My ex-husband called my pregnancy a lie, walked away, and spent eight years pretending I had invented a child to keep him. So when he invited me to his family’s Christmas dinner, I accepted. He expected me to come alone. But when four little boys crossed that snowy field beside me, he finally saw the truth pride had kept him from asking.

Grace, my parents are hosting Christmas dinner this year.

Since we’ve both moved on, I thought it might be nice to put the past behind us.

My fiancée, Natalie, will be there with the rest of the family.

You’re welcome to join us.

Ethan.

I stared at the screen.

Then I laughed.

Not because it was funny.

Because I understood exactly what he wanted.

Ethan had recently gotten engaged.

His parents were hosting a formal dinner to welcome Natalie into the family.

She was beautiful.

Polished.

Accomplished.

Exactly the sort of woman his mother had always imagined standing beside him.

And then there was me.

Grace Bennett.

The woman Ethan once described during our divorce as someone who could not accept that it was over.

For years, he had allowed his family to believe I was lonely.

Bitter.

Obsessed with him.