Chapter One: The Perfect Day

Ophelia POV

I never imagined that saving my husband's life would be the reason he left me for another woman.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Most Valuable Player of this season and the newest star of professional hockey, Landon Hayes!"

The roar of the crowd filled the elegant ballroom as cameras flashed and reporters surged forward. I smiled from my seat at the front table, watching my husband stride confidently to the podium. His dark hair was perfectly styled, his charming smile lighting up the room as he adjusted the microphone. This was his moment – the moment we had both worked so hard for.

"Thank you, thank you all so much," Landon said, his voice carrying easily across the packed room. "I have to say, this feels like a dream. Just two years ago, I was playing in small town rinks in Sacramento, hoping someone would notice me. And now here I am, about to sign with the Sterling Hawks – the most prestigious team in the NHL."

My heart swelled with pride as I watched him speak. He had no idea that the Sterling Hawks belonged to my father, that I was the reason he was standing on that stage. The irony wasn't lost on me – after hiding my identity for three years, my husband was about to become part of my family's empire without even knowing it.

"First and foremost," Landon continued, his eyes finding mine in the crowd, "I want to thank my beautiful wife, Ophelia. She's been my backbone through everything. When I doubted myself, she believed in me. When I wanted to give up, she pushed me to keep going. Baby, you're the reason I'm standing here today."

The cameras turned toward me, and I felt my cheeks flush as I gave a small wave. If only they knew the whole truth about just how much I had done to get him here.

"I also need to thank someone else who saved not just my career, but probably my life," Landon said, his expression growing serious. "When I had that terrible knee injury last year, when the doctors said I might never play again, Dr. Rose Miller and her incredible medical team worked miracles. Dr. Miller stayed by my side through every procedure, every late night in the hospital. Without her experimental treatment and unwavering dedication, I wouldn't be here today."

My smile faltered slightly. Rose Miller. The ambitious surgeon who had somehow managed to take credit for the treatment that I had actually helped develop – and had tested on myself first while she wasn't even there. But I pushed the bitter thought away. This was Landon's day, and I wouldn't let anything spoil it.

"To my amazing mother Mary, who sacrificed everything to support my hockey dreams, to my teammates, my coaches, my fans, and everyone who believed in me – thank you from the bottom of my heart. The Sterling Hawks contract signing next week is just the beginning!"

The applause was thunderous as Landon stepped away from the podium, reporters immediately swarming him with questions. I watched him handle each question with the confidence of someone who belonged in this world, never knowing that he was about to become part of the most powerful hockey dynasty in the country.

I placed my hand gently on my stomach, feeling the flutter of excitement that had nothing to do with the celebration around me. Next week would change everything. After the contract signing, I would finally tell Landon the truth – about my identity, about my father, and about the precious secret I was carrying.

The baby would make everything perfect. My father had always been disappointed when I chose love over my coaching career, when I walked away from the Sterling empire to live as a nobody in Sacramento. But he had a soft spot for children. Once he knew he was going to be a grandfather, any remaining anger would disappear. Landon would have his dream contract, I would have my family back, and our child would grow up surrounded by love and success.

"This is really happening," I whispered to myself, imagining how I would tell Landon later. Maybe I would surprise him with the pregnancy test, or perhaps I would wait until we were at my father's mansion for the official welcome. Either way, next week was going to be the most beautiful week of our lives. After three years of hiding who I really was, of pretending to be just another hockey wife, I could finally stop living a lie.

My phone buzzed in my purse, interrupting my daydreaming. The caller ID showed Marcus – my older brother. My smile faded. I had specifically told him not to contact me during public events. We had agreed that maintaining my secret identity meant no family contact when cameras might be around.

I glanced around the bustling room, then quietly slipped out through a side door into the event center's garden area. The cool evening air was a relief after the stuffy ballroom, and the sound of the celebration faded to a pleasant hum behind me.

"Marcus, what are you doing calling me now?" I answered in a low voice. "I told you, no contact during public events. What if someone sees us together?"

"Ophelia, I'm sorry, but I have incredible news that couldn't wait," Marcus said, his voice bubbling with excitement. "I'm actually here at the hotel. Can you step outside the main entrance? I need to see you in person."

"Here? Marcus, are you insane? There are reporters everywhere. If they see us together—"

"Please, just for two minutes. This is about Dad, and it can't wait until tomorrow."

My heart stopped. "Is he okay? What happened?"

"He's more than okay. He's ready to welcome you home, Ophelia. Really ready."

I looked around nervously, then walked toward the hotel's main entrance where Marcus said he would be waiting. "What do you mean?"

"I told him about the baby."

"You what?" I hissed, stopping in my tracks. "Marcus, I haven't even told Landon yet! How could you"

"I'm sorry, I was just so excited about becoming an uncle, and it slipped out when I was telling him how happy you seemed. But Ophelia, you should have seen his face. He lit up like Christmas morning. He said he's ready to meet Landon officially, and he wants you both to come to the house this weekend."

My anger melted away, replaced by overwhelming relief and joy. "Really? He said that?"

"More than that. He said Landon can sign with the Hawks next week, and he wants to make him the highest-paid player in the league. Everything you've dreamed of is finally happening, sis."

Tears pricked my eyes as I pressed my hand to my stomach again. "I can't believe it. After all these years of hiding, of pretending to be someone I'm not... it's really over. We can finally be a real family."

I spotted Marcus near the hotel entrance and hurried toward him, my heart soaring with happiness. Finally, after three years of living like a stranger to my own family, everything was going to be perfect.

"Dad realizes now that love is more important than hockey dynasties," Marcus said as I approached. "He's proud of you for following your heart, and he can't wait to spoil his grandchild."

I laughed through my tears as Marcus pulled me into a warm embrace. "This is the most beautiful news I've ever heard. Thank you for being brave enough to tell him."

"I love you, sis. Now get back in there and enjoy your husband's moment. Next week, you can tell him everything and introduce him to his new family."

As we hugged, I felt like the luckiest woman in the world. My husband was about to sign the contract of his dreams, my father had finally forgiven me, and I was carrying the child that would complete our perfect family.

But as I pulled away from Marcus's embrace, a flash of light caught my attention. Someone had taken a photograph.

My blood ran cold as I realized how this would look to anyone who didn't know the truth. A woman embracing a man who wasn't her husband, looking intimate and emotional, while her husband celebrated inside.

"Did you see that flash?" I whispered to Marcus, but he was already looking around, concerned.

From somewhere in the shadows near the hotel parking lot, a voice called out, cold and triumphant.

"Perfect shot! This is exactly what I needed. Thank you for making this so easy."

The voice was followed by the sound of footsteps running away, but not before I heard something that made my heart stop completely.

"Rose is going to love this. Poor Landon has no idea what his loving wife really does when he's not watching."

I stood frozen in horror as the implications hit me. Someone had been watching me. Someone knew about my secret meetings with my family. And someone was planning to use this innocent moment to destroy everything I had worked so hard to build.

Next week was supposed to be the week my perfect life finally began. Instead, it might be the day it all came crashing down.