Chapter 1
After my fiancé's elder brother passed away, his widow fell into depression.
She needed a child to heal.
My fiancé, Connor Harrison, called off our wedding to stay by her side and have a baby.
Connor said, "This is what my brother and the Harrison family owe Reagan. I can't ignore it. Just a year's delay. Once Reagan is pregnant, I'll marry you."
Despite my hysterical protests, he sent me abroad overnight.
Later, at his grandmother Ella's 80th birthday, Connor finally remembered me.
He said, "Reagan's child is already four. We can get married now."
"But Sarah is still my daughter. I'll spend five days a week with them. I know it's hard to accept now, but when you become a parent yourself, you'll understand."
I nodded. I could understand.
After all, it had only been a day back home, and I already missed my twins terribly.
*****
When the phone rang, Connor Harrison couldn't help but smile.
"I always remember your little routines. It's Tuesday, so it's custard from Silver Oak day," he said."Already got it. Let Sarah know I'll be home soon to tell her a bedtime story."
After hanging up, Connor looked at me, clearly in a good mood.
"Caroline, I'm really glad you're not holding this against me," he said. "But Reagan's doing well now, and if we get married, it might set her off. So let's just sign the papers—no ceremony.
"And after we're married, I won't have any more kids unless she says it's okay. My parents are on board too.
"You've always been so obedient, so I figured you'd understand. We're both part of the Harrison family now. You can't have all the kids and all the love. It's just not fair to Reagan."
I snorted at his self-righteous attitude. "Honestly, if you just married her, that would make everyone happy."
Connor frowned, then a playful smile tugged at his lips. "Five years have gone by, and you're still such a kid.
"Every year since you turned eighteen, your birthday wish has been to marry me. Would you really be okay with me marrying someone else? Caroline, when did you learn to pretend like this?"
I let out a sarcastic laugh. "But let's be real. Ever since you turned eighteen, your wish has always been to marry Reagan, hasn't it?"
"You act like you want to marry me, but deep down, your heart's always belonged to your sister-in-law. If anyone's being fake here, it's you," I shot back.
The night I was sent overseas five years ago, Reagan showed me a video.
In the video, Connor was kneeling in the pouring rain, begging, "Reagan, I've loved you for eight years. Please, don't marry my brother."
Reagan's expression was calm. "I love you too, but I love the status of being the Harrison family's heir even more. I'm getting married. You should find someone to settle down with too. I think Caroline would be a good match for you."
It felt like my heart was being torn apart. Turned out, what I thought was a dream come true—him finally loving me—was just him settling for me because he couldn't have the one he truly wanted.
Reagan caught my bloodshot gaze and gave me a dazzling, almost mocking smile.
"See? I never had depression. Honestly, now that Brenton's gone, I'm actually relieved," she said. "At least now, I don't have to pick between Connor and the Harrison family.
"You know what? Right there at Brenton's funeral, Connor slept with me. We were so intense that we went through an entire box of condoms.
"Connor always claimed he never even slept with you. I thought he was just bluffing. But seeing how awkward he was that night, turns out he really meant it.
"Caroline, he doesn't even want you. How could you ever hope to compete with me?"
That stabbing pain in my chest made me twist my lips into a bitter smile.
Reagan was right. Connor was always so restrained around me; even at our most passionate moments, he'd barely kiss me.
He always said he wanted to wait until our wedding night, that he couldn't bring himself to go any further.
Everyone said a man who truly loved you would cherish you, and I believed it. I thought it was romantic, and I felt lucky for so long.
I should've realized sooner that real love wasn't about restraint. It was about wanting to claim someone as his own.
"So you found out about everything?" Connor asked.
"That's all behind us. I'm marrying you now," he said.
Connor's words brought me back to the present.
"Don't ever bring this up again. Reagan's my brother's widow. If people start talking about us, it won't look good for her," Connor said.
I rolled my eyes. Funny how he never cared about her reputation when he jumped into bed with Reagan right after his brother died, or when she had his kid.
Yet now, just a single word from me was suddenly a problem for her.
Honestly, whatever was going on between them had nothing to do with me.