Chapter 1
It was the third year of Savannah Reed’s mamlage to Grayson Whitmore when their marriage license accidentally got socked and ruined by a spilled cup
of coffee.
Savannah brought the damaged license to the City Hall for a replacement.
The clerk typed a few keys in her computer, then suddenly looked up
up with a puzzled expression.
“Ma’am, according to our system. your marital status is listed as single.”
Savannah froze, thinking she must have misheard.
“That’s impossible. My husband and I got married right here three years ago.”
The clerk double checked, her expression turning awkward.
“The system shows you as single, but Mr. Whitmore is registered as married..”
She paused.
“His listed spouse is someone named Claire Monroe. Do you know her?”
A sharp ringing filled Savannah’s mind, learing only a shrill ringing in her ears
Everyone knew Savannah and Grayson had been childhood sweethearts.
She was the girl he had once called the light of his life–the one he used to protect with quiet devotion
While Claire Monroe?
Claire was just a stand–in Grayson had found while Savannah was studying abroad because he missed her so much,
Still gripping the ruined license, Savannah numbly got into her car,
Her phone buzzed.
It was a message from Grayson.
“Baby, I skipped out on a billion–dollar deal just to be home early. Got your favorite rose tartlets and strawberry cakes. I miss you so much
you miss
Savannah stared at the message
And then, suddenly, she laughed
The laugh rolled out of her chest like something broken.
And as she laughed, tours spilled silently down her cheeks.
For three years, he had asked her the same question every day.
Had showered her with love and affection.
But behind her, he had already become another woman’s husband
Memories flashed through her mind-
Grayson, at thirteen, breaking his arm falling from a tree to retrieve her Ite
Yet he still handed her the late with a smile, saying, “Don’t cry, Say. It doesn’t even hurt.”
At fifteen, waiting in the rain all night beneath her room, just to be the first to wish her happy birthday,
At eighteen, lowelling under a sky of fireworks in a rented amusement park, whispering, “Marry me when I’m twenty–two, okay?
At the airport, the day she left for college abroad, eyes red–rimmed as he pinned her to the wall. “Two years. That’s all time l’in giving you. When time’s
I’m flying over to take you back.”
During those two years, they video–called almost every night.
Once, she was buried in deadlines and missed his calls for three days.
When she finally reached out, she found out he’d been hospitalized with alcohol poisoning.
Chapter 1
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In the hospital, he looked into the camera, eyes bloodshot.
“Baby, I can’t live without you.”
H
She had coared him gently, “Just a little longer. I’m coming back soon.”
When she returned, she hadn’t told him. Wanted to surprise him.
But when she opened the private room at The Brambleton Club, she saw him kissing another woman- deeply, desperately.
That woman had the same soft features. The same gentle smile. She looked almost like Savannah.
Her purse dropped to the ground with a thud. She turned and walked out without a word.
Grayson chased after her like a madman. She wouldn’t answer his calls, so he stood in the rain outside her apartment, texting nonstop. Begging
“It’s not what you think!”
“you didn’t let me come see you–I missed you too much. She was just a replacement…”
“I swear it was only Idssing, nothing more
“Sav, I’m sorry I love you so much it’s driving me insane..
He stood there for three days and nights in the pouring rain. He collapsed from a high fever that turned into pneumonia. Even after being rushed to the hospital, he refused to leave.
Only then did her heart soften, and she forgave him. After that, he treated her with the same devotion as before.
Until after their wedding, when Savannah noticed a new assistant around Grayson, Claire Monroe
The girl he had sworn he’d sent away.
He explained again, “Her parents are sick. She couldn’t handle being away from home. She begged to come back here…”
was her.”
*She applied for the assistant position–I didn’t even know it was
She’s actually pretty good at the job, went through all the screening rounds. I couldn’t just fire her.”
So Savannah tolerated it. Again.
Until one day, she looked up and realized the joke was on her.
By the time her car pulled into the driveway at Everpine Estates, Savannah’s tears had dried.
She inhaled deeply. Just as she reached for the front door, she heard voices from inside the house–Grayson and his friend, Logan
*I just saw Claire at the hospital,” Logan said. “She’s fine. Just a few scrapes. Yeurcan relax and stay home with Savannah.”
Grayson’s voice came next. He was stretched out on the couch, black shirt unbuttoned at the collar, long legs crossed.
“You know the rule,” he said coldly. “No smoking in this house, Savannah hates the smell.”
Logan chuckled “Man, you are whipped.”
Then, more seriously: “I still don’t get it. You’re so obsessed with Savannah. Why’d you even marry Claire? Be honest was she really just a replacement?”
The room went quiet for a second.
Then Grayson’s voice, low and hoarse: “What if I do?”
“I used to think once Savannah came back, I’d forget all about Claire‘
“But after she left, I kept dreaming about her.”
“I couldn’t tolerate anymore. I brought her back. Gave her a job. Kept her close.”
I can’t live without Savannah… but I can’t let go of Claire either.”
“Savannah gets all my above–board love: Claire can only stay in the shadows, and I’ll give her a title as compensation. That’s fair, isn’t it?”
Logan exhaled. “You know if she discovers this, even you bleed out at her feet she still walks away without looking back.
Grayson was silent
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“Then I’ll just make sure she never finds our
Savannah stood frozen on the doorstep. Her blood felt like Ice in her veins.
She thought she’d collapse. Break down. But the tears didn’t come.
Because pain like this wasn’t loud. It was silent. It clawed a hole in your heart and left it beating anyway.
She remembered that morning, he had kissed her forehead before heading out the door.
Every time he came home drunk, he’d hold her tightly and whisper, “Baby, I can’t live without you.”
He used to warm her frozen fingers with his own, pressing her hand to his chest. “This heart beats only for you
And it was all a lie.
The entire time she was trying to understand, to forgive, to believe in his love.
Now, she saw the truth: he’d just fallen head over heels for two women simultaneously.
He never intended to choose.
He wanted both
Fine.
Grayson was afraid she’d find out?
Then she’d show him what she will do.
Savannah named and walked away.
And did two things that would change everything.
Chapter 1
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