Chapter 2

Gideon didn't just decide who would take my place as his wife.

He even planned exactly how I would continue working for him after he threw me away.

I sat in the silent office of the Hale family lawyer. A thick stack of documents sat on the mahogany table.

"Mr. Hale finalized these divorce papers a month ago, Mrs. Hale," the lawyer said.

A month ago.

My chest went completely numb.

For the past thirty days, Gideon came home every night.

He let me plan our third-anniversary dinner. He let me exhaust myself organizing the Hale centennial gala. He watched me take his mother, Eleanor, to her weekly hospital visits.

He watched me play the perfect wife, knowing he was already erasing me.

I reached for the pen.

"Wait, there is one more document," the lawyer said. He slid a second folder toward me.

I opened it. It was an employment contract.

Head of the Hale Foundation.

I read Gideon's terms. I would no longer be Mrs. Hale. But I would still manage the family's charity. I would still handle their social events. I would report directly to Gideon.

He wanted me to step down as his wife, but he still wanted me to remain part of the Hale family.

In his mind, keeping me at the foundation was a way of protecting me.

For three years, I proved my worth.

Not today.

I signed the divorce papers.

Then, I pushed the employment contract back across the table. I left it completely blank.

I walked out of the lawyer's office. The divorce was legally binding. I was finally free.

Gideon’s assistant was waiting by my car. He handed me a large garment bag, a small velvet box, and a thick folder.

"For the gala, madam," the assistant muttered.

I opened the bag. Inside was a restrained silver-gray evening dress.

Inside the velvet box was empty space. Waiting for my ring.

I opened the thick folder. It wasn't just a prepared statement announcing that our marriage had ended by mutual agreement, and that I would remain head of the Hale Foundation.

It was a schedule. It contained my work itinerary for the entire month after the gala. It had Eleanor’s next medical checkup dates. It had the gift lists for Gideon’s upcoming business dinners.

He really thought nothing would change.

My phone buzzed. It was Gideon.

I pressed answer.

"Did you get the dress?" he asked.

Before I could speak, I heard Celeste’s sweet voice in the background. "Will she really do it, Gideon? "

"She’ll come," Gideon said.

"Even after the divorce?" Celeste asked.

"The foundation has nothing to do with our marriage."

His voice remained completely certain.

"Mara doesn’t abandon responsibilities."

I gripped the thick folder.

"I will be there on time," I said into the phone. My voice was eerily calm. "And I will return absolutely everything that doesn't belong to me."

I hung up before he could answer. He thought I was only talking about the ring.

A sleek black Maybach pulled up to the curb.

The back door opened. Julian Sterling sat inside. His dark eyes locked onto mine.

Julian looked at the divorce papers in my hand. Then, he looked at my face.

"Even if he changes his mind tonight," Julian asked, "you won't go back?"

I ripped the script in half. I let the pieces fall onto the pavement.

"His regret is no longer my responsibility."

A faint smile touched Julian's lips.

We drove straight to City Hall.

There were no flowers. There were no guests. There was no borrowed wedding dress.

But when Julian held my hand and slid a simple, unadorned gold band onto my left ring finger, my heart finally felt safe.

My phone buzzed in my purse. A text from Gideon.

[Wear the old wedding ring when you walk in tonight. You must take it off yourself.]

Julian looked down at my left hand. "Which ring are you going to wear?"

I pulled the heavy, borrowed diamond out of my purse. I dropped it into the empty velvet box and snapped the lid shut.

I looked up at my new husband.

"The one my husband gave me, of course."