Chapter 3

Julian could barely stay mounted at a walk. He'd fallen from a horse as a child and avoided riding ever since. Racing Edward, an expert horseman, was absurd.

But he gripped the reins. "All right."

They lined up with their chosen horses. At the whistle, Edward surged forward. Julian followed, struggling merely to keep his mount under control. Soon Edward was far ahead.

He had to win.

In desperation, he pulled a pin from his cuff and jabbed his horse in the hindquarters. The animal panicked and bolted. Julian clung to the reins as the sudden acceleration tossed him from side to side.

Edward stared in disbelief as Julian's horse flew past him. Then it bucked wildly, throwing Julian several yards across the track.

"Julian!" Edward shouted.

...

At the signing ceremony between Sterling Group and Westbridge Holdings, Edward shook Vivienne's hand after both companies completed the agreement.

"Ms. Sterling, you have an extraordinary husband."

She blinked. "You know Julian?"

"Know him? He raced me to win this deal for you. Took a terrible fall, too. I've never seen someone try so hard for his wife."

Vivienne went still. Julian hadn't said a word. So that was why the negotiation had suddenly gone so smoothly.

When she returned home, she found him alone in their bedroom applying ointment. His shoulders, back, and arms were mottled with bruises.

"You..."

He startled, hurriedly put on a shirt, and turned around. "You're home early."

"Those injuries. You got them riding with Edward?"

He hesitated. If she knew, the deal must be done. He smiled faintly and lowered his head, as if afraid she'd see the love in his eyes.

"I'm your husband. Of course I should support your work. Besides, I owed you an apology for throwing your things out."

His mild smile made his injuries seem even worse. For the first time, guilt pricked Vivienne's heart. She had always regarded Julian as her family's chosen spouse, never truly as her partner.

"Isn't your birthday coming up?" she asked. "What would you like?"

It was the first time since their wedding that she'd ever brought it up.

He looked up, hope brightening his face. "Could we have dinner together that night?"

For years she'd been working or traveling on his birthday. The request was so modest that even she felt a pang.

She nodded.

A week later, the day before his birthday, Julian was tidying her study when the desk phone rang. Vivienne wasn't there, so he answered.

It was Vivienne's assistant, Clara Bennett. "Ms. Sterling, I've secured a reservation at Larkmoor's most exclusive restaurant. The rare roses you ordered have just been flown in from the grower. Any other instructions?"

Julian's heart jumped. Surely all this was for tomorrow.

Vivienne entered just then. "Your assistant," he said, handing her the phone.

She took it. Julian tried not to let his excitement show as he left the room.

On his birthday, he got up early. Vivienne left for work without mentioning the occasion. He almost reminded her, then remembered the restaurant reservation. She must have work during the day. She'd see him tonight.

He waited all day, dressing carefully in colors that matched hers. Ten o'clock passed, the time she usually returned. The house stayed silent.

Still, she'd promised.

He sat on the sofa watching the clock until it passed midnight. His anticipation slowly drained away. Then he remembered the roses. Roses weren't something she would buy for him.

A dreadful suspicion formed.

He opened his phone and searched Elliot's social media. They moved in the same circles, and he'd followed Elliot years ago.

Elliot had posted a few hours earlier. His location was Larkmoor.

"Home at last."

The attached photographs showed an elegant restaurant, a plate piled with shrimp someone had peeled for him, and dew-fresh roses on the table.

And sitting across from Elliot, watching him with a look both tender and restrained, was Vivienne.