The Invisible Girlfriend's New Start

After three years of being the agreeable, invisible girlfriend to my tech CEO boyfriend, Edward, I finally left him. Then Brody Frazier, his charming rival, swept into my life, determined to use me to get under Edward's skin.

But at a tech gala, Edward cornered me, publicly declaring his love and flashing a "promise ring" he claimed he'd bought for me weeks ago.

He did this right after his high school crush, Jeannette, announced their engagement, and right before he accused me of humiliating him.

He insisted his feelings for Jeannette were a "youthful fantasy" and that I was his "anchor," his "stability." He said he loved me.

But I remembered the truth. I remembered the small, hand-carved wooden bird he'd once made.

A gift he'd had me send to Jeannette years ago, along with a love note he dictated himself.

And I knew his desperate confession wasn't love. It was damage control.