Chapter 1

My husband and I had booked a luxury resort for our honeymoon.

The day before our flight, the hotel called to confirm the cancellation.

I froze. "I never cancelled anything."

The receptionist checked the system and said,

"A Ms. Hailey Miller called with your confirmation number and full name. She canceled the reservation, then immediately rebooked the exact same suite under her name and the same gentleman."

Ms. Miller... Hailey? Ethan’s so-called "platonic" best friend?

She booked our honeymoon suite with my husband?

Did Ethan know about this?

Before I could even ask, the line went dead.

The front door clicked open. Ethan was home.

He slipped off his shoes and let out a heavy sigh, his face full of disappointment.

"Babe, bad news. Someone outbid us for the honeymoon suite. The front desk said they’re completely sold out. Looks like we’ll have to reschedule our trip."

"Outbid us? How could someone just take our room?"

Ethan set his keys on the entryway console, his brow furrowing.

"The hotel said someone offered a much higher rate. Honeymoon suites are high in demand. Obviously, management took the extra cash."

He said it so casually, as if none of it was his fault.

"That makes no sense. The reservation was under my name. How could anyone just snatch it?"

I pulled out my phone, pretending to dial.

"Let me call the resort right now. Maybe there's a misunderstanding."

Ethan hurried over and clamped his hand over mine.

"Don't bother. I already looked into it. That’s just how it is."

"Besides, my boss just assigned me a last-minute business trip tomorrow. Mandatory. I can't back out."

"Even if they had a room, we couldn't go anyway."

I stared at him.

The last shred of hope in my chest crumbled to dust.

He was really going with Hailey.

"How long will you be away?"

"Three days."

He turned his back to me, his voice drifting from the closet.

"As soon as I'm back, I'll plan something even better. I promise I’ll make up your honeymoon."

"Fine."

I lowered my phone.

Ethan let out an audible breath of relief.

"Are you hungry? I’ll make dinner."

"Sure."

He headed into the kitchen, leaving the door cracked open. Soon, the rhythmic sound of chopping filled the air.

I redialed the resort's front desk.

"Hi, I was wondering if you have any rooms available starting tomorrow?"

"My suite was cancelled and rebooked by someone else. I’d like the room right next to it."

The clerk tapped on her keyboard for a moment.

"Yes, ma'am. We have a deluxe king room available on the same floor. Would you like to reserve it?"

"Yes, please. Tomorrow for three nights."

"All set. Your booking is confirmed."

I hung up and placed my phone face down on the coffee table.

Sinking into the sofa, I stared up at the blank ceiling.

The whole thing with Ethan and Hailey started two years ago.

When Ethan and I first began dating, Hailey’s name came up constantly.

"She’s my college buddy. We’re basically bros," he used to tell me, his voice completely nonchalant.

And Hailey played the part well.

The first time we met, she offered me a warm handshake and a bright smile. "Ethan talks about you nonstop. He kept saying you’re gorgeous, and wow, he wasn't lying."

She was open, outgoing, never clingy, and never overstepped.

She never showed up on our dates, and Ethan never went out of his way to text her in front of me.

At least, not where I could see.

Back then, I genuinely believed a man and a woman could share a purely platonic friendship.

Ethan never crossed the line with her, and Hailey never acted flirtatious.

I even considered myself lucky to have a drama-free husband and a mature, respectful friend like her.

Now I realize it was all an act put on for my benefit.

The real intimacy, the secret connection—it all happened behind my back.

Then why did Ethan marry me?

If his heart belonged to Hailey, why didn't he just be with her?

I was never the clingy, desperate type. If he wanted his dream girl, he could have walked away anytime.

Yet he chose me. He proposed, had a big wedding, and posted all over social media.

Was it because Hailey wouldn't commit to him?

Or did he just think I made a more convenient wife?

Either way, it made me sick to my stomach.

If it were just a hunch, I wouldn't rush into anything rash.

But this was different.

He canceled our honeymoon suite and put Hailey’s name on it.

This wasn't a suspicion. It was a cold, hard fact.

We were married, and now that I had uncovered the truth, I wasn't about to let it slide.