Chapter 1
The night before the wedding, someone slipped a VIP room keycard under my door. The room number was the same one where Trent Harrison had proposed to me.
I figured it was his idea of some lastminute romance before the wedding. But when I pushed the door open? There he was, tangled up in the sheets with Aria Winters.
After he finished, he took his time pushing her off his chest.
He lit a cigarette and smiled through the smoke like none of it mattered. “No big story. Just got
tired of sneaking around. Figured I’d let you find out now so I don’t have to deal with it later.”
He flicked the ash. “Relax. You’re still the only Mrs. Harrison.”
“You’ve been with me ten years. You’ve got half the business world wanting your head. You don’t marry me? Who else is gonna take you?”
“Tomorrow goes ahead as planned. Only…”
“You get the wedding. She gets the marriage certificate.”
He thought I’d at least ask why.
But I just quietly slipped off my engagement ring, set it down, and walked out.
The next day, Trent showed up at the church in his white groom’s tux, waiting for me.
I didn’t run. Didn’t hide.
I walked straight up to my biggest rival, slipped my arm through his, and held up the marriage
certificate.
“You want the wedding? Fine. The certificate? That’s his.”
***
“Here she comes, here she comes, the bride’s finally coming out.”
By the time I got downstairs, reporters had already gathered outside the hotel.
Cameras flashed like crazy,
“Miss Bennett, how are you feeling on your big day?”
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“Miss Bennett, any words about the wedding of the century Mr. Harrison planned for you?”
I didn’t say a word. My security team hustled me into the car.
The wedding was set for St. Luke’s Cathedral on the east side of town.
Trent stood on the steps in his white tux, wearing that smile that said he had everything under
control.
He’d called me that morning to say he was too wiped to come get me, said something about
going all night and needing to recover.
He was so sure I’d show up anyway.
His best friend Tyler Brooks was the first to whistle.
“She still came.”
He elbowed Trent and grinned. “That’s the guy. Partying all night before the wedding, and the bride still shows up in her white dress. What do you call that? That’s training.”
Another groomsman, Carson Hayes, jumped in. “No kidding. The way he went at it last night? Anyone else would’ve been done for. But he’s still standing here like a champ. Gotta give him that.”
They all laughed.
Trent’s mouth twitched.
“Sloane’s been mine for ten years,” he said casually. “Who else would want her?”
He glanced down at the engagement ring I’d taken off yesterday.
“She’s just throwing a tantrum. That’s normal. But in the end…”
He paused, voice sure. “She’ll walk right up to me and put her hand in mine.”
Tyler gave him a thumbs-up.
The car door opened. I stepped out in my white gown. Sunlight hit the lace and scattered into a thousand tiny sparks.
Trent’s eyes went wide for a second. He meant it when he said, “Damn. You look hot in that dress.”
But before he could touch my hand, his phone buzzed and stole his attention.
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He looked at the screen.
His mouth curved up on its own. He stepped aside to answer. “What’s up? I thought I told you to call later.”
A lazy, teasing voice came through the line. “Trent, I’ve got a flight overseas this afternoon… so I booked us a ten-minute slot at City Hall. Can you swing by? I wanna get the marriage certificate before I go.”
“Ten minutes?” Trent let out a low laugh. “That desperate?”
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