SHE OPENED THE SPA DOOR AND FOUND HER FIANCÉ WITH HER BEST FRIEND

Chapter 02 - The Explanation That Made It Worse

Evan started talking first.

He said the spa session had been Marisol's idea. He said they were stressed about the wedding. He said it was a "misunderstanding" caused by the resort assigning one room instead of two.

Laura listened without blinking.

Then she turned to Marisol.

"Was that your idea too?"

Marisol opened her mouth, but no words came.

Laura had known her long enough to recognize the tell: Marisol touched the small hollow at the base of her throat whenever she lied.

Her fingers were there now.

"How long?" Laura asked.

Evan frowned. "How long what?"

"You've already insulted me. Don't insult my intelligence too."

Silence filled the suite.

Finally, Marisol whispered, "Since January."

Laura felt something inside her go still.

January.

That meant the affair had begun before Laura and Evan chose their wedding venue. Before Marisol helped Laura shop for a dress. Before the three of them toasted to "new beginnings" at Laura's birthday dinner.

Evan stepped closer. "It wasn't supposed to happen."

Laura gave a small, humorless laugh.

"Nothing that lasts six months just happens."

Marisol began crying, but Laura did not comfort her. That old instinct—to rescue everyone else before herself—rose automatically and then died.

"Did you sleep with him in my house?"

Marisol shook her head quickly.

Evan looked away.

Laura saw it.

"You did."

"Once," Evan said.

Marisol whispered, "Twice."

Laura closed her eyes.

When she opened them, the woman who had walked into the suite was gone.

"The wedding is canceled."

Evan grabbed the edge of the massage table. "Laura, don't do this in anger. We have three hundred guests flying in. There are deposits. Contracts. Press. Investors."

That word stopped her.

Investors.

Not family. Not love. Not the future they had promised each other.

Investors.

Laura slowly looked at him.

"Why are you worried about the investors before you're worried about losing me?"

Evan's face changed for half a second.

It was not grief.