He didn't tell me what he had been doing for the last five years.
He merely nodded.
"Congratulations, Vanessa.""
Then he added something that made my smile falter.
"I hope your marriage gives you everything you think you're owed.""
He walked away before I could respond.
I watched him disappear behind the guests and felt a brief, inconvenient pang of guilt.
Then someone touched my shoulder.
"Vanessa?""
It was Daniel's mother, Margaret, wearing a pale gold dress your marriage gives you everything you think you're owed.""
He walked away before I could respond.
I watched him disappear behind the guests and felt a brief, inconvenient pang of guilt.
Then someone touched my shoulder.
"Vanessa?""
It was Daniel's mother, Margaret, wearing a pale gold dress and the concerned expression she usually reserved for seating-chart emergencies.
"Who was that gentleman?""
"Nobody important," I said quickly.
Margaret looked toward the doors.
"He seemed rather familiar.""
"An old boyfriend. It's nothing.""
She paused.
"Daniel knows?""
"There is nothing to tell him.""
Margaret studied my face for a moment, then smiled politely.
"Well, darling, the photographer is ready. Your father and the concerned expression she usually reserved for seating-chart emergencies.
"Who was that gentleman?""
"Nobody important," I said quickly.
Margaret looked toward the doors.
"He seemed rather familiar.""
"An old boyfriend. It's nothing.""
She paused.
"Daniel knows?""
"There is nothing to tell him.""
Margaret studied my face for a moment, then smiled politely.
"Well, darling, the photographer is ready. Your father is looking for you.""
I straightened my dress, lifted my chin, and went to pose beneath the flowers.
By noon, I was officially Mrs. Daniel Reed.
The ceremony was perfect.
Daniel's vows made several guests cry. My father kissed my cheek before is looking for you.""
I straightened my dress, lifted my chin, and went to pose beneath the flowers.
By noon, I was officially Mrs. Daniel Reed.
The ceremony was perfect.
Daniel's vows made several guests cry. My father kissed my cheek before giving me away. My best friend, Chloe, whispered that she had never seen me look more beautiful.
And when Daniel kissed me, the room erupted in applause.
For a while, I forgot Ethan existed.
Then, during the reception, I spotted him again.
He hadn't left.
He stood near the far end of the ballroom, speaking quietly to one of the venue staff giving me away. My best friend, Chloe, whispered that she had never seen me look more beautiful.
And when Daniel kissed me, the room erupted in applause.
For a while, I forgot Ethan existed.
Then, during the reception, I spotted him again.
He hadn't left.
He stood near the far end of the ballroom, speaking quietly to one of the venue staff members.
I felt irritation rise in my chest.
Hadn't he understood?
I approached him, careful to keep my smile in place for the guests around us.
"I thought I made myself clear.""
Ethan turned toward me.
"You did.""
"Then why are you still here?""
He glanced at his watch.
"I was waiting for Daniel.""
I blinked.
"For Daniel?""
"Yes.""
I followed his gaze toward the head table.
Daniel was members.
I felt irritation rise in my chest.
Hadn't he understood?
I approached him, careful to keep my smile in place for the guests around us.
"I thought I made myself clear.""
Ethan turned toward me.
"You did.""
"Then why are you still here?""
He glanced at his watch.
"I was waiting for Daniel.""
I blinked.
"For Daniel?""
"Yes.""
I followed his gaze toward the head table.
Daniel was laughing with his colleagues near the windows. His face brightened when he noticed us.
He immediately excused himself and started walking in our direction.
My stomach tightened.
Why was my husband coming over as if he knew Ethan?
And why did Ethan look perfectly comfortable waiting for him?
Before I could ask another question, Daniel reached us.
He smiled at Ethan with a warmth I had never seen him show a stranger.
"Mr. Hayes laughing with his colleagues near the windows. His face brightened when he noticed us.
He immediately excused himself and started walking in our direction.
My stomach tightened.
Why was my husband coming over as if he knew Ethan?
And why did Ethan look perfectly comfortable waiting for him?
Before I could ask another question, Daniel reached us.
He smiled at Ethan with a warmth I had never seen him show a stranger.
"Mr. Hayes!"" Daniel exclaimed.
"You made it.""
My husband extended his hand.
Ethan shook it.
And Daniel, completely unaware of the humiliation I had just delivered, turned toward me and said, "Vanessa, how do you know my boss?""
!"" Daniel exclaimed.
"You made it.""
My husband extended his hand.
He Promised to Marry Me—Then His Baby Mama Kicked Down the Door
“Damn, bitch, you suck dick real good, I need to marry your ass.””
Romeo said it with a grin so confident that I almost believed...
My Husband Got My Sister Pregnant—Then My Mother Stood Up and Revealed H...
The moment my mother stood up from the dinner table and revealed her pregnant belly, I realized my husband’s betrayal was bigger t...
She Dropped Three Kids on My Porch for a Boyfriend—So I Went to Bingo
“What are y’all doing here?””
That was the first thing Aunt Diane said when she opened her front door and found her niece standin...
Ethan shook it.
And Daniel, completely unaware of the humiliation I had just delivered, turned toward me and said, "Vanessa, how do you know my boss?""
CHAPTER 3
I forgot how to breathe.
Daniel was still smiling, his Chapter 2: The Man at the Head of the Table
I forgot how to breathe.
Daniel was still smiling, his hand resting comfortably on Ethan's shoulder.
"My boss," he repeated when neither hand resting comfortably on Ethan's shoulder.
"My boss," he repeated when neither of us answered.
"Vanessa, this is Ethan Hayes, the founder and executive chairman of Aurelian Group.""
I stared at him.
Aurelian Group.
The of us answered.
"Vanessa, this is Ethan Hayes, the founder and executive chairman of Aurelian Group.""
I stared at him.
Aurelian Group.
The name landed with the force of a slap.
Aurelian was one of the fastest-growing technology and consulting companies in the country. Its offices occupied thirty floors of a glass tower downtown. Business magazines described it as a multibillion-dollar enterprise, and its founder was name landed with the force of a slap.
Aurelian was one of the fastest-growing technology and consulting companies in the country. Its offices occupied thirty floors of a glass tower downtown. Business magazines described it as a multibillion-dollar enterprise, and its founder was rumored to have rejected two offers that would have made him one of the wealthiest men in the industry.
I had spent six weeks interviewing for Aurelian's newly created director of brand strategy position.
Six weeks.
Three rounds of interviews. Two presentations. A portfolio review that had kept me awake until two in the morning.
The recruiter had told rumored to have rejected two offers that would have made him one of the wealthiest men in the industry.
I had spent six weeks interviewing for Aurelian's newly created director of brand strategy position.
Six weeks.
Three rounds of interviews. Two presentations. A portfolio review that had kept me awake until two in the morning.
The recruiter had told me that the final decision required approval from the executive chairman.
Mr. Hayes.
I had pictured an older executive with silver hair and a voice like a courtroom judge.
I had never imagined Ethan.
Daniel looked from me to his boss, apparently me that the final decision required approval from the executive chairman.
Mr. Hayes.
I had pictured an older executive with silver hair and a voice like a courtroom judge.
I had never imagined Ethan.
Daniel looked from me to his boss, apparently mistaking my silence for surprise at the introduction.
"Mr. Hayes has been generous enough to mentor me since I joined the company," he explained.
"He's the reason I was able to move into the strategy division.""
Ethan withdrew his hand from Daniel's shoulder.
"Daniel earned his position," he said.
"I simply made sure the right people saw his work.""
Then he turned toward me.
"Mrs. Reed.""
He mistaking my silence for surprise at the introduction.
"Mr. Hayes has been generous enough to mentor me since I joined the company," he explained.
"He's the reason I was able to move into the strategy division.""
Ethan withdrew his hand from Daniel's shoulder.
"Daniel earned his position," he said.
"I simply made sure the right people saw his work.""
Then he turned toward me.
"Mrs. Reed.""
He said the title with perfect politeness.
Somehow, that was worse than if he'd laughed at me.
"Mr. Hayes," I managed.
Daniel gave a small, puzzled chuckle.
"Wait. You two already know each other?""
"We went to college together," Ethan answered.
It was technically true.
It was also the kind of truth that concealed an entire said the title with perfect politeness.
Somehow, that was worse than if he'd laughed at me.
"Mr. Hayes," I managed.
Daniel gave a small, puzzled chuckle.
"Wait. You two already know each other?""
"We went to college together," Ethan answered.
It was technically true.
It was also the kind of truth that concealed an entire graveyard of memories.
Daniel looked delighted.
"That's incredible. What are the odds?""
"Not especially high," Ethan replied.
His eyes remained on mine.
I wanted the floor to open beneath my expensive shoes.
Instead graveyard of memories.
Daniel looked delighted.
"That's incredible. What are the odds?""
"Not especially high," Ethan replied.
His eyes remained on mine.
I wanted the floor to open beneath my expensive shoes.
Instead, I forced a smile.
"I had no idea you worked with Daniel.""
"I didn't know you were marrying him," Ethan said.
There it was.
The one sentence that made me realize he had not come to the wedding expecting this particular humiliation.
He hadn't known who the groom would be.
He had simply shown up to offer congratulations to a former colleague's bride, and I had treated him as though he had, I forced a smile.
"I had no idea you worked with Daniel.""
"I didn't know you were marrying him," Ethan said.
There it was.
The one sentence that made me realize he had not come to the wedding expecting this particular humiliation.
He hadn't known who the groom would be.
He had simply shown up to offer congratulations to a former colleague's bride, and I had treated him as though he had crawled out of a gutter.
Daniel laughed again.
"Well, this is certainly a story. Why didn't you tell me you knew my boss, Vanessa?""
I could barely look at him.
"I didn't think it mattered.""
"It matters a little," Daniel said.
"I've talked about Mr. Hayes a hundred times.""
Ethan's expression remained unreadable.
"Your wife and I haven't spoken for years," he said.
"There's no reason she crawled out of a gutter.
Daniel laughed again.
"Well, this is certainly a story. Why didn't you tell me you knew my boss, Vanessa?""
I could barely look at him.
"I didn't think it mattered.""
"It matters a little," Daniel said.
"I've talked about Mr. Hayes a hundred times.""
Ethan's expression remained unreadable.
"Your wife and I haven't spoken for years," he said.
"There's no reason she should have connected the dots.""
That was generous of him.
Painfully generous.
My face burned.
Daniel gestured toward the head table.
"Come on, Mr. Hayes. At least let me get you a drink. You're the guest of honor now.""
"That's unnecessary.""
"Please. You've done enough for me. Let should have connected the dots.""
That was generous of him.
Painfully generous.
My face burned.
Daniel gestured toward the head table.
"Come on, Mr. Hayes. At least let me get you a drink. You're the guest of honor now.""
"That's unnecessary.""
"Please. You've done enough for me. Let me do one thing for you.""
Ethan considered him, then nodded.
"One drink.""
Daniel turned to me.
"Sweetheart, could you ask the staff to bring another glass? I want to introduce me do one thing for you.""
Ethan considered him, then nodded.
"One drink.""
Daniel turned to me.
"Sweetheart, could you ask the staff to bring another glass? I want to introduce him to my father.""
Sweetheart.
The word made my stomach twist.
"Of course," I said.
Daniel hurried away before noticing that I looked as though I might faint.
Ethan stayed.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he slipped his hands into his pockets.
"That was quite a speech you gave me.""
I looked toward the nearest table.
"I was angry.""
"Because I came to your wedding?""
"Because you showed up without an invitation.""
"That's fair.""
His him to my father.""
Sweetheart.
The word made my stomach twist.
"Of course," I said.
Daniel hurried away before noticing that I looked as though I might faint.
Ethan stayed.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he slipped his hands into his pockets.
"That was quite a speech you gave me.""
I looked toward the nearest table.
"I was angry.""
"Because I came to your wedding?""
"Because you showed up without an invitation.""
"That's fair.""
His agreement unsettled me.
I had prepared myself for anger. I could have handled anger.
I could have told him he had no right to judge me after everything that had happened between us.
Instead, he gave me nothing to fight against.
"You could have told me who you were," I whispered.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Would that have changed what you said?""
I agreement unsettled me.
I had prepared myself for anger. I could have handled anger.
I could have told him he had no right to judge me after everything that had happened between us.
Instead, he gave me nothing to fight against.
"You could have told me who you were," I whispered.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Would that have changed what you said?""
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
"That's what I thought," he said.
"Ethan, I didn't know you were—"
"Wealthy?""
He said the word without a hint of pride.
I flinched.
"I didn't mean it like that.""
"Then how did you mean it?""
I glanced opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
"That's what I thought," he said.
"Ethan, I didn't know you were—"
"Wealthy?""
He said the word without a hint of pride.
I flinched.
"I didn't mean it like that.""
"Then how did you mean it?""
I glanced around. People were beginning to notice us. A few guests were pretending to study their phones while listening to every word.
"Can we not do this here?""
"You're right. This is your wedding.""
He took a step back, giving me room.
For some reason, that courtesy felt like another accusation.
I folded my hands to stop them trembling around. People were beginning to notice us. A few guests were pretending to study their phones while listening to every word.
"Can we not do this here?""
"You're right. This is your wedding.""
He took a step back, giving me room.
For some reason, that courtesy felt like another accusation.
I folded my hands to stop them trembling.
"When we broke up, you had nothing. You were drowning in debt. You couldn't keep your company alive. I thought you'd disappeared because you'd failed.""
"I had failed," he replied.
The directness startled me.
"What?""
"My first company failed..
"When we broke up, you had nothing. You were drowning in debt. You couldn't keep your company alive. I thought you'd disappeared because you'd failed.""
"I had failed," he replied.
The directness startled me.
"What?""
"My first company failed. I made mistakes. I lost money.
People who trusted me lost money, too."" He paused.
"I wasn't the man I wanted to be when you left.""
For an instant, I saw the young man sitting at our kitchen table, rubbing his exhausted eyes while I asked him when our life would finally begin.
I swallowed.
"But you built something else.""
"Eventually.""
"Why didn't you ever tell me?""
His expression changed.
"Vanessa, you ended our relationship five years ago. Did you expect me to send you quarterly business updates?""
"No.""
"Then there's your answer.""
I hated how reasonable he sounded.
I hated that he wasn't rubbing his success I made mistakes. I lost money. People who trusted me lost money, too."" He paused.
"I wasn't the man I wanted to be when you left.""
For an instant, I saw the young man sitting at our kitchen table, rubbing his exhausted eyes while I asked him when our life would finally begin.
I swallowed.
"But you built something else.""
"Eventually.""