Episode 1

**Aspen**

My mind couldn't process any of it.

There I was, after ten years of marriage to the man I thought was the love of my life.

After having a child together.

There I was, signing the divorce papers.

I shouldn't have been so surprised.

From the very beginning, there was never any love on my now ex-husband's part.

I remember meeting him on April fifteenth, the day of my older sister Dakota's sixteenth birthday.

He was there for her.

Which made sense, since they were best friends.

Well, "friends" -- he'd always been in love with my sister.

I fell in love at first sight.

I simply saw him and knew he was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

But that wish was one-sided.

Because to him, I was nothing more than a nuisance.

And now, here I am, divorced from the man I loved.

While he runs into the arms of the woman he's always loved.

He ran to Dakota.

And me? I was left alone, with my little boy, Calen.

* * *

**Aspen**

Even after the divorce, I'm still in love with him.

Aziel Bradford has been everything to me.

As I drove toward what was once my home, I couldn't help but think back on our marriage.

He was never kind, never affectionate -- he wasn't even civil.

He only kept up appearances in front of friends, family, and our son.

He always hated me.

And that's because my older sister hates me too.

I walked into my old house and headed for the living room.

There I found Aziel, playing with our son.

My heart clenched.

Knowing the family I'd dreamed of was now shattered -- that wasn't easy to accept.

Even if Aziel never loved me, we'd found a way to coexist. Or maybe that was all in my head.

I watched the man I loved, the one I'd shared ten years of my life with. The one I still longed for.

His hair, black as a moonless night. His eyes, blue as the deep ocean. The tattoos peeking out across his chest beneath his shirt.

Everything about him was perfect -- that was an undeniable fact.

But none of him ever belonged to me. This house, this marriage, even this family -- it all should have been Dakota's.

That's what my parents and siblings say. It's even what my own husband told me on our wedding day.

I remember it crystal clear.

*I'm marrying you because I got you pregnant\, but I will never love you. Don't expect any kindness from me\, because you're nothing but a nuisance who ruined my chance to be with Dakota.*

"Calen, time to go," I said softly.

My son, the moment he heard me, came running into my arms with a beautiful smile that was reserved only for me.

No matter what anyone else says, Calen is my son. Regardless of who his father loves, I'm still Calen's mother.

"Mommy! You're late!" my little one complained.

I gently stroked his face, and he leaned into my touch.

"I'm sorry I took so long, sweetheart. Mommy had things to take care of," I explained.

I looked up and met a pair of cold eyes watching me with indifference. Those cruel eyes that still cause me so much pain.

Of course. It was always like that.

Honestly, I can't remember Aziel ever giving me so much as a kind look.

But none of that matters anymore.

"Sweetheart," I turned my attention to my son, "say goodbye to your dad. We need to go."

My little one grumbled but obeyed.

"Bye, Daddy," he said, hugging his father.

"I'll see you this weekend, champ." Aziel ruffled his hair.

I took my boy's hand and we walked out of what was once our home.

I got him into the car and fastened his seatbelt to make sure he was safe.

And just as I headed for the driver's seat, Aziel called out to me.

"Aspen." His cold, rough voice made me tremble. My eyes sought his, full of hope.

Hoping he'd change his mind. That he'd ask us to stay, even if just for one night.

I kept my composure.

"Yes?"

He was as cold and unreachable as ever.

Even after all these years, he never changed.

"I hope you understand that this is for the best," he began. "I don't love you. I never loved you, and I never will." My heart began to crack with every one of his brutal words. "As you well know, I love Dakota. Getting you pregnant and making you my wife was a mistake, because the place you occupied always belonged to your sister."

I wanted to cry.

Why was it always like this?

And it wasn't just him.

All my friends, my family -- everyone always adored Dakota. While I was a worthless shadow.

I grew up in that kind of environment.

Watching my parents and siblings shower Dakota with love.

She was the second oldest, after our older brother Luke.

My parents had always wanted a daughter, and when Dakota was born, they went crazy.

She wasn't just beautiful -- she was perfect.

A blonde baby with deep blue eyes. She was the family princess, and she quickly grew into a true beauty.

Then came me.

Mom and Dad didn't want another girl, because they didn't want any child to overshadow their princess.

That's why, when they found out I was a girl, all their excitement went down the drain.

Mom and Dad pushed me aside.

My older brother Luke already had a close bond with Dakota, so he didn't come near me either. He never treated me badly -- he simply acted as if I didn't exist.

Dakota, despite her angelic face, was always cruel to me.

She made sure our parents punished me.

She turned our cousins and aunts and uncles against me.

She accused me of stealing our grandmother's special necklace, which caused even my grandparents to cast me aside.

Then Mom got pregnant again.

This time it was twin boys.

Everyone was ecstatic -- even me.

I'd always wanted younger siblings. So I tried to be the best big sister in the world.

When the twins, Kyle and Ethan, were born, I took care of them, played with them. I read them bedtime stories; we even had sleepovers together.

That lasted until Dakota worked her magic, and soon enough the twins started hating me too.

So I never had anyone on my side.

Not even my husband.

It was never me. It was always Dakota.

My eyes drifted to my son, my sweet boy who loves me.

I managed a faint smile.

At least, within this dark reality, I have my little ray of light.

My gaze returned to Aziel, who was still talking.

"So I'm asking you, from now on, to get it out of your head that we'll ever get back together. Because it won't happen. As soon as Dakota comes home, I'm making her my wife," he informed me. "I'm telling you this because, like it or not, you're Calen's mother. We'll have to keep seeing each other, even if it disgusts me. So from now on, keep your distance from me and my future wife," he declared.

Son of a bitch.

Ten years together and this is how he treats me?

I got in my car without a word.

And just like that, I left with the only thing I had -- my son.

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