Choosing Love Over Kinship

I received a call from the abductors just as my husband's first love, Hailey Crosby, arrived at the scene.

"You have an hour to gather 20 million dollars," the abductor barked at me. "Place the ransom under the Central Bridge. Don't call the police, or I'll kill them!"

Armed with the knowledge from my past life, I put the call on the speaker so my husband, Shane McClure, could hear them.

I turned to face him and met his clouded expression. He snorted. "Natalie Swanson, how low could you go? Did you get my parents to put on this act just so you could push Hailey out of the picture?"

I didn't cry or wail like he had expected. Instead, I calmly clarified, "This isn't an act. Your parents have been abducted, and we need 20 million dollars to pay the ransom. Go get the money now."

His icy gaze bore into me. Stone-faced, he said, "Are you trying to swindle my money after you failed to win my heart with this sham marriage?"

Shane and I had known each other for two decades. When we were younger, I saved his life once, and our families arranged our marriage as a result.

But deep down, I'd always known Shane resented my modest family background. He had never hidden his feelings for Hailey Crosby—his first love, who had been studying abroad.

Before we got married, I told him he could walk away, that he could return to Hailey if he wished. I promised I wouldn't hold it against him.

Without even looking at me, he muttered flatly, "I'll marry you willingly."

Shane's demeanor grew colder after our wedding. He had never looked me in the face from the first time we met. I often comforted myself and attributed his coldness to his personality—that he still loved me.

Then Hailey returned to the country.

Shane's wide, radiant smile upon seeing her shattered my delusions and drove a knife into my heart. From the beginning, he had never once taken my side.

The look in my eyes frosted over, and I glared at him in utter disappointment. Keeping my composure, I said evenly, "I've never thought of conning you, and I'd never resort to such a shameless tactic.

"Believe me or not, your parents have been abducted. I'm not putting on an act. Go to the police with me if you trust me; if not, get out of my way. I have lives to save."

He seemed taken aback—maybe by my calmness, or maybe because, for the first time, I showed real irritation.

I turned to leave, gently pushing Hailey out of my way. But suddenly, she collapsed to the floor.

"That hurts!" Hailey whimpered. She blinked her eyes with an innocent look as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Shane, don't be angry at Nat," she said. "She didn't shove me on purpose."

Shane's face darkened as he rushed to her side. She was grimacing and clutching her hand. It was at that moment I realized I had suffered a cut to my hand.

Shane bellowed at me, "I'll kill you if anything happens to Hailey!"

Then, he hurriedly brought her to the hospital, leaving me behind in our spacious bedroom.