Chapter 1

After coming back from three years abroad, my husband, Lucas Reed, realized I'd changed a lot. I ate three regular meals a day, went out for morning runs, and quit smoking and drinking. I even went to bed at ten sharp every night, so even Lucas could tell something was off.

Lucas asked, "Why have you been going to bed so early lately?"

I sighed. "Because the guy I've got on the side is strict. He nags me to sleep early and get up early every day, so I got used to it."

Lucas's face turned white. "You're cheating on me?"

I feigned surprise. "How is that cheating? You're the one who said this was a business marriage and we could each do our own thing."

My marriage to Lucas may have been a business marriage, but I agreed to it willingly. The Warren and Reed families had been close for generations, and since he was the same age as my brother Charles, our families were always going back and forth. I guess Lucas and I barely counted as childhood friends. Too bad I was an overweight little girl back then, always getting frozen out by the other rich kids and never fitting in.

That only made me more sensitive and insecure, so I started buying friends with money. Sure, money couldn't buy sincerity, but it could buy a little company and drown out the loneliness for a while.

When I was ten, my parents took me to a cocktail party. No one paid me any attention, so I hid in a corner and quietly ate cake. Then a few kids came over and started making fun of me.

"Hey, chubby, eating again? Does the Warren family not feed you?" one of them sneered. "Have you been hanging around those broke kids so long you've started reeking of poverty too?"

My face turned red and I snapped, "You can say whatever you want about me, but leave my friends out of it!"

That only made everyone laugh harder. "Did you hear that? Sophie Warren actually thinks those broke nobodies are her friends. That's hilarious."

That was when Lucas walked over. He was fifteen then, and when he saw a bunch of ten-year-olds making a racket, he stepped in. "What's all the noise? Aren't you Charles Warren's little sister? Why are you crying, chubby girl? Hey, hey, don't cry. Charles's little sister is like my little sister. I'll back you up."

He didn't really stand up for me, though. He just herded those kids away. "Come on, quit making a scene. I'll take you guys to the arcade."

It was such a small thing, but I was grateful to him for a very long time. Eventually, that gratitude turned into a crush I kept to myself. From then on, I quietly gave up sweets and slowly slimmed down. Once I grew into my features, I actually started to look fairly pretty.

One evening in my sophomore year, I was bent over my desk reading a mystery novel when my brother came in, his face clouded with worry. He sat down across from me, stayed silent for a long while, and finally said he wanted me to marry Lucas.

I knew better than anyone how hard life had been for my brother. Dad's illegitimate son was two years older than Charles and far more capable than anyone wanted to admit. Ever since he'd joined the company, he'd been pressing my brother so hard he could barely keep his head up. My mother was hysterical over it, and the house was full of day-and-night fighting.

As Charles's only full sister, I had chosen to major in literature. I hated all that scheming and power struggle. My only dream was to become a mystery novelist, and after all these years of being protected by my brother, I still hadn't helped him in the slightest.

Now I had a chance to help my brother and marry the man I'd loved in secret for years. I didn't hesitate at all. I agreed on the spot.