Chapter 2
James followed me out, his brow furrowed.
“Are you seriously mad? Just because I had a drink with Sophia? Are you really going to pout over that?” James demanded.
“You need to grow up and stop being so emotional. If your mom figures out what’s going on between us, we’re both screwed!”
James had always been adamant about keeping our marriage secret. For three years, not a single relative knew we’d been sharing a bed.
I took a drag from my cigarette, responding coldly, “Let’s just get divorced then. I’m busy anyway–I’ve got a wedding to plan for next month.”
James froze, clearly shocked that I would say something like that.
Just as he was about to pull the uncle card and lecture me again, Mom pushed open the balcony door, supporting an absolutely wasted Sophia.
“Little brother,” Mom said with a knowing smile, “your girlfriend’s completely drunk. She’s making quite the scene inside, demanding you take her home.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, James took Sophia–who had basically melted into a puddle–and wrapped his arm intimately around her slim waist.
Just as he was leaving, he turned back to my mom and said, “Sis, Emma’s had too much to drink. She’s talking nonsense. Make sure you give her some hangover cure.”
From the balcony, I could see James and Sophia downstairs, kissing from outside the car all the way into the backseat.
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
In my previous lifetime, after making a scene at a family gathering like this, I finally became James’s wife officially. But he never fulfilled his responsibilities as a husband.
When I was planning our long–overdue wedding reception, James flew overseas to cheer up Sophia.
15:17
Second Choice No More I Upgraded to a Loyal Pup
10.0
Chapter 2
When I had a fever of 104, James was in some bar having “deep conversations” with Sophia.
Even when I got pregnant, he remained completely indifferent.
“If you’re pregnant, just have it,” he’d said. “One more person around doesn’t make any difference to
me.”
Then when I went into labor, one word from Sophia was all it took for James to fly from Chicago to London with her, dining at The Shard by candlelight.
When my delivery took a dangerous turn, the doctors urgently called him.
James responded coldly: “Do whatever you need to. I don’t want either of them anyway.”
I died in that delivery room, alone and terrified, with his cruel words being the last thing I’d ever hear from him. James never even came back to see my body–it was my mother who had to collect my remains from the hospital.
Snapping back to the present, I pressed my hand against my aching heart and glanced down at the two still kissing in the car below. Without hesitation, I turned and went back inside.
What James didn’t know was that Noah actually did have feelings for me.
He’d confessed to me six months ago, but I’d turned him down because of my secret marriage.
I pulled out my phone and typed a message:
[Noah, would you help me put on a show? Let’s fake a wedding next month.]
15:17
