Chapter 1

I had been away for six months handling business for the Vescari family, so my fiancé, Adrian, moved into our new home alone.

Every month, he sent me fifty dollars and jokingly called it “rent for his future wife.”

Then the dinner photos he posted online changed.

One plate became two.

A friend teased me.

“Looks like someone’s already practicing married life. Better get home before another woman steals your place.”

I laughed and caught the first flight back that night to surprise Adrian for his birthday.

But when I reached the townhouse, the access code wouldn’t work.

I tried again.

Still wrong.

Just as I was about to call Adrian, the door opened.

A young woman stood there in an apron, holding a spatula.

She looked me up and down, then smiled sweetly.

“Sorry, you’ve got the wrong house. This is my home.”

I froze.

“What?”

“No problem.”

She smiled.

“Just check more carefully next time.”

She shut the door right in front of me.

I looked up at the number beside it.

27.

No mistake.

This was the townhouse prepared for Adrian and me before our wedding.

The renovation had been finished right before I left, and I had personally supervised most of it.

There was no way I had come to the wrong place.

I immediately called Adrian.

“Did you change the access code?”

I stared at the closed door.

“And why is there a woman living inside?”

His voice came through broken and unclear.

Then the private garage gate opened.

Adrian walked in carrying several grocery bags.

“Serena, the signal’s bad. I’ll call you later.”

He hung up.

Then he looked up and saw me.

We stared at each other.

The door behind me opened again.

The young woman immediately brightened.

“Adrian! What took you so long?”

She hurried over.

“I heard your voice from inside and came right out to open the door for you. See how much I pay attention to you?”

Her voice was soft and playful.

I hadn’t eaten all day.

I had rushed back just to surprise him.

Now my stomach hurt from anger.

I looked at Adrian and gave a cold laugh.

“Adrian…”

I deliberately dragged out his name the way she had.

“You’d better give me a very good explanation.”