Chapter 1

The girl who once swore she would marry no one but me ran away from our wedding. She chose her high school sweetheart, Merrick Hayes, leaving me standing alone at the altar.

As I stood there in total humiliation, Tessa Vanderbilt stepped in. She was a high society heiress who had supposedly crushed on me for seven years. She saved the day by becoming my bride.

For three years, our marriage was a dream. We were the picture of domestic bliss, or so I thought.

Everything changed at the New Year's Winter Gala. Tessa won a prize for a poem she had written.

Our friends were all cheering and teasing her about her literary talent.

I went to collect her prize from the organizers. That was when I overheard a staff member talking to her.

"This acrostic poem you wrote... the first letters spell out Merrick. You must really love your husband," the staffer said.

Tessa's gaze was softer than I had ever seen it. "Yes, I love him more than life itself."

That night, I broke into the private study she always kept locked. Inside were tens of thousands of photos of Merrick Hayes.

They were arranged chronologically, from his teenage years right up until yesterday. Every single one was dated.

I read the journals she kept near those photos. My heart shattered into a million pieces.

I realized her only goal in marrying me was to clear every obstacle for Merrick. She used my influence to protect him.

I gave up on us completely. I pulled out my old racing suit, the one I had retired just for her.

The Copperhead Ridge Rally was only three days away. I decided to use it to stage a grand exit.

When my car plunges off that ten-thousand-foot cliff, I will finally be free.

1.

The night was thick and heavy.

I stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of our mountain villa. Below, the lights of the Winter Gala stretched out like a glowing sea.

My former racing manager, Xavier, was shouting through the phone in disbelief.

"Cillian, are you serious? You're actually coming back? You aren't messing with me, right?"

"You're a world-class driver. You're a goddamn legend for Team Hurricane! You belong on the track!"

I gave a calm, short answer. "I'm entering the rally in three days."

Xavier was ecstatic. He started rambling about engine specs and tire modifications.

Suddenly, a tipsy voice drifted from behind me.

"What about tires? Honey, are you thinking about getting a new car?"

My heart skipped a beat. I covered the mic and ended the call with a few quick words.

"You're hiding something from me..."

I tucked the phone away just as Tessa reached me.

She wrapped her arms around my waist. It was her habit to bury her head against my neck and nuzzle me.

I frowned slightly and gently pushed her back. "You're drunk and hearing things. Go to sleep."

"No way. I can't sleep without my husband beside me."

I looked down at the woman acting so spoiled in my arms. A sharp pain stabbed at my chest.

During our three years of marriage, Tessa had been the perfect wife. She took care of every little detail of my life.

Our sweet moments often went viral on social media. People envied our love.

Whenever she got emotional, she would thank me with teary eyes for letting her stay by my side.

I really believed this was what true love looked like. I was a fool.

I carried her to the bed. As I tried to pull away, she grabbed my collar.

"Honey, why did you sneak back to the city this evening?"

"The city is covered in ads for Merrick Hayes entering the rally. I was afraid it would upset you. That's why I brought you to the mountains for a vacation."

I braced my arms against the mattress to keep some distance between us.

The rally was happening on the other side of this very mountain in three days.

Tessa claimed she brought me here to relax. In reality, she just wanted to be close to Merrick's race.

Did she really think I was that blind?

Ever since she told me she was terrified of me getting hurt, I had hung up my racing suit.

For three years, I played the role of a wealthy, idle husband. I didn't ask about the outside world.

In Tessa's eyes, I was probably just a useless trophy now.

Back then, I retired because she said she was worried about my safety. I thought she cared.

Now I know the truth. She was just afraid I would outshine Merrick on the track.

After all, Merrick had always been a loser compared to me.

"Honey? Why aren't you saying anything? Are you thinking about racing again?"

I snapped back to reality and looked at her.

Tessa's eyes were clear and sharp. There wasn't a hint of drunkenness in them.

I stared right back and lied.

"No. You love me so much. I could never bear to make you worry."

Tessa smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "I knew you loved me the most."

"Three days from now is the end of the festival. Once I'm done with my errands, we'll fly to Switzerland for skiing. You've been talking about it forever."

I gave a low grunt of agreement. My eyes drifted back to the window.

In three days, you'll be the only one skiing in Switzerland.

I'll be halfway across the world.