Chapter 1

At the first-birthday party for my adopted sister Sylvia Dawson's daughter, my secret husband of three years, Austin Quinlan, was rocking the child like he'd done it a thousand times.

I thought he was finally going to announce who I was. I walked toward him, giddy with it. "Honey—"

Before I could finish, Sylvia leaned in from the side, her hand settling naturally against Austin's chest, and spoke in Portuguese.

"Husband, why don't you go greet the guests, and I'll take her. You've been shut away with me and the baby all these days. Won't Claire mind?"

Austin gave her hand a squeeze and pressed a gentle kiss to the side of her face, answering her in the same Portuguese.

"She won't. I told her ages ago I was away on business."

The two of them moved with the ease of long practice.

I froze where I stood, a ringing filling my head, and the gift slipped from my hands and clattered to the floor.

Austin's gaze followed the sound to me. He let go of Sylvia's hand in a panic and stammered.

"Claire, why are you here?"

"Son-in-law, here's the first-birthday gift. We picked out a pair of bracelets to keep her safe."

My parents came over with a black gift box and slipped the bracelets onto the child's wrist, the whole thing practiced, routine.

Their ease with it was a knife going into my chest.

"Mom and Dad, did you know about this all along? Why did you never tell me this child existed?"

They lifted their eyes and gave me a flat look, then took the child from Austin without a hitch. Their tone was even.

"I sent you the invitation. The child's already a year old. It's about time you knew."

The blood in me went to ice, and I could barely breathe.

No one knew I'd minored in Portuguese in college.

I'd known for a long time about the affair between my husband and my adopted sister.

But I never imagined they'd had a child.

And my own parents had hidden it from me for a whole year.

Since family and the man I loved had all chosen to betray me, then I didn't want either of these families anymore.

...

I watched the smug flicker in my adopted sister's eyes, and something bitter welled up in me.

"Someone come. The eldest young lady isn't feeling well. Take her to a room to rest!"

Austin had already dropped the nervousness. He gave the order with a wave of his hand.

The next moment a bodyguard clamped a hand over my mouth, hauled me up by the arms, and dragged me upstairs.

I struggled the whole way, and when I looked up I met Austin's cold eyes.

I was thrown roughly into a storage room and locked in, and no matter how much noise I made, no one came.

Only after the music and dancing outside had died down did Austin finally open the door.

He crouched beside me and gripped my chin. "It's the child's birthday today. I know exactly how you get when you throw a fit. If I didn't lock you up first, there's no telling how ugly you'd have made it."

"And Sylvia's sensitive to begin with. She just gave birth, she still feels unsafe. Don't go making a scene in front of her."

The sharp pain from my chin ran straight to my heart, and tears stung and swam in my eyes.

I opened my mouth and bit down on his arm, and only when the taste of blood filled my mouth did I let go, and said coldly.

"Austin, I didn't throw a fit, and I didn't say who I was. Don't stand here deciding I did."

"I'll go ahead and tell you—I understand Portuguese. You and Sylvia have been going at it behind everyone's back for a long time, haven't you? Every business trip was in her bed, wasn't it?"

At that, Austin's pupils shrank. He stared at me for a moment, then simply stopped pretending.

The panic in his eyes drained away completely. Instead he lifted his arm back to my mouth. "Claire, since you already know, there's nothing for me to explain. I understand you're angry. Feel better now? If not, bite again."

Disgust surged up my throat. I kicked him hard, swayed to my feet, and started for the door.

"Austin, are you all right? Sister, if you're upset, take it out on me, don't touch Austin!"

Sylvia threw herself against Austin, crying, aching for him.

I didn't miss the malice that flashed through her eyes. I folded my arms and looked at her coldly. "Back then you were the one who refused to marry him, who made me do it. Now here you are crawling up to call him husband and bear his child. Sylvia, have you no shame?"

Crack.

A burning pain spread across my face, and I clutched my cheek in disbelief.

Austin actually hit me for Sylvia's sake?

"Who here knows you're my wife? Say it out loud and people will just think you're a con artist."

Austin tucked Sylvia behind him and looked down at me, his voice hard with warning. "Claire Dawson, you'd better keep that mouth of yours shut. If I hear you say one more bad word about Sylvia, then those bridal photos three days from now—I don't think there's any point taking them either."

A sharp pain shot through my chest, and I lowered my head and laughed at myself.

Three years married to Austin, and all I had to show for it was two marriage certificates.

I'd always been hoping for a few bridal photos, some proof that we'd loved each other.

But a few words from Sylvia, and he was ready to cancel them.

How laughable.

A cool hand covered my cheek. Sylvia gazed at me with feigned concern and said, in a voice only the two of us could hear, "Sister, you still don't know, do you? Back then, Mom and Dad decided—the name on your marriage certificate with Austin is mine."

I went completely still, my mind blank.

Rage and grief flooded my head, and Sylvia's face warped and twisted in front of me.

I reached out and shoved her aside and stumbled toward the door.

The next moment my arm was yanked back. Austin caught the falling Sylvia in his arms and glared at me viciously.

"Sylvia's body is weak as it is, and you still shoved her! Then your bridal photos will be the compensation—Sylvia will take them instead!"

"All you had to do was not make a scene, and I'd have thrown you a proper wedding down the line. But no, you're cruel to the bone, you can't stand to let Sylvia have anything!"