chapter 1

The Anniversary Betrayal

The first thing I heard on my wedding anniversary was my husband promising another woman that he would leave me.

I stopped outside the study door, unable to take another step.

The small velvet box in my hand suddenly felt unbearably heavy.

Inside was a watch I had spent weeks choosing for Julian.

I had planned everything perfectly.

Dinner.

Candles.

His favorite wine.

A gift waiting on the table.

I had even left work early because I wanted to be the first person to wish him a happy anniversary.

Instead, I heard his voice through the closed door.

"I've waited long enough, Vanessa. I'm going to divorce Evelyn."

My fingers went numb.

For a few seconds, I couldn't understand what I had heard.

Divorce?

Me?

My husband was talking about divorcing me.

And he wasn't alone.

Vanessa Collins.

The woman Julian had once loved before he married me.

The woman I had always been told was nothing more than a part of his past.

I held my breath.

Vanessa's soft voice came next.

"Are you sure this time?"

"I'm sure."

There was no hesitation in Julian's answer.

"I should have ended my marriage years ago."

My chest tightened.

Three years.

Three years of marriage.

Three years of standing beside him while he built West Enterprises into one of the most successful companies in the city.

I remembered the days when we barely had enough money to pay our bills.

I remembered Julian sitting at our tiny kitchen table late at night, staring at business plans while I made coffee for him.

I remembered telling him not to give up.

When investors rejected him, I stayed.

When everyone told him his company would fail, I stayed.

When he came home exhausted and angry, I was there.

I had never asked him for anything.

I thought being his wife meant standing beside him through everything.

Apparently, to him, it meant being temporary.

"Does she know?" Vanessa asked.

"No."

Julian's voice remained calm.

"She'll know tonight."

Vanessa laughed softly.

"What if she refuses to sign?"

"She won't."

There was something cold in his tone.

"Evelyn has always been obedient. She'll accept whatever I give her."

My eyes burned.

I stared at the floor.

Obedient.

That was what he thought of me?

Not loyal.

Not loving.

Not the woman who had stood beside him before anyone knew his name.

Just obedient.

Vanessa spoke again.

"And after the divorce?"

"I'll marry you."

My heart cracked.

Three words.

Simple.

Final.

I had spent three years believing Julian was my future.

He had apparently spent those same years waiting for his past to return.

I looked down at the velvet box.

A bitter smile touched my lips.

I had bought him a gift to celebrate our marriage.

He was preparing to end it.

For another woman.

I could walk into that room.

I could scream.

I could demand to know how long they had been seeing each other.

I could throw the watch at him and ask him how he could forget everything we had been through.

But I didn't.

Something inside me had gone strangely quiet.

I placed the velvet box on the console table.

Then I took out my phone.

My hands were steady.

That surprised me.

I opened my contacts.

Julian's name appeared first.

I stared at it for several seconds before scrolling past it.

There was another name I had seen countless times over the past year.

A name Julian hated.

A man he refused to mention without anger.

Lucian Blackwood.

Julian's greatest rival.

The billionaire who had defeated West Enterprises in more than one major deal.

The man Julian considered his most dangerous enemy.

I had never met Lucian.

But tonight, I needed him.

I searched for his number.

My thumb hovered over the screen.

What was I doing?

Calling another man on my wedding anniversary because my husband was planning to leave me?

It sounded ridiculous.

But I had just heard the truth.

And I refused to walk away from my marriage looking like the only person who had been fooled.

I pressed call.

One ring.

Two.

Then a deep voice answered.

"Who is this?"

I swallowed.

"My name is Evelyn Hart."

Silence.

Then he said,

"I know."

I frowned.

"You know me?"

"Your husband talks about you."

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

I glanced toward the study.

"Then you probably know he's divorcing me."

"I know."

His answer came without surprise.

I tightened my grip on the phone.

"Good."

A pause.

"Why are you calling me?"

I took a breath.

"Because I have a proposition for you."

"What kind?"

I looked at the closed study door.

Then I said,

"Marry me."

Silence.

For the first time that night, I almost lost my nerve.

Then Lucian laughed.

It wasn't mocking.

It was quiet.

Almost amused.

"Evelyn Hart," he said slowly, "you have no idea what you're asking for."

"Maybe I don't."

I forced myself to remain calm.

"But I know what I want."

"And what is that?"

My eyes hardened.

"Revenge."

The silence that followed was different.

He wasn't laughing anymore.

Finally, he said,

"Where are you?"

I gave him the address.

"I'll come."

My heart skipped.

"Tonight?"

"Tonight."

Before I could respond, he added,

"But before you make a decision that could change your life, you should know something."

"What?"

His voice dropped.

"I've been waiting for you to come to me."

My breath caught.

"What does that mean?"

The line went dead.

I stared at my phone.

I had never met Lucian Blackwood.

At least, I didn't think I had.

So why had he been waiting for me?

And how could he have known I'd come?

I barely had time to think.

The study door opened.

I turned.

Julian stood there.

His expression changed when he saw me.

His eyes dropped to my phone.

Then he looked back at my face.

"Evelyn?"

For the first time in three years, I looked at my husband and saw a stranger.

I smiled.

It was the first smile I had given him all night.

"Happy anniversary, Julian."

His brows drew together.

"How long have you been standing there?"

I stepped closer.

"Long enough."

His face went pale.

I didn't wait for him to explain.

I walked past him.

Behind me, I heard his voice.

"Evelyn, wait."

I stopped at the end of the hallway.

But I didn't turn around.

Because something had already changed.

Tonight, Julian West had decided to throw his wife away.

He just didn't know yet…

that his discarded wife was about to become the woman his greatest enemy would call his own.