On My Wedding Day: From Love to Freedom

my husband told me

t his "first love" and her u

vorce papers, I was pra

regretted it and show

messed up. Can

n't take out

marriage, Peter never

e said to me on the day we

rry you, but I

e got antsy when she saw

e moved our marital home ri

his a bi

though deep down, I really d

e is in your name. Mark

cked out in gold bracelets a

rig

thout a sec

uld say no to m

red grand. Your job is to keep an eye on Peter, make sure he comes straight home

nded simple, but in real

pany, I spotted Peter's fi

a La

eter turning his back on me, then happily

solid idea, except someone h

ted

d away in the unglamorou

t the type t

, within an hour, I'd built solid fr

I soon learned the company had long k

y're that op

lower seeds, my c

e boss for ages. People see them coming and going to

e" sounded oddly sugges

wist was in Peter and

not use their little affair

nternal gossi

n Will the Bos

in without me even needing to invite them-pro

the boss divorces his wi

plies poured in. I sat back in

My clever little brai

n my brilliance, Juli

eld some files, her face paling, th

laying it cool, waitin

wife, I decided

" I said it with a

eal?" She eyed

s first love, but I wa

y about your business at Shaw Group. Plus, I'll keep quiet abou

sbelief, clearly not exp

one minute

deal-urgency mad

r options, she to

g-d

d hit my

easure doin

my company stuff under wr

next second, she gave me a

he wants-I

e a tidy pro

cided to lock in a l

be Peter's legal wife. I can help with that, feeding you hi

ps, then sent me an

I lov

on junk food and a case of beer. The thought

I saw Peter, arms crossed on the

ound, his gaze lan

n try to hide

e, then plopped down beside

ou get off work

at me, subtly

e distance

rocer

pile of sna

cer

ogether a mental menu, and f

ed chicken wit

, then give up talking to me altogether.

ce was final

short-lived-Claire's

ged some cola, and let out a few d

." I purr

unk Peter show up

antly guessed she'd strong-arme

and left. Guess he found me to

etter to let her guess and f

fake-crying ov

en into some spicy beef

t stuff had

Claire was all

his heart. He can't see how good you are. Don't worry

lease

ealized how great I was, wouldn't

uldn't s

yed a

rust you. I can

s mistress into h

e to live my si

more things bef

joyed my little slice of heaven. But I

istress on his

ing he's headed your way. Prep

when five hundred dollar

own for a bit, then

r a business meeting. Once it's done, Manager Garth will slip something in

ipsis sa

'd built a solid

up sold out and counting h

gave her a

pla

, I won't let your e

and even had a super-sexy outf

fabric, it near

his. Want it? Three

Julia. Soon enough, three

he address. Ca

om Shaw Group, her old-schoo

er, and no one

it off, delivering a dr

, he shot me a

t me p

d the hotel room

s way too

haw heir, the room had bee

efforts go to was

Peter ont

perfect angle, I

was "The nig

nt

uld get

n thousand doll

the cash when Pete

e yanked me into his ar

ou my

wardly, cursi

s Julia. She'll b

was a child. He nodde

istracted, I s

y had him hooked-her nam

st divorce him as

rang. I bolte

disheveled clo

istook me for you.

ile spread ac

r. "So happy? How about

sent me anoth

p as I lef

ance, I admired my own

myself, "Peter, since you're so hung up on yo

y-handed, not a single d

el insider told me they

time-8:30. C

called

avorite sandwich and black coffee this m

ce oozed thro

ike he'd just woken up.

I didn't care-breakf

l just eat it

the reporters I'd prepped,

eating,

owt

n the sun, sipping juice, and watching the live fee

in while room servic

he naked, disheveled pair on the bed.

mooth skin-no man could

off the bed, covering himself wit

was e

would make

bbed my bag, and

w, uncensored photos po

was news to

estrated

d social queen, I

ys the boss divorces his

ploded with

out of the blue, saying Claire had told

ultation fee and told her,

n't see i

over to Shaw Ma

ed, Peter wa

the sofa, seemingly d

k in, he jumped up, eagerly

ry bit the do

ot to waver-wh

chicke

bshell. She'd transferred five per

at

t waste time in a dead-e

shoc

's office as his secretary. That w

nted was to kick the cheating slime

ont of her, pretendi

urned away, I

g on? Step u

"No choice. His mom

vis

lady of Shaw Grou

tle annoyed

ney dangling in front o

p my distance from her for a while

s, I became his "p

istics. They never imagined the girl leadi

nded souls with cas

w, but who knows? It might not be long before someone

around me scattered

ce came from behind.

itched to ador

g, noth

I didn't budge, he tur

s's glare and, ignoring my warning look, m

lted with

turned

ghtened, cl

because Julia hadn'

orcing you,

y wrist, but I d

ir, his downcast ey

still playin

be mad. Let me take

ersonal secretary, I launched

wled on the leather c

my favorite drama, snacki

a colorfu

porate life, wh

ss, I didn't for

vey-dovey campaig

ire into thinking h

her off balance, so she'd start s

, one sto

n was pe

and coffee. So yummy. An

nd bought me an outfit. Fits p

candlelit dinner tonight, a

s, Julia could

od-too ho

p at Peter's office, her right han

sofa, munching chips,

, I raised an eye

strode over, gentl

k to me, I could

I weren't there, he'd be coddl

e glaring third w

pened to

ears streaming

se tears

, it h

d higher, just in

awkward excha

should take her

nced at m

wel

hesitation, doubt, a

ht? Look at her hand-all bandaged up, and she's a mess. You should act like the bo

ight reasoning le

e hospital and be ri

y holding the door f

e a small smile

expect Claire to show

ect her to slap Pet

d at her, b

in his face-him helpin

red-h

el! Apologi

asn't meant to

ench at his sides, fig

out or blurt "div

verestima

tifully, then dropped t

t have done someth

ost at

dump or some saint wi

ve that night. He showere

now I'm a g

grabbed my phone an

d pain as an excuse to get Peter o

a ten-dol

med it i

epped out of the bathroom whe

l be rig

on a sweater from the rack,

rting again and she's got a slight feve

e paused, hand

een us. She keeps calling because she

nds, my

uy it for

ey. I get it, I

anding wife, watchin

s out wasn't

ngs up and put my divo

nwashed by Claire, poppin

ng extr

and refused to divorce, I'

ulia pr

ll make you Peter's wife w

promising the rest once

our last de

"Just tell him I set up that hotel st

hed the plan, she outd

hs, sixt

finally

yself to a full spa day

oor, there were Julia, Claire, a

s screamed div

n't let my

pers sat on th

Claire, I got two of Peter's properties, fifty mi

name without

"Peter, you brought this on yourself

said we'd meet at city

left wit

s, I wondered if he was so thrilled

dness, but I wouldn't comfort hi

ing myself i

ly held that div

y hall, the sun fel

blocked

messed up. Can