Chapter 1
When Edward Sterling got down on one knee to propose, I looked him in the eyes and asked, "Is this just gratitude, or do you really love me?"
He met my gaze, unwavering.
"I love you. You're the light in my darkest days," he said.
But then Vivian Lane, the one he never got over, returned to the country.
I overheard his conversation with his friends.
"Now that Vivian's back, you act like you never got over her," one of them said.
Edward snapped, "Don't talk nonsense. I'm married."
Another chimed in, "All you feel for Claire is gratitude for her being there. That's it. That's just duty."
"Can you really love her the way she wants?"
"She's so devoted. She's been into you since high school. After your accident, she even quit her job to be there for you during rehab."
"You're really something, man. You went as far as marrying her just to repay her."
I expected Edward to deny it.
But he just stayed silent.
*****
On our second wedding anniversary, I found out I was pregnant.
I prepared a candlelit dinner at home, waiting for Edward to come through the door.
I sat at the table, watching the food grow cold, but he never came home.
So I headed to the club where he usually spent his evenings.
I was just outside the private room when I heard someone mention my name.
One of his friends asked, "Eddie, don't you usually head straight home after work to be with Claire?
"What's got you out drinking tonight?"
Edward just grumbled, "I'm upset."
"What's wrong? Did you and Claire have a fight? Weren't you just posting all lovey-dovey pictures online yesterday?" another friend teased.
Someone else chimed in, "You guys don't know? Vivian's back in the country."
Edward took another gloomy sip of his drink.
The guy laughed, "You act like you never really got over her."
Edward snapped, "Don't talk nonsense. I'm married."
Another chimed in, "All you feel for Claire is gratitude for her being there. That's it. That's just duty.
"Can you really love her the way she wants?"
Someone else said, "You're really something, man. You went as far as marrying her just to repay her."
Yet another said, "Claire really scored big. She kept chasing after you, and in the end, she got it all."
My fingers twisted nervously around the hem of my dress.
Inside, I was screaming for Edward to speak up, to defend me.
When it came to love, no one knew better than the people involved.
I knew Edward loved me.
After my car accident, he walked away from a deal worth over ten million dollars just to rush to my side.
He even taught himself to cook, just for me.
When my stepdad's enemies came after me, Edward stepped in front and took the hit.
He spent a whole month in the hospital and never complained once.
He once told me, "You're my everything."
He said he'd never let anything threaten me.
He always made me feel completely safe.
So, half a month ago when I heard Vivian Lane was back, I didn't feel a thing.
But now, I'd been waiting for what felt like forever.
And still, Edward didn't say a thing in my defense.
Why wasn't he standing up for me?
Edward didn't come home until early morning.
His eyes landed on the cold dinner I'd set out, and for a moment, he looked genuinely rattled.
He said, "Sorry, babe.
"I got the date wrong. I thought it was tomorrow.
"It's my fault."
I slipped the pregnancy report into the drawer.
I decided not to tell Edward, at least for now.