LOGINChase answered the call on speaker. He and Tyler exchanged greetings before Tyler got straight to the reason he'd called."Paxton called me earlier. He was saying something about an ex of Hannah's. You know the family arranged for her to date this decent guy, hoping they'd settle down together. Now there's an ex nobody knows about, and Paxton is furious.""An ex?" Chase asked."Yeah. Hannah hasn't brought anyone home or introduced us to anyone she's dating. Since she worked with you back in LA, I thought you might know something. Did she ever mention seeing anyone? Or do you know any guy she dated?"Chase turned to me, and I quickly shook my head, mouthing no."I can't really give you the information you're looking for," Chase said carefully."Well, I'm trying to figure out who this ex is. Paxton keeps calling her, and she's not picking up. Since you're in Boston, could you check on her? See if you can find out something?""Sure. Send me her address. I'll stop by tomorrow and say hell
When Chase finally pulled away, he was smiling. "Please tell me you punched that motherfucker in the face."I laughed and reached into my bag. "Oh, I've got something better."I took out my phone and played the video for him.His smile disappeared as he watched Flynn and the woman together. By the time Flynn started talking about marrying me for my family's money, Chase's face had darkened."That fucking bastard," he muttered.When the video ended, he gently stroked my cheek with his thumb. "How are you feeling about all this? Are you hurt?""I'd have to actually like Flynn for this to hurt me." I shrugged. "What he did was fucked up, but I'm glad I found out. It makes everything easier now."Chase studied me, a mischievous smile forming on his face. "Hold on. You don't like your boyfriend? Does that have anything to do with your ex?"I laughed, already seeing where he was going with this. "Well, I wouldn't exactly call him my ex. He never even asked me out. But yes, there's this guy
They must have been in such a hurry that they hadn't bothered to shut the bedroom door properly.Through the narrow opening, I could see Flynn thrusting into a woman who was screaming his name.I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I took out my phone, opened the camera, and started recording.I kept the camera running until they finished. I was about to stop recording and leave when the woman laughed."Damn, that was so good." She ran her hand down his chest. "Are you seriously going to give all this up for that bitch?"My finger stopped above the screen.What bitch?Flynn rolled onto his back. "Baby, how many times do I have to explain this? I'm not giving you up. I'm not giving us up. Nothing is changing between us.""Then why are you dating her?""Because I need to marry her. I've told you what's happening with my family's business. We're drowning in debt, and if word gets out before we secure funding, we're finished."Oh, so that was why he'd brought up marriage so early in our r
"Get your fucking hands off me!" I yanked my arm out of Chase's grip, opened the door, and stormed outside.I'd only taken a few steps when my feet left the ground."Chase! Put me down!"He carried me back into the house, ignoring my protests, and set me down on the couch. Before I could get up, he hurried to the front door and shut it.“What the hell is wrong, Hannah? Why are you so angry with me?”I shot to my feet. “Why am I angry? You ruined my fucking date, Chase! I was having a great time with Flynn until you decided to open your damn mouth.”He looked confused. "What did I say?""Don't play dumb with me. You could've texted me about the interview. You didn't have to stop at our table and make that stupid comment about round two. You knew exactly how it would sound!""Hannah—""No, listen to me. The next time you pull something like that, I swear to God, it won't end well for you. You know what? Screw the whole thing. I'm quitting the project. I don't give a fuck about the promo
Flynn picked me up around seven for our date. On the way to the restaurant, he played songs we'd grown up listening to, singing along and laughing whenever one of us got the lyrics wrong. It was fun, chaotic, and surprisingly relaxing.By the time we arrived, we were both in high spirits. We ordered our meals, and Flynn kept cracking jokes that had me laughing throughout.This was the Flynn I'd met when we first started dating. The funny, charming man I'd enjoyed spending time with, not the insecure version he'd become since we returned from Los Angeles.We were talking about college, and I was telling him about a professor whose lectures could put an entire class to sleep."I used to wonder how that man got his job. He was literally the B in boring."I laughed, but Flynn didn't. He was looking past me, his jaw clenched.I followed his gaze and immediately wished I hadn't.Chase was sitting a few tables away with a gorgeous woman in a red dress. She was laughing so freely at something
“Of course it's too early, Flynn. We've been dating for less than a month. Why would you want to rush into marriage when we barely know each other?”"But I've known your brother for years, and our families have been close for a long time. It's not like we're complete strangers. Besides, we can always get to know each other better in marriage.""That's not how I want to do things. What if we get married and realise we're not compatible? What happens then? Divorce and all the messiness that comes with it? I'd rather we take our time and do things properly. There's no reason to rush."He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm just scared, Hannah.""Scared of what?""That Chase might convince you to leave me."I sighed. "Flynn, can you please stop bringing Chase into every conversation we have? Because if you keep doing this, it's going to feel like there are three people in this relationship.""I'm sorry. I just don't want to lose you." He reached for my hand. "Can you at least promise me you
“Mason… how did you even find—”The words barely left my mouth before he took my hand and led me straight to his car parked outside.“Mason…”“Get in.”The way he said it shut everything down. Whatever I wanted to ask stayed stuck in my throat.I got into the back seat. He slid in beside me, the do
MiaFrom the hotel, I drove straight home with only two things on my mind.First, I needed a shower. After that, I would go through everything I owned to see if there was anything worth selling. I couldn’t risk putting all my hope on Mason.The house lights were on when I walked in, and the sound o
Mason“Lawrence, I want everything about her.”My assistant looked up immediately. “Everything, boss?”“Yes. I want to know what her life has been like for the past six years and why she suddenly needs three hundred thousand dollars.”Lawrence gave a short nod. “Understood.”He turned and left the
As I stared at Mason’s picture on the billboard, my mind drifted back to the first time we met. That summer in LA, I had taken a hotel cleaning job while visiting my Aunt Mel.I was pushing the cleaning cart after finishing my rounds, my hands hurting like hell, when the elevator dinged. He stepped







