Chapter 2

When my father first took me to the Whitmore house to choose a fiancé, I heard Ethan talking before we even stepped inside.

"You can kill me if you want. I'm not marrying Claire Bennett."

I crossed him off my list on the spot.

But then he saw me at a party, fell for me at first sight, and declared that I was the only woman he would ever marry.

At first, I didn't want to give him a chance.

But he shamelessly pursued me for more than six months. Since he didn't seem to have a string of lovers, I finally said yes.

It wasn't until later that I learned about Sophie Miller—the intern whose education his family had funded and whom he spoiled like a princess.

On our wedding day, Ethan received a video call from her.

"Ethan, remember your promise? You said you'd take me around the world when I graduated."

"I'm waiting at the airport. If you're not here by three, I'll jump off the building!"

Without a single word of explanation, Ethan ran out in front of all our guests.

He sent me two texts, then vanished.

[Sophie's father saved my life. She's the only daughter he left behind. I can't let anything happen to her!]

[Don't worry. I'll marry you as soon as our trip is over. Then I'll take you anywhere you want.]

The Whitmores were furious.

To make things right with my family, Arthur Whitmore promised me:

"Claire, this is our fault. We failed to raise him properly. Tell me what you want, and we'll make it happen."

I asked to speak to Adrian Whitmore, Ethan's older brother and the CEO of Whitmore Group.

He'd been overseas developing a new business when I'd first come to choose a fiancé. He had only recently returned.

I thought he was a much better option.

"If Adrian is willing, I'd like him to stay and marry me."

Arthur let us talk privately. When we came back, Adrian took my hand in front of the guests and we went ahead with the ceremony. We signed the marriage paperwork a few days later.

I pulled myself out of the memory and checked the time. Adrian's flight should have landed by now.

Right on cue, my phone started vibrating nonstop.

Every message was from him.

"Honey, my flight's delayed. Change of plans. Don't wait around for me."

"Let Leo pick me up."

"Miss you so much."

"I expect a kiss the second I get home."

"Love you. Kisses."

Then came a giant blown-kiss sticker.

A little smile tugged at my lips, and the tension left my face.

Even the sight of my awful ex—now my brother-in-law—became slightly more tolerable.

Ethan folded his arms and eyed my phone with a smug half smile.

"Wow. You really came prepared. Where did you find the actor?"

"Don't pull stunts like this, Claire. You're making yourself look ridiculous."

He stepped closer and reached for my hair.

I immediately stepped back, leaving his hand hanging in midair.

"I told you, I'm married. Keep harassing me, and my husband will break your legs."

Ethan looked as though I'd told him a hilarious joke. He pointed at my neckline and raised an eyebrow.

"That brooch is for the spouse of whoever runs the family. Why would you be wearing it if you'd married someone else?"

The emerald brooch was a Whitmore heirloom. It was their family's private tradition to pass it to the spouse of the person who took charge of the family.

How did someone the family had all but disowned have the nerve to say that?

"The man I married is—"

Before I could finish, Sophie cut in.

"Wow, Claire! Is that the emerald family brooch?"

"I've heard it's priceless. Too bad I wasn't born lucky. I'll never get to wear jewelry that exquisite."

Her eyes instantly filled with tears.

She linked her arm through Ethan's and said sadly:

"Ethan, could you ask Claire to let me borrow it?"

"I know I lost my father and I'm hardly in a position to ask for anything that beautiful. I know the brooch belongs to your wife."

"But could I wear it just once? So I can pretend I married you, too?"

She started sobbing.

Ethan looked heartbroken. He turned to me with an apologetic expression.

"Claire, you're going to be my wife. Surely one brooch doesn't matter that much. Can't you just give it to Sophie?"

"She's young, and she's had such a hard life. Let her have this. I'll buy you a nicer one someday. I promise."