Chapter 1

"Chloe, I step out for a minute, and you’re really living it up, aren’t you?"

Liam’s voice on the phone was tight with barely suppressed fury.

Having a blast at a bar with my best friend, draped over male escorts, acting like a drunken fool, and then posting it all on SnapChat.

What's it like for your brand-new husband to see that?

My family was relentless, practically hounding me to get married. So, I ended up in a marriage of convenience with someone I'd only known for two weeks, a guy I'd met on a blind date.

The day after our wedding, Liam left for a business trip, no fixed return date.

During his absence, I truly let loose.

Maya and I were having a blast at the bar, and in a burst of joy, I just waved my hand and ordered a few male escorts to join us for drinks.

Moments later, a whole line-up of drop-dead gorgeous guys stood before me. Broad shoulders, narrow waists, long legs – every single one of them a perfect specimen.

And their sweet talk? Calling me 'honey' and 'darling' had me absolutely beaming.

After a few stiff drinks, I was seeing double. I clung to a male escort, acting like a drunken fool, and Maya couldn't even stop me.

Then I pulled out my phone, took a selfie with a guy on each arm, and clicked over to SnapChat to post it.

Just a few minutes after I posted, my phone buzzed.

That familiar contact name popped up, and it was like a bucket of ice water dumped over my head. I sobered up instantly.

It was a message from my husband, the one who’d been on a business trip since our wedding and who I’d barely seen since.

"Chloe, I step out for a minute, and you’re really living it up, aren’t you?"

Me: ...Uh... wait... I can explain...

My best friend, Maya, was incredibly sympathetic to my plight, even wondering if Liam was gay or... incapable.

Why else would he abandon such a gorgeous wife to practically marry his job?

Suddenly, Maya sprang to her feet. "Do you think Liam has someone else on the side? That’s why he just leaves you here, ignoring you?"

Liam and I had no real emotional connection. He pursued his career, I indulged in my pleasures. We pretty much lived separate lives.

I was perfectly content with the current situation: living the high life, plenty of cash, and no one breathing down my neck.

The next second, Liam's mom, my mother-in-law, called.

I paused, frowning in thought. What was going on?

"Chloe, I saw your SnapChat post. I know Liam has been too busy to spend time with you lately. I've already given him an earful and told him to clear his schedule and spend some quality time with you."

I let out an awkward chuckle. "Mom, no, it wasn't like that, that was me..."

How was I supposed to explain this? Waiting for answers.