Chapter 1 - The Kiss Behind the Door

My husband was still wearing his wedding ring when I found his mouth on another woman's.

Three hours earlier, Marcus Hale had stood beneath a ceiling of white roses, held both my hands, and promised me there would never be a room in his life where I did not belong.

Now there was a room.

And I was standing in the doorway of it.

The hotel suite smelled like expensive perfume and spilled champagne. Marcus had both arms around a woman in a silver dress. Her fingers were locked behind his neck. They were kissing like they had forgotten there were four hundred people downstairs waiting for the groom to return to his own wedding reception.

I pushed the door open another inch.

Marcus saw me over her shoulder.

His face emptied.

The woman turned.

Serena Cole.

His company's chief financial officer. The woman who had hugged me at the rehearsal dinner and told me I was "exactly what Marcus needed."

I heard my own voice before I felt it leave my throat.

"Why did you leave our reception?"

Marcus let go of her so fast she almost stumbled.

"Danielle—wait."

Serena touched her hair. "I should go."

"No," I said.

Both of them froze.

I stepped into the room and shut the door behind me.

"Nobody goes anywhere until one of you explains what I just saw."

Marcus lifted a hand. "It's not what you think."

I looked at him for a long second, then at Serena's lipstick on the corner of his mouth.

"Then tell me what I just saw."

He opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

That silence hurt worse than any confession could have.

I looked down at the ring he had slid onto my finger in front of God, my father, his mother, and every person we loved.

My hand shook once.

Then it stopped.

I pulled the ring off.

Marcus went pale.

"Don't do that."

"You already did it."

I walked past him.

He grabbed for my hand but stopped himself before touching me.

"Danielle, please. Just give me five minutes."

I reached the door.

Serena finally spoke.

"Ask him why he married you tonight."

The entire room went still.

I turned slowly.

Marcus looked at Serena with naked panic.

Not anger.

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Panic.

And that was the moment I understood the kiss was not the worst thing waiting for me.