Too Pretty to Be Your Backup novel Chapter 1

“Travis, how do I look?”

Amanda stood in front of the mirror, her white dress hugging her curves perfectly. The makeup artist had worked magic on her already lovely face, making her look even more radiant than usual.

Today was supposed to be the happiest day—her engagement to Travis.

Travis was lounging on the sofa, tall and impossibly handsome, like a work of art that had somehow come to life. He had this magnetic energy about him, this natural confidence that filled the room even when he said nothing.

He looked up at her, his eyes dark and unreadable.

Before he could answer, his phone rang on the coffee table.

Amanda’s heart skipped a beat.

“Don’t answer—”

“Hello?” he cut her off, already reaching for the phone.

It was too late.

Whatever the person on the other end said, it made Travis' face go dark. He stood up, all business.

“I’ll be there right away,” he said, and then hung up.

He grabbed his jacket, barely sparing her a glance.

All he left was a cold back and a single, icy sentence.

“The engagement party’s off.”

It felt like someone had stabbed Amanda in the chest. She couldn’t breathe.

She wanted to stop him, to say something, but her feet felt glued to the floor, too heavy to move.

Then came the slam of the front door.

Amanda just stood there, staring at her reflection.

A minute ago, she’d looked so happy. Now all she saw was a pale, broken girl in a white dress.

Her phone buzzed.

A message.

Leila: I won.

A bitter smile tugged at Amanda’s lips.

Of course she did.

Leila was Travis' one that got away, the girl he’d never stopped loving.

Amanda had spent seven years by Travis' side, loving him, trying to make him happy—but in the end, it was all a joke. One call from Leila, and Travis would drop everything for her. No matter when, no matter what.

Her birthday.

Their anniversaries.

All those dates she’d planned…

And now, even before their engagement party, Travis didn’t even hesitate to leave her behind.

Didn’t he know how this would humiliate her? That everyone would laugh at her?

Of course he knew.

He just didn’t care.

A tear slid down Amanda’s cheek.

The pain was overwhelming.

But mixed in with the hurt, there was something else. Relief.

She had fought for this relationship for seven years.

Seven years of swallowing her pride, of pretending she didn’t notice how little she mattered. She was so tired.

The engagement party was supposed to be their last chance. And apparently, Travis didn’t care at all.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify