their way to get for me.

Finally, I took out an onyx pendant. It was the only thing Mason's parents had left behind. His pupils contracted sharply, and his fingers trembled.

I forced my tears back and spoke each word with absolute clarity, "I don't want this wedding anymore. I don't want this family anymore. And I don't want any of these things anymore."

Dad's face twisted with anger. "Audrey! You know this wedding is only meant to fulfill Chloe's late parents' final wish. What exactly are you throwing a tantrum over?"

Mom slammed her hand against the table. "You don't want us? Where do you think you'll go if you leave the Holloway family?

"And that protective charm isn't something you can just take off whenever you feel like it. You're an adult now. Grow up."

Furious, Ethan snatched the charm from my hands and shoved it into Chloe's. "I went through hell to get you that charm. You never deserved to have it. In a couple of days, you'll come crawling back in tears, begging us to return it.

"I'm telling you now—you've lost that chance."

With that, he wrapped an arm around Chloe and started leading her toward the bow of the bridal ship.

"Wait."

Ethan stopped, all patience finally gone. "What now?"

I clenched my jaw and looked toward the lead bridal ship moored at the dock. "That ship belongs to me. I'm getting married on it."

Chapter 4

By our tradition, every detail of the lead bridal ship was supposed to be crafted by the bride's parents.

But Chloe burst into tears, saying she had no parents to help build hers.

So, to keep things "fair," I was forced to cut every piece of lumber for my own ship myself. I bound the beams together, carved every detail, and worked until both hands were covered in blisters.

Suddenly, I remembered the photo and message Preston Callahan had sent me earlier that day.

[My parents and I have been getting this ship ready for you for the past eight years.]

The vessel in the picture was unlike anything I'd ever seen.

Julian let out a mocking laugh. "To marry who? Everyone around here knows you're nothing but bad luck. Besides me, who else would ever want you?"

Tears welled in Chloe's eyes. "Audrey, unlike you, I wasn't lucky enough to grow up with my parents. All they ever wanted was to see me get married. Can you please stop making things difficult for me?"

Rage flashed across Ethan's face. "Chloe's parents gave their lives to save us. If it weren't for them, do you really think you'd still be living comfortably as a Holloway?"

Even Natalie looked at me with disappointment. "Audrey, you used to be so kind when we were kids. What happened to you? You've become cruel and selfish. I don't even recognize you anymore."

My breath caught in my throat.

The whole thing was laughable.

Julian's voice was as cold as ice. "Don't cause a scene. I really can't marry you today. Throwing a tantrum isn't going to change anything. Let Chloe use the ship first. You can wait a little longer."

"You've all forgotten one thing. I built that ship with my own hands. My name is carved into it."

Although I hadn't raised my voice, every expression around me changed.

I turned toward Mr. Sterling, standing not far away.

"What do you think your grandfather would do if he found out Chloe stole my ship?"

Everyone knew Mr. Sterling was a stickler for rules. Character meant everything to him. If he learned the truth, today's wedding would be over before it began. Chloe's reputation in this town would be ruined for good.

"You wouldn't dare!" Mom shrieked and slapped me hard across the face. "Audrey! How could you be so heartless? Do you have to humiliate Chloe like this?"

The veins bulged across Dad's forehead. "Go ahead. But if you do, we're done. As far as I'm concerned, you're not my daughter anymore."

The force of the slap snapped my head to the side. My eyes burned as I laughed.

So they'd really forgotten.

Because they never wanted Chloe to feel like the only outsider, they'd always made me wait until after Chloe got married before officially recognizing me as their daughter.

My cheek throbbed as I looked back at them.

"Then from today on, pretend you never had a daughter."

The moment the words left my mouth, I felt lighter than I had in years.

Ethan's face turned dark with fury. "Chloe, we don't need her ship. We had another one built."

He deliberately glanced at me, waiting for me to look devastated.

After all, because of the "bad luck" everyone said I carried, the shipbuilders had always given me a hard time. I'd begged him countless times to step in for me.

"No. She deserves the real thing, not some replacement."

Then, with one hand supporting Chloe, he helped her aboard my bridal ship.

"Chloe deserves the very best this world has to offer."

Julian was the last to leave.

As he passed me, he lowered his voice. "Go home and wait for me. And don't ever say you're going to marry someone else again. I don't like hearing that."

I didn't answer. Instead, I raised the sail.

Every Holloway child grew up knowing how to handle a ship.

Crash!

A flaming torch suddenly slammed into my bridal ship.

"Julian! Have you lost your mind?" I stared at him in disbelief.

"I told you, Audrey. You can't leave me." His eyes were frighteningly dark.

The beautifully decorated ship erupted into flames almost instantly.

"Nobody helps her! Anyone who does is making an enemy of the Sterling family!"

The people who had rushed forward to put out the fire immediately froze.

"Listen to me. Get off the ship and go home. I'll finish the ceremony first."

Without another glance, he walked away.

According to tradition, a couple who wished to stay together forever would each cut off a lock of hair, tie them together, and burn them as a vow of eternal devotion on their wedding day.

Mason laughed as he nudged Julian. "The ceremony's basically over anyway. Why not finish that part too?"

Julian only smiled. He didn't refuse.

Mom and Dad beamed.

"Maybe it's time to give us a grandchild. We've been waiting for one for years."

Ethan deliberately raised his voice, making sure I could hear every word. "Some people are just as ugly on the inside as the scar on their face. Forget getting married—I'd lose my appetite just sitting across the table from her. She can stay with that worthless ship and sink into the sea."

The wind carried their laughter across the water.

Each burst stung worse than the last.

Suddenly, I was exhausted.

I didn't jump overboard or call for help. I simply let the burning ship drift farther and farther away.

As long as it carried me farther from them.

The flames spread across the deck, soon reaching the hem of my wedding dress.

Slowly, I closed my eyes. I thought it was going to hurt.

Instead, a broad, warm embrace wrapped around me, shielding me completely.

"Don't be afraid," a deep voice murmured. "I'm here to take you home."