Chapter 1

On Valentine's Day, I waited outside the mall for my husband, Michael Graham, for two hours.

The rain got heavier and heavier, but he never showed up.

Our three-year-old daughter, Bella Graham, was curled up in my arms. She looked up at me and whispered, "Mommy, does Daddy not want us anymore?"

My heart ached, but I smiled and reassured her.

"Daddy's working late. He'll come home when he's done."

Just then, a message from Michel appeared on my phone.

"Something came up. I can't pick you up. Take a cab home."

That was it. He didn't even wish me a happy Valentine's Day.

I called him. The phone rang for a long time before he finally answered.

There was a lot of background noise. Then, I heard a woman laughing. "Michael, you said you'd spend the night with me…"

The call ended before she could finish.

I stared at the dark screen. Whatever hope I had left was gone.

For the four years we've been married, I've told myself that his work comes first.

He'd forgotten our anniversary before, and I'd let it go.

Yet, he did it again. Today was our wedding anniversary, and he'd promised to come pick up Bella and me.

Bella wiped the rain from my face with her tiny hand.

"Don't cry, Mommy."

That's when I realized I was crying.

Not wanting to stand in the pouring rain with Bella while waiting for a ride, I called my brother, Owen Sinclair.

The moment he heard that I'd been left outside the mall, his voice turned cold. "Don't move. I'll be there in ten minutes."

12 minutes later, a black Bentley pulled up in front of us.

Owen had come without his driver. He got out with an umbrella and wrapped his coat around Bella.

"Where's Michael?"

"Working late."

He scoffed. "He's working late on Valentine's Day and leaving his family out in the rain. What a guy."

"Come on, don't start."

I carried Bella into the car. I didn't want to argue with him in front of her.

Owen glanced at me through the rearview mirror but didn't say anything else.

Instead of taking us home, he drove straight to a restaurant.

"Mom and Dad wanted me to bring you home for dinner. Since you refused, why not have dinner with me instead?"

I knew he was still angry that I'd kept my marriage a secret, so I nodded.

Four years ago, I'd gone against my family's wishes and married Michael.

To prove that I wasn't after his money, I'd hidden the fact that I was the daughter of the Sinclair family. I didn't even let my parents or brother attend the wedding.

I thought that if we were serious about building a life together, my background wouldn't matter.

In hindsight, I was too naive.