Chapter 1
It’s New Year’s Eve, and the whole city’s buzzing about Ryan’s firework show.
I was the last to find out.
Everyone in New York knows Ryan Mitchell-
Charming, reckless, commitment–phobic.
He’s divorced me eight times just to date a string of younger women.
But even for him, this public love fest is a first.
I stared at the design mockups the event crew sent over.
Giant fireworks spelling out RYAN LOVES EMILY in the sky.
The words burned my eyes.
I shut off my phone and sped up the meeting in front of me.
“Cash, condo, car, yacht–pick anything you want, just—”
“I don’t want anything!”
She cut me off, sniffling through her tears.
I’ve heard this speech too many times to count.
I looked at the girl across from me, numb.
“I don’t love him.”
“And you shouldn’t either.”
“Ryan Mitchell is not worth it.”
The first couple lines were half–true.
But that last one?
I meant every word.
I really did want to save this girl from making my mistakes.
And I really had learned-
Ryan was never worth loving.
12:31
He Got His Dream Baby Just Not With Me
0.0
She blinked, bit her lip, and shot back with a bitter smile.
“Not worth it?”
“Then why’d you stick around for eight years?”
“He divorced you how many times and you still didn’t leave?”
1 froze
The lines I’d rehearsed so many times suddenly wouldn’t come out.
Why, huh?
Why did I stay?
Maybe it was because-
When I was eight, locked in the attic by my stepmother for three days,
He was the one who broke through the door to get me out.
I still remember how badly he was beaten afterward,
But he just held me close, wiped my tears, and said,
“As long as you’re okay, nothing else matters.”
Years later, when I didn’t get into my dream college,
We ended up on opposite sides of the country.
He still flew in every month just to check in,
Just to make sure I was eating,
Just to make sure I wasn’t alone.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
I turned to the window, trying to hide them.
My reflection in the glass looked exactly like the girl beside me.
I suddenly realized who she reminded me of-
Me.
The me I used to be.
That girl who loved without limits,
12:31
He Got His Dream Baby… Just Not With Me
3.7%
Chapter 1
Who didn’t know how to quit,
Who gave her whole heart and never asked for anything back.
But that girl?
She’s long gone.
And she got nothing in return.
I gave a bitter smile just as my phone lit up again.
A text from Ryan.
[Hurry up. The party’s about to start.]
He was getting impatient.
Which meant this negotiation had to wrap up.
I dropped the contract in front of the girl.
“Sign it. If you don’t, they’ll find a way to make you.”
She had looked so stubborn earlier, but when she saw the number,
She hesitated, then signed.
As she walked away, she was smiling.
Not crying.
See? She’s not like me.
She’s smarter.
She won’t fall for the same man nine times.
7.4%
