Chapter 1
In the fire, Carter Sterling would rather let himself be burned than see my experimental data destroyed.
"This is Nia's data for the Municipal Innovation Award. I can't bear to see her heartbroken," he said.
Everyone praised Carter for loving his wife so profoundly.
Until another woman submitted my project for the award.
The supervisor column bore Carter Sterling's name.
I was on the phone with the organizers, asking if there had been a mistake.
Just then, Carter walked into the lab, his face alighted with relief.
"Bianca's baby is safe. The drugs you gave her didn't affect the fetus."
His words turned my blood to ice.
"Say that again. I never gave her any drugs," I stated.
Carter rubbed his temples, a flash of weary impatience in his eyes.
"Bianca has chosen to let it go. Why must you keep lying?" he said.
"Forget it. I've already withdrawn your award submission and given the data to Bianca.
"With you out of the way, the award will undoubtedly be hers.
"Consider it compensation for nearly causing her to miscarry."
My heart plunged into an abyss.
But he didn't know.
Due to the exceptional significance of my results, I had already been granted the National Award ahead of schedule.
I had even received an invitation to be a judge for the very municipal competition he'd just barred me from.
*****
A staff member answered the phone.
"Hello, this is the City Chemistry Innovation Award team. How can I help?"
With a scowl, Carter hung up the phone.
"Are you really going to snitch to the committee?" he asked.
He tugged his collar, clearly fed up.
He snapped. "Can't you just let it go?
"It's only a city award. Why not Bianca?
"Why not let her win once? I didn't know you were so jealous," Carter said.
I began to explain.
I wasn't snitching. I just wanted to know how my project ended under her name.
And even if I wasn't in the picture,
Bianca Shaw couldn't enter a national award-winning project into the city competition.
Not to mention winning anything.
But Carter didn't let me explain.
He looked at me with clear disdain, his voice cold.
"That's settled," he said.
"Don't sabotage Bianca. Nia, don't fail me again.
"Bianca's my sister-in-law now. Let her have her way once."
My heart ached.
How many times must I step aside for her?
Even on our anniversary, Bianca complained about fearing thunder.
Carter left me and drove across the city in the rain just to keep her company.
I waited alone all night in the living room for him.
Carter felt no guilt.
"My brother died. I must take care of Bianca, his wife, to honor him," he said.
"It's our anniversary. I'll make it up next time."
Thinking about it tightened my throat.
"You know if you're caring for your sister-in-law or still holding on to your first love," I shouted.
His face turned cold.
"So that's why you're determined to stop Bianca from winning?
"I dated Bianca before, but now she's just my sister-in-law.
"How many times must I say it? There's nothing between her and me."
He made it sound completely natural.
Carter and Bianca never acted inappropriately.
They never kissed or slept together.