Chapter 3

Watching him, the buried memories surged back.

I never wanted to marry.

When the family business was crippled, I agreed to a marriage of convenience.

I expected a distant partnership, but Liam spoiled me utterly.

Just when I fell for him, his first love returned.

I didn't know about Stella, only heard her mentioned by his friends. They said she was brilliant, studied abroad.

Once, they wondered if she was married now.

Liam sharply cut them off. The topic changed instantly.

That was my first clue. He had been angry.

Now I knew why.

He couldn't stand the thought of Stella belonging to someone else.

Two months after Stella's return, Liam started coming home less.

First late nights, then days without a word.

He hadn't been back in a week.

My calls went unanswered.

I went to his office. He wasn't there.

His assistant finally gave me the name of a romantic restaurant.

My heart sank.

I found them in a hotel lobby, intimate, fingers intertwined.

I walked over, then stopped cold, staring at a face that resembled mine by eighty percent.

I ignored the panic on Liam's face.

[After a moment, Stella smiled and walked toward me. She extended her hand. "You must be Shannon. Thank you for taking care of Liam for me all these years."]