Chapter 1

My husband was flying home from a business trip, and he insisted I pick him up at the airport.

Instead, I ran into Ethan Whitmore—the ex who had abandoned our wedding two years ago to travel the world with his intern.

I was wearing sunglasses, but he recognized me immediately.

“Claire Bennett, are you really that desperate to get married?”

“The second you heard I was coming home, you rushed straight to the airport.”

I gave him a hesitant look. “You're…?”

He tossed his hair and stepped forward to take my hand.

“Come on. It's not like I meant to stay away this long.”

“You know Sophie hasn't been doing well mentally. She's always wanted to travel around the world.”

“We spent a little longer in a few countries than we planned. That's all.”

“But the trip's over, and I flew straight home to marry you, just like I promised!”

I stared at his wrinkled clothes, his scruffy beard, and the hair he kept slicking back.

Only then did I recognize the ex who had run out on our wedding two years ago.

But had no one told him I'd married his brother that very day?

…

I took a long look at them.

Sure enough, it was Ethan Whitmore and Sophie Miller.

They were both wearing designer clothes, but they looked a lot more weathered.

Their skin had darkened, too.

I was puzzled. Since when did traveling around the world do this to people?

At the same time, I felt relieved.

Thank God I hadn't married Ethan.

The only reason I'd agreed to the arranged marriage in the first place was that he'd been handsome, clean-cut, and sporting an eight-pack.

But now

Apparently, his looks hadn't had much staying power.

Good thing he wasn't my husband.

I took off my sunglasses and gave them a polite smile.

"Oh, it's you two. You look so different, I didn't recognize you."

Sophie immediately sneered.

"Drop the act, Claire. You knew Ethan and I were coming home today, so you came here to corner us."

"Seriously, are you that scared no one will marry you?"

Then she let out a mocking laugh.

Ethan ruffled her hair and tapped the tip of her nose, looking more amused than annoyed.

"Behave. You're supposed to be a bridesmaid when Claire and I get married."

Sophie pouted.

"Fine. I honestly don't know what you're thinking."

"Claire's older, jealous, and not remotely sweet. All she does is cling to you. Why would you marry a woman who has nothing going for her except her face?"

"Don't say that," Ethan said. "You'll hurt her feelings."

"After the wedding, I'll take you around the world again."

Their conversation left me speechless.

I stared at them like they were idiots.

I was just about to interrupt their increasingly deranged exchange when Ethan turned to me.

"Don't be upset, Claire. Sophie's just a kid at heart."

"You know her father died saving my life. I've looked after her ever since. I've made sure she never went without anything, but she still grew up without a father's love. She doesn't always think before she speaks."

"Besides, her mental health hasn't been stable since she lost him. Once we're married, I hope you'll help me take care of her."

"She'll be joining our company, too. You should help her out at work."

I rolled my eyes as gracefully as I could.

Did Ethan even hear the garbage coming out of his mouth?

I raised my hand and showed him my wedding ring.

"See this, Ethan? This pigeon-blood ruby ring is worth a hundred million dollars. My husband gave it to me."

"Thank God I didn't marry you. Otherwise"

I looked him and Sophie up and down with open disdain.

"Move. You're in my way. I'm here to pick up my husband."

Ethan laughed scornfully.

"Do you think I'm an idiot, Claire?"

"Our marriage was a business alliance. We invited practically every prominent person in America to our wedding two years ago. Everyone knows you're supposed to marry me."

"Stop saying things just to spite me. I know running out on the wedding embarrassed you, but I had a reason. I'm back now, so quit making a scene. You should be grateful I'm still willing to marry you."

"Is there something wrong with your brain?" I asked.

His smile grew even more condescending.

"You're a woman who got left at the altar. Everyone would laugh at you. Who else would marry you?"

The sheer confidence of this oblivious idiot made me laugh.

So that was why he'd dared to run out on our wedding. He'd assumed no one else would want me once he abandoned me!

What an ego.

I was the daughter of the richest man in the country.

The line of men willing to marry me could stretch all the way to France.

And Ethan wasn't the only Whitmore son.

After Ethan walked out two years ago, his grandfather Arthur offered to call off the wedding and apologize to every guest himself. I told him I'd rather speak to Adrian.

To make amends, Arthur gave me the five-percent interest in the family trust that had been set aside for Ethan. The Whitmore Group shares Ethan owned outright were separate.

Apparently, Ethan had no idea his trust income was gone.

Of course he didn't.

He'd deliberately cut off all contact for Sophie's sake. How would he know?

I just hoped he'd still be smiling when he got back to the Whitmore estate that night.