Chapter 1

At my childhood friend Landon’s new book launch, he walked straight toward the VIP audience seats and took my fiancée Valerie’s hand.

He praised her as his muse, the true love of his life.

Right in front of me and hundreds of guests, he pulled her into a passionate kiss.

After the crowd dispersed, I found the two of them backstage to demand an explanation.

Valerie just brushed it off like it was nothing.

“Landon has been so busy with work that he hasn’t had time to date. His parents are getting older and pressuring him constantly. We were just putting on an act for his family.”

“You two have been best friends for over a decade. Is this really worth making such a big fuss over?”

I slipped off my engagement ring and scoffed.

“His parents are probably dying for grandkids too. Why don’t you just do them a favor and give them one?”

1

Hearing that, Valerie’s face instantly flushed with humiliation and rage.

Noticing the backstage staff turning their heads, she frantically grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the private green room.

“Landon’s parents are right out there! Saying something like that is just trying to humiliate all of us on purpose, isn’t it?”

I let out a bitter laugh.

She was an engaged woman publicly displaying affection with another man.

They had crossed physical boundaries without a shred of hesitation.

And now she actually had the nerve to feel ashamed?

When Landon first told me about his book launch, I was away on a business trip out of state.

I wasn’t supposed to make it back in time to support him.

Luckily, my client signed the contract two days early, giving me just enough time to rush back.

Looking back, Landon and I had been brothers for more than ten years.

The night before I left for my trip, I told him I’d be gone for a week.

Just two days later, he scheduled this book launch.

If I hadn’t snuck in to surprise him, I never would have caught them in the act.

Clearly, he and Valerie had planned the entire event behind my back.

A moment later, Landon hurried into the green room.

Seeing Valerie and me in a heated argument, he put a hypocritical hand on my shoulder.

“Garrett, man, I should have cleared this with you first. My folks have been breathing down my neck about settling down, so I asked Valerie to pretend to be my girlfriend just to get them off my back.”

“We’ve been like brothers since we were kids. Don’t you trust me?”

Disgusted, I shoved his hand off my shoulder.

“I treated you like a brother, but how did you treat me? Did kissing my fiancée feel good?”

Valerie snapped, her temper flaring.

She raised her hand and slapped me hard across the face.

“What kind of bullshit are you talking about? Landon and I just staged it for the camera angles! Our lips barely even touched!”

“If something was really going on between us, why would I have legally signed our marriage papers with you?”