CHAPTER 1
This is not how she had envisioned her day.
These were Thea’s thoughts as she sat in the cab, watching cars blur past. She’d started the day on a good note, even waking up with a smile-despite her unhappy marriage.
If she could change it, she would have, but since he’d made it clear they were in a contract marriage, she tried not to be unbothered, well, not entirely. A part of her still wanted the marriage to work. They’d known each other since college, and she had loved him since then.
Life wasn’t fair. She had made peace with that.
But what she hadn’t expected was the text message that pinged on her phone. It read:
“Just saw your husband, Zachary, enter the Ross Hotel. A secret rendezvous, perhaps?”
Thea let out a dry chuckle, shook her head, and tossed the phone aside. She didn’t care where her husband went. He rarely came home, and when he did, it was to drag her to family dinners whenever his grandmother requested.
Then her phone pinged again, this time with a picture. She froze, and disbelief crept onto her face. It was Zachary and a woman. A woman she knew all too well.
Her step-sister, Bianca.
His ex.
She was back.
Thea paced, options swirling. Should she confront Zach or wait until he got home? How long had Bianca been back? Should she pretend that she hadn’t seen the picture?
One thing was certain. She wasn’t waiting for an explanation. Before she knew it, she was out the door, hailing a cab to the Ross Hotel. On the ride, she wondered what she’d find at the hotel. Zachary wasn’t the cheating type. He was loyal to a fault but not to her. But now…she wasn’t so sure.
She was so lost in thought that it took the driver a full minute to rouse her. They’d arrived. She apologized, paid the fare, and barely had time to admire the hotel’s grandeur as she walked up to the front desk.
“Hello. I would like to know which room Zachary Vanderbilt is staying in.”
“Certainly. Does he know you’re coming?”
“Yes, of course. I’m his wife.”
“All right. I will let him know you’re here.”
“Uh…no need. It’s a surprise.”
“Well, in that case, he’s in the presidential suite. Room 6707.”
“Thank you.”
She walked to the elevator, pressed the button, and waited until it rose to the floor. Then, she hurried down the hallway and rang the doorbell. There was shuffling behind the door, and it opened.
Zachary’s expression twisted in shock–and irritation.
“What the hell are you doing here, Thea?”
She gave no reply. She pushed past him into the room, her eyes sweeping past its opulence. The sound of running water confirmed what she already knew–he wasn’t alone.
Then came a sweet voice from the bathroom.
“Zach, could you come help? I’m having issues with the shower–too many knobs.”
Zachary called back, “Yeah, yeah. I’ll be there soon.”
Thea stood still, feigning indifference. But inside, she was unraveling. He didn’t respect her. Here, he was–flaunting his ex, her stepsister–without a shred of regard. She was furious.
“What is this, Zachary? How long has this been going on?”. She asked, her voice tight with fury.
“Whatever I do is none of your business, or do I need to remind you what this marriage really is?”
“I don’t need reminding. But maybe you do–about what’s at stake if you cheat. And that’s exactly what you’re doing.”
“Oh, please. Like I’d ever give you that chance.”
Just then, someone stepped into the room.
“Zach, what are you…”
They both turned to see her stepsister standing there.
“Oh. Hi sis. It’s been a while.”
