Chapter 1

My first husband cheated on me with Saffron Hart.

So I married Saffron’s ex-husband, Nathan Hale.

He’s handsome, rich, mature, and steady.

I don’t have to struggle beside him while he builds from nothing.

And he doesn’t pick fights with me over every little thing.

My best friend, Chloe, laughs and says, “Talk about a blessing in disguise. You really hit the jackpot.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Until tonight.

Nathan comes home drunk, kiss marks all over him.

I answer his phone when it won’t stop ringing.

On the other end, his ex-wife, Saffron Hart, is sobbing.

“Nathan, I’m officially ending the wife-swap game.”

“I don’t want the thrill anymore,” she cries. “I only want you.”

“Divorce her, okay? Please. I regret it.”

Wife-swap game?

I freeze.

So I didn’t get lucky.

I was just another piece in their sick little game.

……

Nathan hears me move.

He opens his bleary eyes and grabs my hand.

“Babe,” he murmurs. “I love you so much.”

The call keeps replaying in my head.

I yank my hand out of his grip.

“You’re drunk. Go to sleep.”

The last time Nathan got this drunk was on our wedding night.

He didn’t sleep with me that night.

He just held me with flushed cheeks and a loose, happy smile, whispering sweet things in my ear.

“Soph, this is the happiest day I’ve had in years.”

“Everyone thinks I married you because Saffron cheated with your husband and I wanted revenge.”

“But I love you. I really love you.”

“Now I can finally protect you, and no one can say a damn thing about it.”

People say drunk words are honest.

And I do believe him — for the two years we've been married, he's always been like this.

Maybe there's some kind of misunderstanding.

Then my phone vibrates.

It’s Chloe.

She sends a video with two messages.

[That fucking bastard.]

[Soph, look at what Nathan's been doing behind your back. What does he even think you are to him?]

I press play.

The video is dark.

In the corner, Nathan leans back lazily in a chair.

Saffron stands in front of him, crying.

“Nathan, aren't you done with her yet?” she asks. “Didn’t we agree? Two years, then you’d divorce her.”

“Yes, I cheated first. I know that was wrong.”

“But the wife-swap game was something you agreed to too. I’ve only ever loved you.”

“Babe, don’t be mad anymore, okay? I know I screwed up. Let’s get married again. Our families still need this marriage for the business deal.”

Nathan lowers his eyes and slowly turns the watch on his wrist.

Then his lips part.

“You started the game,” he says. “But I never said you get to end it.”

“Let me sweet-talk Sophie into giving me a baby first. We’ll see after that.”

Saffron’s fists clench.

She bites her lip hard and stares at him.

“Do you even love me anymore?”

Nathan looks up at her.

His voice is cool. Almost gentle.

“I’m doing this because I care about you, Saff.”

“You can’t have kids,” he says. “So I’ll find you someone to have a baby for you. What’s wrong with that?”