Chapter 2

Savvy was having coffee in her sunroom, trying to read. The quiet was shattered. A commotion at the front door. Shouting. Her housekeeper, Maria, cried out. Then Brooke Lynn Hayes burst in. Not alone. Two other girls, equally young, equally aggressive, flanked her. “Where is she?” Brooke Lynn shrieked. “Where’s the bitch who’s trying to steal my man?” Savvy stood up, her heart pounding. This was not happening. “Get out of my house,” Savvy said, her voice trembling slightly. Brooke Lynn lunged. She grabbed Savvy’s hair, yanking hard. “You think you can just sleep with him? Carter’s mine!” Savvy cried out, trying to pull away. One of the other girls snatched Savvy’s phone from the table and smashed it on the marble floor. “No calling for help, sweetheart.”

Brooke Lynn’s face was contorted with rage. “He loves me! He’s going to leave his wife for me!” Wife? A cold clarity cut through Savvy’s fear. Brooke Lynn didn’t know. She actually thought Savvy was the other woman. The delusion was almost pathetic. Maria rushed forward. “Leave Mrs. Ashton alone!” One of Brooke Lynn’s friends shoved Maria hard. The older woman stumbled back, hitting the wall. “Mrs. Ashton?” Savvy said, her voice suddenly firm despite the pain in her scalp. “I *am* Mrs. Ashton.”

Brooke Lynn stared, then laughed, a harsh, ugly sound. “Liar! You’re just some desperate old hag he feels sorry for!” They swarmed her. Hands tore at her clothes, her hair. Slaps. Scratches. Humiliation burned hotter than the physical pain. They were trying to strip her, to shame her in her own home. Savvy fought back, but it was three against one. They dragged her towards the front foyer, screaming obscenities. Just as they reached the open doorway, a sleek black Tesla pulled silently into the driveway. Carter. He got out, his face unreadable, and saw her. Torn clothes, disheveled, tears streaming down her face. Brooke Lynn beamed, triumphant. “Carter, baby! I found her! I told you I’d take care of the trash trying to get between us!” She still didn’t understand.

Carter’s expression flickered. He walked towards them. Brooke Lynn rushed to him, expecting praise. He pushed past her, gently took Savvy’s arm. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low. Brooke Lynn froze, her smile faltering. “Carter? What…?” Savvy looked at Carter, her eyes pleading. “Tell me what’s going on, Carter. Explain this.”

He hesitated for a fraction of a second. Just then, Brooke Lynn’s eyes widened. The name. Mrs. Ashton. The house. Carter’s reaction. It clicked. “Wife?” she whispered, horrified. “You’re… married?” Carter ignored her. He looked at Savvy, then at the three girls. “This is a misunderstanding,” he said, his voice cold, authoritative. “Brooke Lynn, you and your friends should leave. Now.” He made it sound like Brooke Lynn was a child who’d made a mess. A small, insignificant mess.

Savvy stared at him, disbelief washing over her. “Misunderstanding?” she choked out. “She assaulted me, Carter! In our home!” He was protecting Brooke Lynn. Even now. “She’s just a kid, Savvy,” Carter said, his tone dismissive. “She got carried away.” A kid? Brooke Lynn was twenty-one. The condescension in his voice was a fresh slap in the face. Betrayal, sharp and deep, twisted inside her.