chapter 1

On my wedding day, my husband Leander Vance's ex-girlfriend sent me a friend request.

I ignored it, but she kept pushing—one request after another.

"Hey, heard you're getting married today? Congrats! I'm not here to start drama, I just want to look out for you.

"Did you know that when Leander got with you, we hadn't actually broken up?

"We were just going through a rough patch back then. He still loves me.

"Is it possible you might be the other woman without knowing it?"

I stood frozen, a cold numbness spreading through my chest.

Just then, the bathroom light switched off. Leander stepped out, fresh from the shower, and walked toward me.

Steam drifted out behind him. He was drying his wet hair with a bath towel, completely oblivious to my stony expression.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, baby." He moved close in that flirty way of his. Any other time, I would've blushed and let things happen naturally.

But this time, I gently pushed him away.

"Who is Juniper Snow?"

I watched his face closely as I asked. A flicker of surprise and panic crossed his expression—there and gone in a second. My heart sank right then and there.

Leander might have been lying to me.

He told me he'd never been in a relationship before. Now it looked like I couldn't fully believe him.

"Juniper Snow? She's just a friend. Why bring her up all of a sudden? Did someone fill your head with nonsense? Olivia, don't trust everything you hear from outsiders. You're just too trusting."

Leander explained with a smooth smile, his voice dripping sweetness, like the perfect husband humoring his wife's little suspicions.

I didn't say a word. Right in front of him, I accepted Juniper's friend request.

Messages started pouring in one after another.

"Hey, heard you're getting married today? Congrats! I'm not here to start drama, I just want to look out for you.

"Did you know that when Leander got with you, we hadn't actually broken up?

"We were just going through a rough patch back then. He still loves me.

"Is it possible you might be the other woman without knowing it?"

Leander's face tightened. "Olivia, it's not what you think. Yeah, I know Juniper, but we were just friends. Besides, that was years ago…"

Before he could finish, his phone rang.

I knew right away—it was that ringtone. One he'd set specially, something even I didn't have. And the name flashing on the screen was "Juniper."

A cold smile crept across my lips as I stared straight at Leander.

The ringtone kept going, over and over, like it had all the time in the world. Leander's face twisted with conflict, but in the end, he picked up right in front of me. "Juniper, what is it?"

Even though he was questioning her, his voice held a tenderness he couldn't quite hide.

On the other end, a weak, tearful voice whimpered, "Leander, I have a fever. It's 104°F. I feel awful. I didn't mean to bother you on purpose, but I'm so sick and didn't know who else to turn to."

"But…" Leander hesitated.