The Husband Who Stole My Designs

Noelle Mason had won ten awards in five years—the design world's undisputed genius. Then she got married, quit her job overnight, and everyone started whispering she'd just married up. After her ninety-ninth rejected submission, Noelle collapsed and coughed up blood. When she came to, all she wanted was comfort from Oscar Pearson. Instead, she found him pinning Seren Knox against the wall, kissing her like crazy—the same woman who'd destroyed Noelle's right hand. "You made Noelle a cripple," Oscar whispered against Seren's lips. "But I kept you out of jail. I signed those papers. Don't you owe me? I want you to be mine." Seren wore a black dress, muttering curses at him even as her body pressed tightly against his. "Oscar, you animal... What about Noelle?" Something dark flickered in his eyes as his hands roamed lower. "Noelle? She was useful for getting me through the hard times, so I gave her the Mrs. Pearson title, the respectability. But for events? I need someone with real class like you. She's an orphan—I'd be embarrassed to take her anywhere. All her design submissions? I've been entering them under your name and trashing her reputation. She'll never make it now." Seren's body went limp against him, her eyes gleaming. "Wait—all those awards she got over the years are mine now? She really just gave me everything she worked for?" Oscar let out a scornful laugh. "Are you kidding? She has no idea. Three years of marriage, 99 designs—every single one won awards, not one rejection. The one that made her collapse? Just won gold at an international contest." He grabbed a gleaming trophy and handed it to Seren. She broke into a smile, and together, they tumbled onto the bed. Through the doorway, Noelle watched, feeling like she'd been hit by a truck. Her blood ran cold. She remembered lying in that hospital bed with her hand ruined, Oscar at her side with red-rimmed eyes, swearing, "Noelle, I'll make Seren pay." So "making her pay" meant sneaking her out of trouble, bringing her home, and sleeping with her. So he'd always resented her for being an orphan. Not only had he lied about her designs failing, but he'd also handed her trophies—earned with blood and tears—to the woman who'd hurt her. The room spun. Noelle grabbed a pillar to keep from falling, tears streaming silently down her face. 'If Oscar wants a kept woman, he has plenty of women to choose from. Why Seren? Is she just a kept woman, or his true love hidden deep in his heart? I, the orphan Oscar kept dismissing, have saved him, again and again.' Memories flooded her mind and stabbed her heart painfully. Back when Oscar was just a kid selling cheap beads on the street, Seren made him get on his knees and bark like a dog for one hour just to buy a single strand. He'd wanted to die. Then Noelle pushed through the crowd and took his shaking hand. The next day, Seren brought people to trash his stall and stood there smiling, waiting for him to break. Noelle got on the ground and helped him pick up every single bead. When he poured everything into opening a jewelry store, and Seren spread rumors that he sold fakes, getting his shop shut down, he was ready to jump off a building. Noelle gave him every penny she had and helped him start over. That's how "Mr. Pearson" was born. They'd held each other through five brutal years. The day after Pearson Group launched, Oscar married Noelle against his family's wishes. At City Hall, he'd promised to love her forever. Noelle hadn't wanted to quit designing. She'd dreamed of winning awards, standing in the spotlight. But when Oscar begged her to "take care of home, be my safe place," her heart softened. So she quit, then handed him every design to "submit for her." Everyone in the industry envied her. "Mrs. Pearson's got the best life in Haldor City." But it was all lies. Every design she'd poured her heart into was just a stepping stone he prepared for Seren. Blood rose in her throat. Noelle swallowed it down. Her heart was already shattered. He'd ground her heart into dust. Then she'd leave and find her own way back to the light.