Chapter 1 · The Promise We Buried

The trending topic "Wife Accuses Hawthorne CEO of Affair" barely lasted a day before I spoke out to clarify things.

"Ryan and I are nothing to each other. All these years, it was just wishful thinking on my part."

My voice was flat. I showed no sign of being forced.

"And when jealousy got the better of me, I fabricated a lie that he was cheating with his secretary. I apologize to Vivian."

The internet erupted with rage.

[I actually bought your story and felt sorry for you. Then you pull a 180 and make me look like a fool. Go to hell, you bitch!]

[So you think we're all idiots? If your head's that messed up, go check yourself into a psych ward!]

My hands trembled as the relentless stream of insults flooded my phone.

"Are you satisfied now?" I asked.

Ryan gave a small, cold smile. "You've finally come to your senses. If you'd been this cooperative from the start, things would've been much easier.

"As a reward, I'll make some time to go with you to your checkup this time.

"But tomorrow I'm taking Vivian to Isenland to see the Northern Lights. She's been down and needs a break. You'll have to wait on the checkup. I'll reschedule when we're back."

I hung up the video call. Behind me, the nurse reminded me that the termination procedure was ready.

I had waited ten years for him.

I was done waiting.

*****

After leaving home, the first place I went was a small clinic.

Ten years ago, Ryan Hawthorne had stood right here, beside my mother's hospital bed, and made a promise. "I'll love Ava for the rest of my life. I swear she'll never suffer. Not for a single moment."

Ten years later, I was here to end my pregnancy.

Out back, under the old tree, was the metal box we'd buried together all those years ago.

We'd promised to open it together ten years later.

The box had rusted shut, but the papers inside were still intact.

The first question was in Ryan's bold, almost illegible scrawl.

[To my dearest Ava, the future Mrs. Hawthorne: How did we spend these last ten years?]

I stared at those intimate words. The irony hit me like a physical blow.

[Did I buy you a ring?]

Yes. A tiny diamond. I'd worn it on my ring finger for ten years, treasuring it like it was the most precious thing in the world.

Even though it was barely a tenth the size of the rock Vivian Chase was now flashing around on her finger.

[How's the company? Are we married yet?]

The company kept growing. So did the number of women orbiting him.

Every time I brought up marriage, he would just change the subject.

We spent ten years like that. No license. No ceremony. Nothing official.

[Do we have a baby?]

We did have a baby.

But he was stillborn. He came into this world bruised and blue, and never got to cry, not even once.

Now I was pregnant again, all because Vivian wanted a baby. To her, it was a plaything.

But Ryan said she was a career woman. She couldn't ruin her figure or waste her precious time.

I had written the next question.

[Mr. Hawthorne, over these past ten years, what do you think was the most important thing in our relationship?]

What would Ryan say to that?

He'd probably say trust.

After all, he was always telling me, with that familiar impatience creeping into his voice, "Ava, can't you just trust me? There's nothing going on between Vivian and me. We're just colleagues.

"Vivian's really talented. Stop looking at her like she's the enemy. She's had it tough. A girl making it on her own," he'd say.

I kept telling myself it was just work. They were just colleagues.

But the way they looked at each other. The way they acted around each other. It was impossible to ignore.

I remember that morning. His first board meeting as CEO.

I got up early to iron his shirt and picked out a tie for him.

I had just finished tying it when Vivian barged in.

Her eyes flickered over my hands for a second before she grinned and held up a different tie.

"Ryan, today's a big day. You should wear this one instead. It's more professional," she said.

Without a second thought, Ryan reached up and undid the knot I'd just tied. The blue tie slid from his neck.

He took the other tie from Vivian, didn't even glance at it, and knotted it himself in one fluid motion.

From the mirror, he caught my reflection and saw me frozen.

He turned and patted my shoulder. "Don't read too much. Vivian knows what's appropriate for these occasions better than you."

I lowered my head, staring at the discarded tie.

I wasn't mistaken. I knew it.

Chapter 1

The trending topic "Wife Accuses Hawthorne CEO of Affair" barely lasted a day before I spoke out to clarify things.

"Ryan and I are nothing to each other. All these years, it was just wishful thinking on my part."

My voice was flat. I showed no sign of being forced.

"And when jealousy got the better of me, I fabricated a lie that he was cheating with his secretary. I apologize to Vivian."

The internet erupted with rage.

[I actually bought your story and felt sorry for you. Then you pull a 180 and make me look like a fool. Go to hell, you bitch!]

[So you think we're all idiots? If your head's that messed up, go check yourself into a psych ward!]

My hands trembled as the relentless stream of insults flooded my phone.

"Are you satisfied now?" I asked.

Ryan gave a small, cold smile. "You've finally come to your senses. If you'd been this cooperative from the start, things would've been much easier.

"As a reward, I'll make some time to go with you to your checkup this time.

"But tomorrow I'm taking Vivian to Isenland to see the Northern Lights. She's been down and needs a break. You'll have to wait on the checkup. I'll reschedule when we're back."

I hung up the video call. Behind me, the nurse reminded me that the termination procedure was ready.

I had waited ten years for him.

I was done waiting.

*****

After leaving home, the first place I went was a small clinic.

Ten years ago, Ryan Hawthorne had stood right here, beside my mother's hospital bed, and made a promise. "I'll love Ava for the rest of my life. I swear she'll never suffer. Not for a single moment."

Ten years later, I was here to end my pregnancy.

Out back, under the old tree, was the metal box we'd buried together all those years ago.

We'd promised to open it together ten years later.

The box had rusted shut, but the papers inside were still intact.

The first question was in Ryan's bold, almost illegible scrawl.

[To my dearest Ava, the future Mrs. Hawthorne: How did we spend these last ten years?]

I stared at those intimate words. The irony hit me like a physical blow.

[Did I buy you a ring?]

Yes. A tiny diamond. I'd worn it on my ring finger for ten years, treasuring it like it was the most precious thing in the world.

Even though it was barely a tenth the size of the rock Vivian Chase was now flashing around on her finger.

[How's the company? Are we married yet?]

The company kept growing. So did the number of women orbiting him.

Every time I brought up marriage, he would just change the subject.

We spent ten years like that. No license. No ceremony. Nothing official.

[Do we have a baby?]

We did have a baby.

But he was stillborn. He came into this world bruised and blue, and never got to cry, not even once.

Now I was pregnant again, all because Vivian wanted a baby. To her, it was a plaything.

But Ryan said she was a career woman. She couldn't ruin her figure or waste her precious time.

I had written the next question.

[Mr. Hawthorne, over these past ten years, what do you think was the most important thing in our relationship?]

What would Ryan say to that?

He'd probably say trust.

After all, he was always telling me, with that familiar impatience creeping into his voice, "Ava, can't you just trust me? There's nothing going on between Vivian and me. We're just colleagues.

"Vivian's really talented. Stop looking at her like she's the enemy. She's had it tough. A girl making it on her own," he'd say.

I kept telling myself it was just work. They were just colleagues.

But the way they looked at each other. The way they acted around each other. It was impossible to ignore.

I remember that morning. His first board meeting as CEO.

I got up early to iron his shirt and picked out a tie for him.

I had just finished tying it when Vivian barged in.

Her eyes flickered over my hands for a second before she grinned and held up a different tie.

"Ryan, today's a big day. You should wear this one instead. It's more professional," she said.

Without a second thought, Ryan reached up and undid the knot I'd just tied. The blue tie slid from his neck.

He took the other tie from Vivian, didn't even glance at it, and knotted it himself in one fluid motion.

From the mirror, he caught my reflection and saw me frozen.

He turned and patted my shoulder. "Don't read too much. Vivian knows what's appropriate for these occasions better than you."

I lowered my head, staring at the discarded tie.

I wasn't mistaken. I knew it.