A Marriage Built on Deception

A Marriage Built on Deception

Gavin

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In the fifth year of my marriage, at a cattle auction, I saw my husband with my cousin-a woman everyone believed had been dead for five years. She was holding their son. I quickly learned my entire marriage was a lie, a cover-up orchestrated by my husband and my own grandmother to protect the woman who had tried to murder me. I wasn't a wife. I was an alibi. On the day they planned to drug me so they could celebrate their son's birthday, I signed away every penny of the family fortune, filed for divorce, and disappeared.

Chapter 1

In the fifth year of my marriage, at a cattle auction, I saw my husband with my cousin-a woman everyone believed had been dead for five years.

She was holding their son.

I quickly learned my entire marriage was a lie, a cover-up orchestrated by my husband and my own grandmother to protect the woman who had tried to murder me.

I wasn't a wife. I was an alibi.

On the day they planned to drug me so they could celebrate their son's birthday, I signed away every penny of the family fortune, filed for divorce, and disappeared.

Chapter 1

GRACE'S POV:

In the fifth year of my marriage, at a cattle auction of all places, I saw my husband's mistress-a woman everyone believed had been dead for five years.

She was standing just on the other side of the auction pen, a little blond boy in her arms, her other hand linked intimately with my husband's, Caleb.

Her name was Madison. My cousin. Five years ago, she'd tried to kill me by orchestrating a cattle stampede. When her plan failed, she'd supposedly killed herself out of guilt.

At least, that's what they told me.

The auctioneer's drone, the lowing of cattle, the murmur of the crowd-it all faded as if a switch had been flipped. My world compressed to that one, searing image: the three of them, looking for all the world like a normal, happy family, bathed in the blistering afternoon sun of the Texas plains.

I shrank behind a massive wooden support pillar, a cold dread snaking its way up my spine.

Madison's syrupy voice drifted over, laced with a smugness she didn't bother to hide. "Honey, I really can't thank you enough. You and Loretta. If it weren't for you two, I'd probably be rotting in a cell right now."

Loretta... my grandmother. The matriarch of Blackwood Ranch.

An icy hand clamped around my heart, squeezing until I couldn't breathe.

Caleb's low, gentle voice followed-the voice I used to love. "Don't be silly. The way things were back then, Grandma had to destroy the evidence. It was the only way. Why do you think she bought you the neighboring ranch? So we could see each other."

"I still feel bad for Grace, though," Madison said, her tone dripping with false sympathy. "Making you stay married to her for five years. You've suffered so much."

"It's nothing, as long as I have you and Wyatt," Caleb's voice was thick with adoration. "Think of it as my penance. My way of making things right. As long as you two are okay, I can handle anything."

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the little boy's forehead. Wyatt giggled, wrapping his small arms around Caleb's neck and chirping, "Daddy."

Daddy...

My world didn't just crack; it imploded. My five-year marriage, the home I'd poured my soul into, the husband I had so carefully, so completely loved-all of it was a lie. A tool to cover up a crime. I wasn't his wife. I was his alibi. His living, breathing penance.

They chatted for a few more moments, making plans for a few days from now-on the anniversary of Madison's "death." Caleb and my grandmother would use the pretense of "visiting her grave" to attend Wyatt's birthday party at Madison's ranch.

My legs gave out. I slid down the rough wood of the pillar, landing with a soft thud. A violent tremor wracked my body, my stomach churning. The life I thought was mine was a joke, and I was the punchline.

Just then, my phone buzzed. The caller ID read: "Grandma."

I answered, my hand shaking. Loretta's familiar, imperious voice came through the line. "Grace, where are you? It's crowded here, don't wander off."

Her voice was laced with concern, but I heard it for what it was now: fear. She wasn't worried about me getting lost. She was terrified I'd run into Madison. Terrified her perfect, monstrous lie would be exposed.

I took a ragged breath, forcing my voice into a mask of normalcy. "I'm fine, Grandma. Just over by the bull pens. They're magnificent this year."

The line went dead silent. Then, Loretta's voice returned, sharp with panic. "Stay right where you are! I'm sending Caleb to get you right now!"

The call ended abruptly.

Less than two minutes later, Caleb's tall frame appeared before me. His handsome face was tight with a poorly concealed panic, his voice a mixture of feigned concern and reprimand. "What are you doing over here? I've been looking everywhere. Did you... did you run into anyone you know?"

I looked up at him, into the eyes I once thought held the world. I choked back the scream that was clawing at my throat and forced a smile so brittle it felt like it might shatter my face.

"No one. I just... I missed you."

He visibly relaxed, the tension draining from his shoulders as he pulled me into his arms.

I let him. I leaned against his chest, a silent, cold ruin, and let him lead me home.

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