Chapter 1

Three days later, the Bennett estate hosted a family dinner.

I had just stepped out of the car when a black Bentley pulled in behind me.

Vanessa got out first.

She had her arm looped through Nathan's, and her wedding ring caught the light.

"Evelyn, you got here early."

She glanced over my shoulder, paused for a full two seconds, then asked playfully, "Didn't you say you were married? Where's your husband? He didn't come with you?"

Nathan got out too.

He looked me up and down, then his gaze settled on my couture gown.

"You didn't have to dress up like that for me."

I rolled my eyes where he couldn't see and said nothing.

His assistant had already pulled two suitcases out of the second car and set them by the steps.

Nathan held out a set of keys.

"The Manhattan apartment is all set.

"Go straight there after dinner tonight."

I looked at the keys.

"And why would I do that?"

Vanessa tugged lightly at his cuff.

"Nathan, Evelyn's still upset."

"I know."

He didn't sound the least bit surprised.

Three days ago, he'd chosen Vanessa in front of everyone we knew.

And he still had no doubt that I'd accept whatever he offered me.

"Evelyn, I already told you. I'm not going to leave you with nothing.

"Vanessa is my wife. You need to learn to live with that.

"The apartment, an allowance, a driver. It's all yours. Just don't take this to the press."

I smiled and asked, "Do you think I'm short on any of that?"

Nathan frowned.

"Don't try to act tough. The Bennett family adopted you only three years ago. You don't have a career of your own."

Adopted? I let out a short laugh.

Three years ago, when my father tracked me down, he never made the paternity test public.

Vanessa had spent twenty-two years as the Bennett family's cherished daughter.

My father didn't want the hospital mix-up from back then to become a story for the press, so all he told the world was that a daughter who'd been away recovering had come home.

Which meant most people decided I was either adopted or an illegitimate child.

Either way, something to be kept out of the light.

When Nathan's career hit rock bottom, I did try to tell him the truth.

I wanted to say I could help him.

He wasn't as happy as I'd imagined. Instead, he went stiff and serious.

"Is this a test to see if I'd live off a woman? Is that why you made up such a clumsy lie?

"The way that Bennett family treats you is worlds apart from how they treat a real heiress. So stop putting me through these childish little tests."

What he didn't know was that only people with real money and real power get to pick how they live.

I chose to live simply because that was the life I'd been comfortable with before returning to the Bennett family.

Not because I couldn't do better. Because I didn't want to.

But Nathan was sensitive about that sort of thing, so in the end, I never brought up who I really was again.

I pulled my thoughts back to the driveway as he continued, "You were willing to stick with me through the lean years before the company went public. Now I can take care of you. I owe you that much."

Five years ago, when his first company collapsed and he had nothing, I was the one who squeezed into a Brooklyn apartment under four hundred and thirty square feet with him.

Now he had a company with a twenty-billion-dollar market cap, and all he wanted was to keep me hidden away in the dark.

Vanessa spoke softly, "Evelyn, I'm not going to hold what the two of you had against you.

"As long as you don't interfere with our marriage, I won't put Nathan in a difficult position either."

I looked at her.

"So am I supposed to thank you for that?"

Her smile faltered for a second.

Nathan stepped in front of her before she could answer.

"That's enough. She's already given up plenty of ground.

"You're the one who needs to adjust and accept reality."

The butler came out just then.

He saw me and took my coat right away.

"Mrs. Cross. Welcome back."

Nathan's face darkened.

"What did you just call her?"

The butler blinked.

"Mrs. Cross. I don't believe I'm mistaken, sir.

"She was married at City Hall three days ago."

Nobody said anything for a few seconds.

Then Vanessa recovered and let out a small scoff.

"She told you to call her that?"

Nathan loosened his tie, and his expression relaxed instead of tightening.

"I knew it."

He looked at me.

"You'd go this far and make that up just to make me regret it."

The butler frowned and started to explain.

Nathan pushed the keys into my hand before he could.

"Stop it.

"The car's outside. You're coming back to Manhattan with me tonight."

I put the keys back in his palm.

"Three days ago, I moved into the Cross house."

Nathan stared at me.

Then he let out a low laugh.

"Evelyn, did you really think I'd buy a jealous little stunt like this?"