the doting husband for Evelyn's benefit. He touched her hand. He refilled her wine glass. He leaned in to whisper meaningless sweet nothings in her

he walked out onto the stone terrace at the back of the estate, the cool, salty air a relief against her

g in her mind. Who was she? Someone Julian had loved for years-someone he had want

d on the gravel b

said without turning

ld. He came to stand beside her, his hands sh

to face him, holding out he

t. He dangled them from his finger, just out of her reach. "Your performance

cting," she snapped,

ing her forward, and crashed into his chest. His arms came around

olid heat of his body. His scent-that same intoxicating mix of cologne and whiskey-surrou

e. This was the man she had waited three hours for on her wedding nig

didn't exist.

he haze. She planted her hands on his

dge of the terrace. His eyes widened in shock as he stum

oment, a comical,

of the Harrison Group fell into th

asp. His perfectly styled hair was plastered to his head, his expensive suit ruine

se in her throat. She bent down, s

ater streaming down his face. "You-

urned and walked away. She didn't run. She walked, the sound of her h

satisfaction. She collapsed onto her sofa, exhausted but

large black coffee, when the phone rang. It was Mark, the procurement director

ull of apology. "I'm so sorry. We

er lips. "What? Why? My proposal

m came in. An incredible offer. And the designer... she h

a asked, a cold dread

t moved her firm

A sleek, minimalist website appeared, filled with stunning projects from around the world. An article fro

le was public. It was a curated collection of beautiful spaces, elegant par

. Her breath cau

standing on a familiar stone terrace. In the background, the in

e balustrade, was a man's arm. On the wrist was a

n's w

pieces clicked into plac

. The reason Julian had tried to throw her out on their wedding night-not because Kianna was a so

the plac

k-not just to reclaim her place in Julian's world, but

. This wasn't just busin

ght shifted across her drafting table. The hurt came first-a raw, aching pain that this woman, this stranger, ha

husband's heart before the marriage even began. And Kianna h

m

bbed he