Chapter 1

THE ANNIVERSARY SURPRISE

Riona’s POV

The pregnancy test was hidden under the silk lining of my handbag when Caelan canceled our anniversary dinner.

“I can’t make it tonight.”

I stared at his message for several seconds. 

Tonight was our fifth anniversary. I had spent three days planning everything down to the smallest detail. 

The restaurant had been booked privately. His favorite wine was already waiting. I had even arranged for the chef to prepare the lemon pastry he used to order when we were dating and tucked inside my handbag was a second surprise.

Two pink lines. I pressed my palm against the bag.

For five years, I had told myself that the quiet distance between us was temporary. Caelan was busy. Wrenhold was expanding. His responsibilities had multiplied.

Tonight was supposed to be different. I had imagined the look on his face when I told him he was going to be a father. Instead, my phone lit up again.

Caelan: Something happened. I need to go to Saint Orison.

My fingers tightened around the phone.

I typed What happened?

The reply came almost immediately. Melania’s daughter is sick. I stopped breathing for a second.

Melania?

She had returned to Aurelia three weeks ago, and somehow, every conversation in our house had begun circling back to her. Caelan had insisted it meant nothing.

She’s part of my past, Riona. You have nothing to worry about. I had believed him or perhaps I had simply wanted to.

I picked up my coat. If Melania’s daughter was truly sick, I couldn’t sit at home complaining about a canceled dinner.

I could be hurt later. Right now, someone was apparently ill. By the time I reached Saint Orison, the private emergency entrance was crowded with security. I stepped out of the elevator and stopped. Caelan was standing outside the emergency room with a little girl in his arms.

Her face was pale against his shirt. An IV line disappeared under the sleeve of her tiny hospital gown. Melania sat beside him. She was crying. Not the elegant, controlled tears I had seen at charity events.

She was shaking and Caelan was holding her daughter like the child belonged to him. Something inside me went painfully still.

“Caelan.”

His eyes found mine. For half a second, neither of us spoke. Then his expression hardened.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to find my husband.”

His jaw tightened.

“I told you something happened.”

“You said Melania’s daughter was sick. You didn’t say you were staying here.”

“What exactly did you expect me to do?”

“I expected you to remember what tonight was.”

His gaze flicked toward the clock. There was no apology, not even guilt.

“It’s an emergency, Riona.”

“So our anniversary doesn’t matter?”

Melania lifted her head, “Caelan…”

Her voice cracked. He immediately looked at her. That tiny movement hurt more than his words. He stepped closer to her.

“Don’t talk. Save your strength.”

I stared at him. Five years of marriage, and he had never looked at me that way when I was hurting. I swallowed.

“I came here because I wanted to tell you something.”

“Not now.”

The words landed softly almost casually. That made them worse. I touched the handbag hanging from my shoulder.

“It’s important.”

“So is this.”

“I know.”

“Then stop making everything about our marriage.”

I blinked, “I wasn’t.”

“You came here demanding my attention while a sick child is fighting for her life.”

“I came because I was worried.”

“You’re acting selfish.”

The word struck harder than I expected. I looked at the man I had married.

“Selfish?”

“Yes.”

My fingers curled around the strap of my handbag, “I didn’t even ask you to leave her.”

“Then what are you doing?”

“I wanted my husband.”

His expression didn’t change, “I can’t be that person tonight.”

Before I could answer, Melania suddenly gasped. Her hand flew to her throat. The glass beside her slipped from her fingers and shattered against the floor. Caelan caught her before she fell.

“Melania!”

Everything erupted at once.Nurses rushed out. Someone called for a doctor. The little girl began crying. Caelan lowered Melania onto the stretcher while medical staff pushed through the doors.

I stood frozen. A nurse picked up a piece of broken glass.

“Doctor!”

Her voice changed, “This smells like something chemical.”

A doctor looked at the glass, “Everyone move back.”

My stomach tightened. Poison!

The word wasn’t spoken immediately, but I saw it pass between their faces. A few minutes later, two police officers entered the corridor. Caelan stood beside the emergency room doors.

His face was pale as I moved toward him.

“Caelan.”

He didn’t answer.

“I didn’t do anything.”

His eyes lifted to mine. Something had changed in them. Not concern but like a suspicion. 

“Why would I think you did?”

“Because you’re looking at me like that.”

One of the detectives approached, “Mr. Wren?”

Caelan turned. The detective held up a sealed evidence bag. Inside was the broken glass.

“Mrs. Wren’s fingerprints were found on the glass.”

My mouth went dry, “What?”

The detective looked at me, “Your fingerprints.”

“I didn’t touch it.”

Caelan’s eyes remained on me. I shook my head.

“No. I didn’t.”

“When did you last see Mrs. Vale?”

“Tonight. Here.”

The detective’s expression remained unreadable, “Before tonight?”

“I…”

I stopped. There had been a moment earlier that evening.

I had gone to the hotel because Caelan had left something there after a business meeting. But I hadn’t entered Melania’s suite.

“I was at the hotel earlier.”

Caelan’s face hardened, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I wasn’t hiding anything.”

The detective glanced at his colleague, “Where were you between eight and nine?”

“At home.”

Caelan said nothing. I looked at him.

“You know I was home.”

He didn’t answer. The detective reached into a folder and removed a photograph. Then another. Security footage. A woman walking through a hotel corridor. My coat. My handbag. My face. My blood turned cold.

“That isn’t possible.”

The detective placed the photograph in front of me.

“It was recorded at 8:37 p.m.”

I stared at the image.There I was. Walking toward Melania’s hotel suite. But I had never been there. I looked at Caelan.

“Please.”

His face was unreadable, “Where were you, Riona?”

“I told you.”

The detective stepped forward, “Mrs. Wren, you’re under arrest for the attempted murder of Melania Vale.”

The handcuffs closed around my wrists and  Caelan did nothing to stop them.