00:00:00I spent three years as Ethan Cross's contract wife.
00:00:04I cooked his meals, managed his penthouse, smiled at his family, and never once complained.
00:00:10Not even when he brought another woman home and called her the love of my life right in front of
00:00:15me.
00:00:16I'm divorcing Lena. Serena is the only woman I'll ever love.
00:00:20I didn't scream. I didn't cry.
00:00:23I pulled off my wedding ring, placed it on the kitchen counter, and walked toward the door.
00:00:27His voice stopped me cold.
00:00:29Where the hell do you think you're going?
00:00:32Twelve hours earlier, the morning had started like every other.
00:00:36I woke at 5.30 a.m.
00:00:39I prepared Ethan's favorite breakfast, fresh squeezed orange juice, and avocado toast with exactly the right amount of sea salt.
00:00:47I ironed his shirt, set out his cufflinks, and placed his briefcase.
00:00:52By the time Ethan came downstairs, everything was perfect.
00:00:55He barely glanced at the table.
00:00:58I won't be home for dinner. Serena's flying in tonight. I'm picking her up.
00:01:03Of course.
00:01:04I had heard the name Serena Blake a thousand times.
00:01:08Ethan's college sweetheart.
00:01:09The one who left him to pursue her modeling career in Paris.
00:01:14Also, my mail-in's coming for dinner tomorrow. Make sure the house looks presentable.
00:01:19It always does.
00:01:20He didn't respond.
00:01:22The front door clicked shut behind him, and the penthouse fell silent.
00:01:26I stood in the kitchen for a long time, staring at the untouched breakfast.
00:01:30Three years.
00:01:32I had spent three years perfecting every detail of this man's life, and he couldn't even say thank you.
00:01:38Our marriage had been an arrangement, a contract designed by Ethan's grandfather,
00:01:43who believed my quiet, dependable nature would stabilize his reckless grandson.
00:01:48In exchange, I received financial support for my younger brother's medical treatment.
00:01:53It was supposed to be simple, clinical, temporary.
00:01:58But somewhere along the way, I had made the fatal mistake of falling in love with my husband.
00:02:03I told myself that if I was patient enough, kind enough, useful enough, he might eventually see me.
00:02:11But, he never did.
00:02:15My phone buzzed.
00:02:16A text from my best friend, Maya.
00:02:19Girl, have you seen this?
00:02:21Below the message was a link to a tabloid article.
00:02:24The headline screamed,
00:02:26Ethan Cross spotted at airport with mystery brunette passionate reunion kiss.
00:02:31The photo showed Ethan holding Serena in his arms.
00:02:34His lips pressed against hers.
00:02:36His eyes closed as though the rest of the world had ceased to exist.
00:02:40My chest tightened.
00:02:42I zoomed in on the image, my fingers trembling.
00:02:45He was wearing the tie.
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