Chapter 1 The perfect husband

By the time I realized my perfect husband might be hiding a life that didn't belong to him, it was already too late. If someone had asked me that morning whether I trusted Adrian Black, I would have laughed without thinking twice. I built my career helping people recognize dangerous men. I never imagined the man I loved would one day become the greatest mystery of my life.

The studio lights finally dimmed, and Camelia Hayes let out a quiet breath as the cameras stopped rolling. A production assistant walked over to remove the microphone clipped to her blazer while another handed her a bottle of water. She thanked them with a smile, though all she wanted was to go home after another long day.

"You make marriage sound so easy," the host said as he joined her offstage. "I don't think we've ever had this many calls during a live show."

Camelia laughed softly. "Marriage isn't easy. Two people simply have to choose each other every day. The problems start when one of them stops making that choice."

"You should write another book."

"My publisher keeps saying the same thing."

The host smiled before shaking her hand. "When you do, I'll be the first to invite you back."

Outside the studio, the evening air felt cooler than she expected. Her phone buzzed before she reached her car, and she smiled the moment she saw Adrian's name on the screen.

Adrian: Are you done saving everyone else's marriages?

She shook her head as she typed a reply.

Camelia: Almost. I'm on my way home.

His response came almost immediately.

Adrian: Good. Dinner is waiting.

A warmth settled in her chest. Three years into their marriage, Adrian still found small ways to remind her she was loved. Some days it was flowers, other days it was coffee waiting on her desk before she woke. Tonight, it was dinner.

By the time Camelia pulled into the driveway, the porch lights were already on. She barely had the front door open before the smell of roasted chicken and herbs drifted toward her. She slipped off her heels and smiled as she heard footsteps approaching.

"There you are," Adrian said.

He wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her forehead before she could say a word. She leaned into him for a moment, letting the stress of the day melt away. Somehow, his embrace always made home feel different from every other place in the world.

"You cooked?" she asked.

"I was going to order food, but then I remembered my wife tells people communication is important."

She laughed. "What does that have to do with cooking?"

"You communicated last week that you missed my cooking."

"I don't remember saying that."

"You didn't." He grinned. "You stared at the empty stove and sighed dramatically. I interpreted the message."

She rolled her eyes, unable to stop smiling. "You're impossible."

"And yet you married me."

"I must have been distracted."

"I'll accept that answer."

They carried the food to the dining table together. Adrian insisted on serving her first, even though she reminded him they were perfectly capable adults who could serve themselves. It had become one of those small routines neither of them questioned anymore.

As they ate, Adrian asked about the television interview. Camelia told him about the audience questions, the nervous newlywed who wanted advice, and the elderly couple who had been married for fifty-one years.

"They finished each other's sentences," she said. "It was adorable."

"And what did you learn?"

"That they're still arguing over who talks too much."

Adrian chuckled. "Sounds promising."

"What about your day?"

He shrugged. "Meetings. Paperwork. A client who couldn't decide what he wanted until the meeting was over."

"So, a normal Tuesday."

"Exactly."

They cleared the table together before moving into the living room. Camelia curled up on the sofa with a blanket while Adrian sat beside her, flipping through television channels until they found an old movie neither of them had seen in years.

Halfway through the film, Camelia rested her head on his shoulder.

"You know," she said quietly, "people always ask if relationship experts have perfect marriages."

"And what do you tell them?"

"I tell them perfection doesn't exist."

Adrian looked down at her. "Do you believe that?"

"I believe love isn't about finding perfection." She smiled. "It's about finding someone whose flaws you can live with."

He reached for her hand, weaving his fingers through hers.

"And have you found that someone?"

"I think so."

"You think so?"

She laughed as he pretended to look offended.

"Fine," she corrected. "I know so."

The smile that crossed his face made her heart ache in the best way. There had never been a day when she regretted marrying him. Even after three years, he still looked at her as though she were the best decision he had ever made.

Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, and she glanced at the screen with a small frown.

"It can wait," Adrian said.

"It's from my office."

"You're off work."

"I know."

She picked up the phone anyway. Her assistant had sent a short message.

A package was delivered after you left today. No sender's name. It looked important, so I left it on your desk.

Camelia stared at the message for a moment.

"What is it?" Adrian asked.

"My assistant said a package arrived after I left."

"Another gift from a reader?"

"Maybe."

"You'll see it tomorrow."

She nodded, setting the phone aside. "I probably will."

But for reasons she couldn't explain, the message stayed in her mind long after the movie ended. Somewhere across the city, inside the quiet office she had locked only hours earlier, a plain brown package rested on her desk, waiting for her.

Inside it was something that would change her life forever.