CHAPTER 1

AURORA

Dora sat on the bonnet of her car, watching me struggle with the stubborn lock on the store door, her arms folded tightly across her chest, and the disapproving look on her face telling me she was still unhappy about how late I had worked.

"I still can't believe you had to work this late on your birthday," she said, shaking her head.

A small laugh escaped my lips. After finally locking the door, I gave it a firm tug to make sure it was secure before turning to face her.

"What?" I teased. "Did you make special plans for me or something?"

Dora jumped down from the bonnet and walked toward the driver's side of the car.

"Not me," she replied flatly. "Your husband should have made plans."

She opened the door and slid into the driver's seat. "I'm sure Mrs. Shane would rather you spend your birthday on a romantic date with your husband than spend the entire day helping customers figure out how to roast the perfect pork."

I let out a soft giggle, hoping it would hide the ache growing inside my chest.

My husband had forgotten my birthday.

Not a single phone call, not even a text message and he didn’t even come home the previous night either.

I tried to remind myself that Ethan's startup business was demanding. He has been working day and night for months, trying to keep everything afloat. I understood that.

At least, I kept telling myself I did.

But understanding didn't stop the disappointment.

It didn't stop me from checking my phone every few minutes, hoping his name would appear on the screen, it didn't stop me from wishing he would spare just one minute of his busy schedule for me.

"What's in the bag?" Dora asked as she started the car and pulled away from the driveway.

I glanced down at the insulated food bag resting on my lap.

"Can you make a quick stop at Ethan's office?" I asked, offering her a sheepish smile. "I want to drop off his dinner first. After that, we can go have some fun."

Dora nearly slammed on the brakes. "You're kidding, right?"

"What?"

"Instead of him taking you out for your birthday, you're still bringing him dinner?"

I shrugged and looked out the window.

"He's been really busy lately. I'm worried he hasn't been eating properly."

"Busy people can still make out time."

I pretended not to hear that.

"Did he even call you today?" she asked. "Or text you?"

I opened my mouth, fully intending to lie but the words got stuck.

Dora turned so quickly in her seat I genuinely feared she might hurt her neck.

"He didn't call you?" she screamed, eyes widening. "He didn't text you either?"

I stared down at my hands.

"Oh my God," she groaned. "Are you sure you're not the only person in this marriage?"

"Okay, enough," I said, forcing a smile onto my face. "No more talking about my husband or my marriage."

Dora looked at me for a long moment before dramatically pretending to zip her lips shut.

Just as we turned into the driveway leading to Ethan's company building, my phone suddenly buzzed in my bag.

I quickly dug through my oversized handbag, knocking over my wallet and keys until I finally grabbed it.

The moment Ethan's name appeared on the screen, a smile spread across my face.

"Hey," I breathed out, slightly out of breath from the frantic search. "I was just about to_”

"Don't bother bringing me dinner tonight."

The smile on my face faltered.

"I'm getting ready for an important meeting in the next twenty minutes," he continued. "It's probably going to last the entire night, so even if you bring the food, I won't be able to eat it."

My gaze drifted toward the office building visible through the car window.

A meeting?

In twenty minutes?

We were literally outside his office.

"You have a meeting in the next twenty minutes?" I asked, just wanting to be certain.

A distracted grunt came from the other end.

"Well, I can_”

"Goodnight, Aurora."

"Is everything okay?" Dora asked, glancing at me from the driver's seat.

I forced a smile and nodded.

"Yeah."

Before she could question me further, I reached over the seat and grabbed the insulated dinner bag from the back.

"He has a meeting in the next twenty minutes," I explained. "I'll just drop this off quickly before it gets cold."

Dora stared at me for a few seconds.

The look on her face clearly said she thought I was being ridiculous.

Still, she wisely kept her thoughts to herself.

"Okay," she finally said, reaching for her phone. "I'll be right here."

Taking a deep breath, I adjusted my grip on the dinner bag and made my way toward the entrance of Ethan's company.

The logistics company wasn't particularly large.

It occupied only a floor of the building, but Ethan spoke about it as though it would someday become one of the biggest companies in the country.

And because he believed in that dream, I believed in it too.

The receptionist looked up briefly when I entered before offering a polite smile of recognition.

I smiled politely at her as I walked past the front desk and headed toward the executive offices where Ethan's office was located.

The moment Ethan's secretary spotted me approaching, she sprang from her chair so quickly that it nearly rolled backward.

"Good evening, Mrs. Hayes," she greeted, forcing a smile that looked painfully strained.

"Does Mr. Hayes know you're here?"

"Yes, he does," I lied.

Without waiting for the secretary to say anything else, I walked past her desk and headed straight for Ethan's office.

A smile tugged at my lips as I pushed the door open with my shoulder, lifting the dinner bag slightly, already preparing to explain that I had been in the parking lot when he called.

The moment the door swung open, every thought in my head disappeared, the dinner bag slipping from my fingers.

Ethan, my husband, has his pant bundled around his ankles, his hands twisted and cuffed to behind him, and his back arched backwards, causing his ass to shoot out.

Standing behind him with his pant pooled in his ankle, his hand holding onto Ethan’s, as he shoved his dick in and out of my husband’s asshole is a man I very well know.

“Uncle?”