Chapter 1: The Other Wife
I knew my marriage was over the moment the woman in my bed stopped covering herself and reached calmly for her purse.
Not because she was beautiful.
Not because my husband, Ryan, was standing beside the dresser in nothing but his jeans, his face drained of color.
But because the woman looked at me with the same horror I felt—and said, “Before he starts lying, you need to see this.””
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
I had come home early because my afternoon meeting had been canceled. I’d even stopped at Ryan’s favorite bakery and bought the ridiculous chocolate cake he loved.
The white bakery box was still downstairs on the kitchen counter.
Our tenth anniversary was three days away.
I had planned to surprise him.
Instead, I found a red dress on the stairs.
A pair of unfamiliar heels outside our bedroom.
And Ryan.
With her.
“Emily,” Ryan said, stepping toward me.
“I can explain.””
“Don’t.””
My voice sounded strangely calm.
The woman pulled the sheet around herself and reached into a large leather purse on the floor.
Ryan’s expression changed instantly.
“Laura, don’t.””
That was the first time I heard her name.
Laura.
She froze, then looked at him.
“You told me her name was Emily.””
Ryan swallowed.
Laura’s eyes moved back to me.
“What did he tell you my name was?””
I stared at her.
“He never told me you existed.””
The room became silent.
Laura slowly stood, keeping the sheet wrapped around her, and pulled a folded document from her purse.
Ryan lunged forward.
“Give me that.””
She stepped back.
“Stay away from me.””
“Laura—”
“No.””
Her voice cracked.
That crack changed everything.
She wasn’t smug.
She wasn’t some mistress enjoying the destruction of another woman’s marriage.
She was terrified.
Laura held the document toward me.
“We were never divorced.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
“He told me the divorce was finalized eight years ago.”” Laura’s fingers trembled.
“I found out last week it wasn’t.””
Ryan grabbed the document from her hand.
I saw the heading for only a second.
Marriage Certificate.
Ryan Michael Carter.
Laura Anne Carter.
I looked at Ryan.
He crumpled the paper in his fist.
“It’s complicated.””
I slapped him.
The sound cracked through the bedroom.
Ryan staggered half a step and stared at me.
“Emily!””
“You married me.””
“I know.””
“While you were still married to her?””
“It’s not what you think.””
Laura gave a bitter laugh.
“What exactly are we supposed to think, Ryan?””
He turned on her.
“This is your fault. You weren’t supposed to come here.””
“My fault?””
Laura’s face hardened.
“You told me this house belonged to your sister.””
I felt something cold crawl through me.
“What?””
Laura pointed around the bedroom.
“He told me his sister was away for work and he was checking on the place.””
I almost laughed.
Except nothing was funny.
“This is my house.””
Laura stared at me.
“My mother left it to me.””
Ryan moved toward me.
“Emily, listen.””
I backed away.
He reached for my arm.
“Don’t touch me.””
“Just calm down.””
His fingers closed around my wrist.
Laura reacted before I did.
She grabbed her heavy purse and swung it into his shoulder.
“Let her go!””
Ryan released me, stumbling backward onto the edge of the bed.
“What the hell is wrong with you?””
Laura stepped between us.
“What’s wrong with me?””
Her voice shook with rage now.
“You told me you needed money because your mother was sick. You told me Emily was your business partner.””
My heart stopped.
“Money?””
Ryan went still.
Laura looked at me.
“You gave him money too, didn’t you?””
I thought of our savings account.
The withdrawals.
The home-equity paperwork Ryan had insisted was routine refinancing.
The forms he always placed in front of me after dinner.
“Sign here, Em.””
“Just bank paperwork.””
“Nothing to worry about.””
My mouth went dry.
“How much?””
Laura looked toward Ryan.
“Seventy-eight thousand dollars.””
I stared at her.
Then at him.
Ryan stood.
“Both of you need to stop.””
Laura ignored him.
“He borrowed against my condo six years ago.””
“My house was paid off,” I whispered.
Laura’s face changed.
“Was?””
I turned toward the small office attached to our bedroom.
Ryan immediately stepped into my path.
“Emily.””
That was all I needed.
I shoved past him and opened the office door.
His desk was locked.
Laura appeared beside me.
“Does he keep a key?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
I looked toward Ryan’s jeans.
He covered his pocket.
Laura and I looked at each other.
For the first time since I had entered the room, we understood each other without speaking.
Ryan saw it too.
“Emily,” he said quietly, “whatever you think you’re about to do, don’t.””
I held out my hand.
“Give me the key.””
“No.””
“Give me the key, Ryan.””
His jaw tightened.
Laura stepped beside me.
“Give her the damn key.””
Ryan stared at both of us.
May you like
Then his eyes flicked toward the bedroom door.
And suddenly, he ran.
