Chapter 1

"Are you two done talking?"

Both men turned to see Mona Brent walking toward them in a black skirt suit.

Still furious over what he'd just heard, Harry Crain stepped forward to confront her. "Mona, Ryder just told me you two are getting div..."

"What are you doing here?"

Ryder Kane gave Harry's hand a reassuring pat and shook his head, cutting him off before he could finish. "It looked like it might rain, so I thought I'd come pick you up."

Ryder smiled, said goodbye to Harry, then grabbed his bag and left with her.

Rain pattered against the windows on the drive home, but neither of them said a word.

Mona glanced at the man she'd ended up marrying through a strange twist of fate. She opened her mouth several times, seemingly searching for something to say, but then remembered she hadn't been home in two weeks.

After a long silence, something finally seemed to occur to her.

"Ryder, what was that document you asked me to sign two weeks ago?" she asked.

It had taken Mona two whole weeks to ask about the document. But with all her attention focused on Kieran Ashford lately, Ryder wasn't surprised she'd paid so little attention to anything else.

Ryder gave a humorless smile and was about to answer when Mona's phone rang.

"Mona, I drank too much. My head's killing me. Can you come get me?" Kieran's voice was soft and wheedling, almost as though he were trying to coax her into agreeing.

Mona gripped the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her expression darkened. "Kieran, how many times do I have to tell you? I'm married."

There was a brief silence before Kieran replied, "So what if you're married? I was supposed to be the one standing at the altar with you."

His dismissive tone made Mona snap.

In their three years of marriage, Ryder had never seen her as anything but calm and collected. This was the first time he'd seen her lose her temper.

She slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching against the pavement. "Then why didn't you show up?"

Kieran went silent. A moment later, he spoke again, his voice trembling slightly. "I'm sorry. I won't bother you anymore."

He hung up soon after, but Mona's expression only grew darker.

She drummed her fingers against the steering wheel for a long time before finally giving in and sending him a text. "Send me your address."

When his reply came through, she turned to Ryder with an apologetic look.

Ryder knew what she was about to say and spoke before she could. "Go ahead. I'll get a cab home."

As he opened the car door and stepped out under his umbrella, Mona felt a pang of guilt.

"I'll come home and spend some time with you once I'm done," she said softly.

Ryder nodded. He stood in the rain, watching her drive away, his feelings a tangled mess.

He'd been in love with Mona for almost seven years. He could still remember the first time he'd seen her in the dance studio and fallen for her on the spot.

Dressed in a flowing dance costume, she'd moved with effortless grace, captivating the entire audience as she won the statewide dance championship.

The guys around him had cheered wildly, while one of them eagerly filled the new students in on who she was.

Mona Brent. A computer science student at Westbridge University, one of the most popular girls on campus, and the daughter of the wealthy Brent family from Northvale.

Unfortunately, Mona only had eyes for Kieran Ashford, her childhood sweetheart and longtime boyfriend.

She'd once spent a fortune renting out an entire amusement park just to surprise him on his birthday.

She'd swallowed her pride and begged him to take her back in front of the entire university, all because another guy had confessed his feelings to her and Kieran had gotten jealous and blocked her number out of spite.

She'd even waited for him in the snow until her hands were frostbitten. And when she found out he'd stood her up to play basketball with his roommates, she hadn't complained once.

Throughout his four years at university, Ryder had heard countless stories about Mona and Kieran's relationship.

He'd always assumed he'd be nothing more than a background character in their love story, watching from the sidelines as they eventually got their happily ever after.

Then, three years ago, Mona graduated and immediately set about marrying Kieran.

Ryder hadn't been invited to the wedding, but he went anyway, attending as a former classmate.

Except Kieran never showed up. Even after the ceremony was supposed to begin, there was still no sign of him.

Frantic, Mona called him 100 times. All she got in return was a text saying he wasn't ready to get married so young and had already left the country.

That was the day Mona finally ran out of patience. For once, she refused to put up with his behavior.

She picked up the microphone and addressed the guests. "I'm Mona Brent, and I've decided I'm getting a new groom today! Any single men here interested?"

Ryder had always been quiet and easy to overlook, but at that moment, his heart was pounding.

He knew plenty of other men wanted to marry Mona. So the instant she finished speaking, he shot to his feet.

That day, he put on an ill-fitting suit and married a woman who couldn't even remember his name. For the next three years, they lived together peacefully, treating each other with courtesy and respect.

Then, just over a month ago, Kieran returned. Ryder watched as Mona tried to resist Kieran, only to find herself drawn back to him time and again.

That was when he knew his dream was over. It was time to step aside and give his place back to the man she'd always loved.

He would let her be with the man she couldn't forget. And finally free himself in the process.

Standing in the pouring rain, Ryder sent Mona a text. "That document you asked about is in the glove compartment. If you want to know what it is, just open it."