Chapter 3

The next morning, I go to the studio early.

Nathan texts me during the day.

[Babe, did you hear my phone last night?]

I look at the message for a few seconds.

[No.]

He explains before I even ask.

[Nothing serious. My ex called. I must have answered by accident while I was drunk.]

[I saw her before a business dinner yesterday. There was still some property stuff to sort out from the divorce.]

[Don’t worry about it. She probably just forgot to tell me something.]

What a perfect excuse.

Before last night, I would’ve admired how honest he sounded.

Now all I can think is how damn good his acting is.

I don’t reply.

That afternoon, I’m shooting a bridal campaign on location.

We shoot from two to four under the hot sun.

Afterward, my assistant and I bring the gowns back to a couture bridal salon.

And I see Nathan.

He is sitting in the VIP lounge in a white suit, flipping through a wedding dress catalog.

He looks exactly like a groom waiting for his bride.

My assistant sees him too and covers her mouth.

“Soph,” she whispers. “Did we just ruin a surprise?”

“Your two-year anniversary is coming up, right? Is Mr. Hale planning another wedding shoot for you? That’s so romantic.”

I frown and start to speak.

Before I can, the fitting room curtain slides open.

Saffron walks out in a lace mermaid gown, looking effortlessly elegant.

She hurries to Nathan and twirls in front of him.

“Do I look good, Nathan?”

Her voice is sweet and eager.

“This cut still looks best on me, right?”

Nathan’s expression stays flat.

He lifts his wrist and checks the time.

“Yeah. If you like it, take this one.”

He closes the catalog.

“Once you’ve picked one, I’ll go pay. Sophie should be getting off work around now.”

My phone buzzes.

Chloe.

[Soph! That bastard agreed to take Saffron to the Maldives for another wedding shoot just to make her happy.]

[My friend overheard Saffron bragging about it at brunch this morning.]

[Also, she and Grant broke up. She’s single now. She’s coming back for Nathan.]

I almost laugh.

Nathan Hale.

You really can’t stand watching Saffron suffer for even one second, can you?

My assistant’s eyes go wide.

Her face turns painfully awkward.

I walk straight toward them.

“You’re right,” I say. “I did just get off work.”

Both of them look at me.

I smile.

“What a coincidence, seeing you two here.”

Then I look at Nathan.

“Honey, are you picking out a wedding dress for your ex-wife?”

Nathan’s face shifts, but only for a second.

He stands and explains before I can say more.

“Sophie, she’s getting married. She asked me to give an opinion.”

Helping the woman who cheated on him pick out a wedding dress? And paying for it? What a pathetic excuse.

I laugh.

“Wow. That’s generous.”

His eyes sharpen.

“She cheated on you, and you’re still here helping her pick out a dress?”

“Sophie.” Nathan’s voice drops.

Nathan is used to getting his way. Most of the time, the reason doesn’t really matter.

Once he’s made up his mind, he expects me to give him a way to save face.

He'll try to make it up to me later, in private.

But this time, I don't want to play along.

Saffron walks over in the white dress.

She puts on a pale, pitiful expression.

“Sophie, I’m sorry. This is my fault.”

I look at her.

“Grant is away on business, so I asked Nathan to help me.”

She lowers her eyes.

“I’m sorry. I already took Grant from you, and now I’m dragging Nathan away too.”

I laugh coldly.

“Saffron, is this really all you know how to do?”

Her face stiffens.

“You need your ex-husband to pay for the wedding dress you’re wearing for your next husband?”

I step closer.

“No wonder they say you look more like a gold digger than an heiress.”

“An heiress who can’t pay for her own dress? What happened, Saffron? Did Mommy cut you off? Or are the rumors true?”

I smile.

“Who knows, maybe you’re just some fake heiress the Harts picked up somewhere.”

“Maybe you should take a DNA test sometime.”

There had long been rumors that Saffron wasn’t the Harts’ biological daughter.

It was the one thing she couldn’t stand anyone bringing up.

Her face turns red, trembling with rage.

“Sophie Lane, you’ve gone too far.”

“You’re just a replacement.”

Her eyes burn into mine.

“You're just a stand-in. To Grant, I’m the woman he could never forget. To Nathan, I’m the one he could never let go of.”

She sneers.

“What the hell are you?”

“Enough.” Nathan cuts her off, his voice low and sharp. “Shut up.”

He walks over, takes my hand, and tries to lead me toward the door.

“Sophie, I’ll explain at home.”

Then he sighs.

He looks at me like I’m a child throwing a fit.

“Be good.”

A sales associate hurries over to Saffron.

“Mrs. Hale,” she says, “are we confirming the dress? We can deliver it today.”

Mrs. Hale.

Saffron’s expression immediately brightens into a satisfied smile.

“Yes. Nathan will wire the payment later.”

Something inside me snaps.

I rip my hand out of Nathan’s grip.

“Explain what, Nathan?”

I stare him dead in the eyes.

“How much fun your little wife-swap game is?”