Chapter 1

The day of the national design competition finals, my wife promised to be there to witness my big moment. But even as the ceremony ended, she was nowhere to be found.

I didn't see her message until after the awards were handed out. It had been sent thirty minutes earlier.

"Silas has a sharp pain in his stomach. I need to check on him first. I'll find you later."

I called her, but a man's voice answered. "Call back later. Aria is asleep."

Every time I had a major milestone, he was either sick or having a mental breakdown. This time, he used a stomach ache as an excuse, and my wife, as always, went running to him.

I hung up the phone without a word and texted my lawyer.

"Please draft a divorce agreement for me."

1

Aria didn't show up until the crowd had already started to thin out.

She stepped out of her car and walked toward me with a bright smile.

She was wearing black silk stockings today, a look that was far more provocative than her usual style. It was the kind of thing she had never worn for me.

We both knew exactly who she had dressed up for.

I let out a cold snort and was about to speak when someone else stepped out from the passenger side. It was Silas Vance.

He walked up behind Aria. He was six-foot-one with the kind of sharp, handsome face that made an average guy like me look plain by comparison.

Sensing my irritation, Aria quickly tried to explain. "Bennet, I wasn't comfortable leaving Silas home alone, so I brought him along. We're both here to support you."

"So, has the competition started yet?" she asked.

I looked at her with total indifference. "It's over. You can leave now."

"Oh," Aria said, a flash of guilt crossing her face. "It's over already? That was fast."

I smiled mockingly. "Time flies when you're busy taking care of your precious Silas, doesn't it?"

Aria's face darkened with annoyance. "Bennet! What is that supposed to mean?"

"Silas and I are just friends. We came all this way to cheer you back, and you're just being passive-aggressive. You're being a real jerk."

Silas, who had been watching the drama with a smug look, finally spoke up. "I know you're Aria's husband, and I know you're not a fan of mine."

"But nothing is going on between us. I've been going through a rough patch lately, and Aria was just worried I might do something stupid. Don't overthink it."

His words were polite, but his eyes were full of provocation.

I stared him down and sneered. "You two could have had something going on years ago if you had the guts to ask. But did you?"

Aria snapped. "Bennet, so what if I missed one competition? It's just a contest! Why are you yelling? If you scare Silas and he has another breakdown, are you going to take responsibility?"

"I don't give a damn if he lives or dies," I replied coldly.

I walked right past Silas and headed for the exit.