Chapter 1

I stood in the center of the club, listening to guests congratulated me and Gideon on our fifth anniversary, but my heart felt like it was frozen solid.

Around me, people kept talking.

"Everyone knows how much Gideon loves Isabella. Have you seen the way he looks at her?"

"Five years and they're still like newlyweds."

"From the streets to running all of New York, it's a real-life fairy tale."

Fairy tale. I wanted to laugh.

Three days ago, the private investigator I hired sent me a video, and when I clicked on it, I felt my heart stop.

There was Gideon in a bridal boutique, his hand resting on a blonde woman's lower back as he guided her toward a display of white dresses. The woman turned slightly and the camera caught her profile. The most absurd part? I knew her. Daisy, Gideon's first love.

Not on a business trip to London like he'd told me. He was two cities over, shopping for wedding dresses with another woman.

Because that day, I found out I was pregnant. I wanted to track him down through his location and surprise him, but turns out the surprise was on me, he wasn't even where his location said he was. So I hired a private investigator to find him.

"Isabella!"

My thoughts were interrupted by Gideon, who walked over holding a black velvet box.

He stopped in front of me and those green eyes of his were so warm, so loving. Such a good liar.

"Five years ago, I promised I'd give you the world," he said loud. "Tonight, I'm one step closer to keeping that promise."

He opened the box and revealed an emerald necklace.

He fastened it around my neck and kissed my forehead.

"Gideon, you're spoiling her absolutely rotten!" someone shouted from the back.

"She deserves everything," Gideon continued, pulling me against his side. "This woman has been with me through hell. She took bullets for me, bled for me. I owe her my life."

The guests erupted in cheers and whistles.

Then why were you shopping for wedding dresses with her? The thought burned through my head. Why were you doing that the same day I found out I'm carrying your child?

"Now, we put together a special video." Gideon continued.

The lights went down.

But instead of our wedding photos, instead of the carefully curated montage I'd approved—

The screen filled with images of naked women.

The room went silent before someone gasped.

My face went numb and I couldn't get air into my lungs.

What the hell—

"Turn it off!" someone yelled.

The lights came back on.

Then I saw her across the room. Blonde, petite, wearing soft pink. Already running toward Gideon with tears streaming down her face.

Daisy.

Gideon jumped down from the stage and she threw herself against his chest, sobbing.

He looked directly at me.

"Bella." He grabbed my elbow and dragged me to a corner. "We need to talk right now."

"What the hell just happened?"

"Those photos," he said without meeting my eyes. "They're Daisy's."

I felt dizzy suddenly.

"Someone's trying to destroy her reputation," he kept going. "I need you to do something for me."

"I need you to say those photos are of you."

"What did you just say?"

"Tell everyone the photos are yours," he said like it was reasonable. "It'll blow over in a few days. But Daisy can't handle this kind of scandal. She's too fragile. But you, nobody would dare gossip about you to your face. You're my wife. You're untouchable."

Untouchable.

"This is our fifth anniversary, Gideon." I felt utterly absurd, as if I'd been beaten to a pulp.

"I know that, I know, and I'm so sorry, but she needs me right now. You're so much stronger than she is." He said it like a compliment. "This is just one night, one small sacrifice."

One small sacrifice.

"Fine," I heard myself say.

Relief flooded his face. "Thank you. God, Bella, thank you—"

He left immediately, heading straight back to Daisy and leading her out of the ballroom.

The guests couldn't leave fast enough.

I went home alone.

The Moretti mansion was completely dark. Gideon obviously wasn't back yet.

I sat on the edge of our bed and watched that video again.

My hand drifted down to my stomach. Still completely flat. No sign yet of what was growing inside.

Part of me thought I should still tell him. He was the father, he deserved to know.

But did he really deserve anything from me anymore?

My phone buzzed with a new text.

Gideon: [With Daisy. She's really shaken up by everything. Staying at her place tonight to make sure she's okay. Don't wait up for me.]

I stared at those words, and suddenly it all became clear, my child couldn't have an unfaithful father. I would get a divorce and leave with the baby.

Then another message came through from a different number.

My father.

[The bet is over, Isabella. You won. Ten days from now, I'm holding a gala to publicly announce your real identity to the families. I'll accept Gideon as your husband. Come home. Your family is waiting for you.]

My vision went blurry with tears I refused to let fall.

I typed back: [Ten days. 3pm. Send a car to pick me up at the airport.]