He Thought I Couldn't Understand That Call

Ethan Grant noticed my arms fall away from his neck and leaned in to plant a gentle kiss on the tip of my nose.

"Sweetheart, what are you zoning out about? Is my face not doing it for you anymore?"

He looked at me with the same soft eyes as always, and it just felt ridiculous.

Minutes ago, he'd been on the phone, reliving what it was like to sleep with my younger sister, Sandy Searle. Now he was right back to playing the perfect, devoted husband.

How long had he been polishing this act? I was too scared to even think about it.

I tucked my face into the crook of his neck to hide the bitter curl of my mouth. "Nothing. I was just wondering what you two were talking about."

Ethan gave me a fond little smile. "I was talking business with Henry. He's been trading with Denmark lately, so he's gotten used to speaking Danish."

He must've been too busy fooling around with Sandy to remember that Danish had been my minor in college.

The air around me seemed to thin out all of a sudden.

I pushed him back, my voice eerily calm. "Go on, finish your call. I'm thirsty. I'll grab some water."

Before Ethan could say a word, I headed downstairs.

As I passed the living room, I caught the maids whispering to each other.

"The gift Mr. Grant bought Mrs. Grant just came in. I heard it cost hundreds of millions of dollars."

"The storage room's already packed with gifts. She hasn't even finished opening them. Mr. Grant really spoils her."

Back then, that kind of talk would've made me feel like the luckiest woman alive, convinced I'd married the best man I could ever ask for.

Now, all I could do was focus on not letting the pain show. No one had a clue how wild that man everyone praised for "spoiling his wife" really was behind my back.

Yesterday, I slipped into Ethan's study to drop off the anniversary gift I'd bought him. He kept so many company files in there that I was hardly ever allowed inside.

But this time, I found Sandy's pearl earring, tucked into the seam of the new couch. It gleamed so brightly it hurt to look at it.

At that moment, I knew my marriage to Ethan was over.

My phone buzzed, breaking my train of thought. Tyler Carter, my advisor, was calling.

"Aria, I saw you accepted the research offer. You gave up your career for Ethan, and I'm glad you're finally coming back. Someone will pick you up in three days. Take a little time to say goodbye to your family."

My family?

I almost snapped the phone in half.

Mom and Dad had died in a car crash six years ago. Since then, Ethan and Sandy had been my only family. But now that they'd betrayed me, they weren't my family anymore.

I drew in a deep breath, my voice barely more than a whisper. "Professor Carter, that won't be necessary. Please apply for the highest security clearance and erase every record tied to my identity."

Tyler's voice went sharp with shock. "Why? Once your records are gone, Aria Searle won't exist anymore. Ethan's going to lose his mind when he can't find you."

I let out a bitter laugh. "He won't. He already betrayed me."

Heat prickled behind my eyes.

After I left pharmacy school, I'd done nothing but brew hangover cures for Ethan. I lost myself and got nothing in return.

Only silence came through the line until Tyler finally sighed.

"I knew something was off when you suddenly accepted the offer. I just didn't expect this. I'll make sure your clearance goes through. Just prepare yourself to leave in three days."

I closed my eyes, feeling lighter than I had in years. With the security protocol in place, I didn't have to rack my brain over how to get rid of the title "Mrs. Grant".

"Thank you, Professor Carter."

Right as the last word left my lips, a voice I knew all too well rumbled behind me and made me jump.

"Sweetheart, who's the one who got betrayed?"