The First Husband: A Novel Novels & Stories

My sister-in-law, Hannah Martinez, was eight months pregnant when someone shoved her to the ground. Due to the heavy bleeding, she was rushed to the hospital. I happened to drive past, but I rolled up my window and pretended I saw nothing, pressing down on the gas pedal. In my previous life, I had immediately taken Hannah to the hospital when I saw her pass out from the blood loss. However, the situation was critical. After the severe bleeding, she developed an amniotic fluid embolism. My wife, Lauren Martinez, was the best obstetrician in the city. I called her, begging her to hurry to the hospital. Yet, she thought I was throwing a tantrum out of jealousy because she was having dinner with her first love, Isaac Poole, and his family. She believed I was using Hannah's emergency to force her to come back. By the time her family finally arrived, Hannah had already died from the failed treatment of the amniotic fluid embolism. Her entire family blamed me for Hannah's death, convinced that I had deliberately caused Lauren to misunderstand and let Hannah die. My brother-in-law, Jacob Turner, who rushed back from out of town, believed their lies. In his overwhelming grief, he hacked me to death with a knife at Hannah's funeral. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Hannah was pushed and started bleeding out.

Five years ago, Esther Quill, who was six months pregnant, was sent to prison by her husband, Bradley Warner, himself.Five years later, Esther went to Bradley with a DNA paternity test paper in her hand and tearfully questioned, "Bradley Warner, how does it feel to kill your flesh and blood with your own hands!?"Ten years of secret love in exchange for five years of imprisonment; ten months of pregnancy in exchange for five years of separation from her flesh and blood.After Esther redeemed her sin with her life, Bradley turned white overnight and offered a sky-high reward, desperately searching for his wife and vowing to find her even if he had to overturn the world.The world thought that Bradley loved Esther to death... Only Esther knew that the man had no heart.It was until Esther appeared on the news with her two daughters and son one day.Bradley looked at the woman he had been yearning for and apologized, "Sweetheart, I was wrong!"The three little ones put themselves in front of Esther."Mr. Warner, our mommy is single, and there are too many people who want to be our daddy. Please go to the end of the line!”

Shortly after we said "I do," the Family sent my husband, Dario, down to the Mexican border. He told me it was a meat grinder down there—cartel territory. where guys were zipped into body bags every day. He said he had to go—to expand the territory, for the glory of the Family. He claimed it was too dangerous and that his enemies would paint a target on my back, so he wouldn't take me with him. I believed him. I stayed behind in his old, rot-infested house in New Jersey, taking care of his bitter, spiteful parents. I spent my days and nights in the Family's moldy laundromat, washing bills stained with blood. He told me he sent every dime he made down there to the widow of a brother who took a bullet for him. He asked me to be understanding. I never complained. Day after day, I pressed expensive suits in that humid laundromat, waiting for him to come home. It wasn't until the eighth year that a mobster came back drunk. When I asked about Dario, he froze, then sneered at me through a haze of alcohol. "Dario? Are you kidding? He’s been a King in Manhattan for years. He’s the youngest Underboss of the Corleone family." I stood frozen, the iron in my hand burning a hole right through a shirt. "And he got married seven years ago. Biggest cathedral in New Jersey. Half the mob was there to toast the groom..." He pulled a crumpled photo from his leather jacket. Snuggled up against my husband was a woman in a high-end couture gown—the very same "poor, widowed sister-in-law" he had told me about. The next day, I contacted a fixer who specialized in fake IDs. On the application for a one-way ticket to Europe—a ticket to vanish off the face of the earth—I filled in the fake name I had prepared long ago. He trapped me for seven years with a sham marriage. From now on, I’d be done with this damn loyalty.

That night, I got off work early and brought home some late-night snacks. When I opened the door, I saw a pair of high heels carelessly tossed in the entryway and Gregory’s blazer thrown over the couch. His heavy breathing and the woman’s moans could be heard through the gap between the door and its frame. I was all too familiar with this sight. This time, I did not storm out like I used to. Instead, I sat quietly at the dining table and finished my cold pizza.

Melody Nolan was the proud heiress to the wealthy Nolan family. Why would she bow down to a man who already had another woman in his heart?The first thing she did upon regaining her memory was to get a divorce.In the city of Bayridge, it was common knowledge that the wealthy Christopher Bolton married a girl from the slums who was known for her greedy and materialistic nature. Yet one day, they divorced. Everyone said, "It must be a scheme to get more money!" Christopher said, "In three days, she'll come crawling back." Contrary to everyone’s expectations, the girl returned to the Nolan family and became an heiress who wouldn't spare him a glance. She revealed her hidden talents as a hacker, a top-notch doctor, and the nation's top designer—everything Christopher had been looking for. It was then he discovered the truth... Upon reuniting on a rooftop terrace during a business banquet, he pinned her against the cold railing. Tears flooding his eyes, he knelt reverently before her and begged, "Mel, I'm willing to be a substitute. Will you allow me to stay by your side?"

Forced into marriage to repay her father’s debt, Bianca enters a world of wealth, lies, and deadly secrets. Her husband loves another, her past is a mystery, and someone wants her destroyed. Caught between betrayal, forbidden love, and a dangerous truth worth killing for, Bianca must choose, fight, flee, or be consumed.

Tall, handsome, sweet, compassionate caring, and smart? Oh, now you're making me laugh! But it's true, that's how you would describe Nathan Taylor, the 28-year-old lawyer who took California by storm. Ladies would swoon at the sight of him but he was married to Anette, his beautiful wife of 5 years. Their lives looked perfect from the outside with Anette being the perfect wife and Nathan being the loving husband. However, things were not as simple as that. Nathan Taylor was hiding things from Anette, he carried on with his life like everything was okay when in reality Anette would be crushed if she found out what he was up to. But what if she already knew? What happens when the 28-year-old Anette takes the law into her own hands and gives Nathan a little taste of his own medicine? ~ "Anette, I didn't think you'd find out about this I'm sorry." The woman said and Anette stared at her, a smile plastered on her face. "Oh don't worry sweetheart. There's nothing to apologize for. All is fair in love and war."

After three years of living with my wife’s family, everyone thought they could treat me like a pushover. Me? I’m just waiting for her to hold my hand before I can give her the world.

When Delia finds out she’s pregnant she’s so excited but her world is shattered when she finds out her husband’s having an affair with his secretary who also claims to be pregnant. Delia demands a divorce and leaves before Thomas can change her mind.

Ever since her family went bankrupt, work is all Florence does to help out at home. But when she meets Scott Lee, a rich and handsome CEO, everything changes. Although gentle and romantic, Scott doesn’t believe in marriage. But when his grandfather warns him of the need to have an heir to carry on their legacy, Scott gets worried about the company falling into the wrong hands. Unable to stay away from Florence, he thinks the only way he can agree to his grandpa’s plan is if he marries her and proposes a deal: get married for the sake of their families and divorce after he gets the company. Florence accepts but falling in love wasn’t in the script. Now, she needs to control her feelings while pretending to be the perfect wife and remain safe as Scott’s enemies go after her. *** “I want you to go on a date with me.” “Why me?” “What kind of question is that? Why you? Why not you?” Falling for my Fake Husband is created by Rafaella Dutra, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.