She Stole My Husband. So I Married Her Billionaire Ex.

My first husband cheated on me with Saffron Hart. So I married Saffron’s ex-husband, Nathan Hale. He’s handsome, rich, mature, and steady. I don’t have to struggle beside him while he builds from nothing. And he doesn’t pick fights with me over every little thing. My best friend, Chloe, laughs and says, “Talk about a blessing in disguise. You really hit the jackpot.” I couldn’t agree more. Until tonight. Nathan comes home drunk, kiss marks all over him. I answer his phone when it won’t stop ringing. On the other end, his ex-wife, Saffron Hart, is sobbing. “Nathan, I’m officially ending the wife-swap game.” “I don’t want the thrill anymore,” she cries. “I only want you.” “Divorce her, okay? Please. I regret it.” Wife-swap game? I freeze. So I didn’t get lucky. I was just another piece in their sick little game. …… Nathan hears me move. He opens his bleary eyes and grabs my hand. “Babe,” he murmurs. “I love you so much.” The call keeps replaying in my head. I yank my hand out of his grip. “You’re drunk. Go to sleep.” The last time Nathan got this drunk was on our wedding night. He didn’t sleep with me that night. He just held me with flushed cheeks and a loose, happy smile, whispering sweet things in my ear. “Soph, this is the happiest day I’ve had in years.” “Everyone thinks I married you because Saffron cheated with your husband and I wanted revenge.” “But I love you. I really love you.” “Now I can finally protect you, and no one can say a damn thing about it.” People say drunk words are honest. And I do believe him — for the two years we've been married, he's always been like this. Maybe there's some kind of misunderstanding. Then my phone vibrates. It’s Chloe. She sends a video with two messages. [That fucking bastard.] [Soph, look at what Nathan's been doing behind your back. What does he even think you are to him?] I press play. The video is dark. In the corner, Nathan leans back lazily in a chair. Saffron stands in front of him, crying. “Nathan, aren't you done with her yet?” she asks. “Didn’t we agree? Two years, then you’d divorce her.” “Yes, I cheated first. I know that was wrong.” “But the wife-swap game was something you agreed to too. I’ve only ever loved you.” “Babe, don’t be mad anymore, okay? I know I screwed up. Let’s get married again. Our families still need this marriage for the business deal.” Nathan lowers his eyes and slowly turns the watch on his wrist. Then his lips part. “You started the game,” he says. “But I never said you get to end it.” “Let me sweet-talk Sophie into giving me a baby first. We’ll see after that.” Saffron’s fists clench. She bites her lip hard and stares at him. “Do you even love me anymore?” Nathan looks up at her. His voice is cool. Almost gentle. “I’m doing this because I care about you, Saff.” “You can’t have kids,” he says. “So I’ll find you someone to have a baby for you. What’s wrong with that?”

Those words hit me like a punch to the face. I can’t breathe. I stare at Nathan, sleeping on our couch, in disbelief. He murmurs into the cushion. “Saff, don’t be like that.” “I’ll come back and remarry you when I get tired of playing around.” He always calls me Soph. Saff. Soph. All this time, the name he was whispering — it was hers, not mine. I let out a self-deprecating laugh. My stomach turns so hard I stumble into the bathroom. I grab the toilet, and dry-heave until tears sting my eyes. When I finally stand, my elbow knocks something off the counter. A box of condoms hits the floor. Strawberry-flavored. Nathan has been all over me lately. A whole box is almost gone in two weeks. More than once, he has whispered in my ear in that low, coaxing voice. “Soph, give me a baby.” “Come on. Whether the baby looks like you or me, it’ll be adorable.” But I just won a photography award. Work is crazy. I can barely find time to breathe. So I keep turning him down. “Nathan, I want to focus on work right now.” One time, when I refused him again, something dark moved through his eyes. “Do you not love me anymore?” He kept asking if I loved him, and I mistook his possessiveness for love. That night, I said no, he backed down first. “Okay,” he said quietly. “Whatever you want.” I’ve always been a sucker for that soft side of his. So in the end, I still gave him a promise. “After this busy stretch is over,” I told him, “we can try for a baby. Okay?” He smiled like a little boy who has just been handed candy. Then he buried his face in my neck. His voice was muffled and happy. “You finally said yes.” Back then, I thought he was insecure because he loved me too much. Chloe even said, “You’re young and beautiful. Of course he wants to lock you down with a baby. Classic move from an older rich guy.” Now I know. Nathan doesn’t lack security. He lacks the perfect little family he wants with Saffron. And I just happen to be the woman who’s supposed to have their baby. My hands shake so badly I can barely hold the phone. The video keeps playing. Saffron slowly climbs into Nathan’s lap, her wet eyes lifted to his face. “Nathan, I’m still not convinced.” “You really will divorce her after the baby is born, right?” Nathan leans forward and kisses her. “What are you scared of?” he asks. “Don’t you have confidence in yourself?” Saffron finally relaxes, like that’s all the permission she needs. “You’re right,” she murmurs. “After all, our marriage was a family alliance.” She nestles into his chest. Her voice goes soft and spoiled. “But hurry, okay? I’m waiting for you to bring our baby home.” Nathan wraps one of her curls around his finger. He answers casually. Then the video ends. I turn off the screen. What a sweet little family reunion. So what the hell am I? What about all those projects I rushed through so I could make time to prepare for a baby? I look around the home I built with my own hands. Suddenly, all of it feels ridiculous. A few minutes later, I open my laptop. I’d gotten an email three days ago and left it unanswered. A wildlife photography project in Australia. It’s a two-year assignment, and I won’t be able to return home during the contract. I type my reply. [I’ll take the Australia assignment.] The reply comes back within minutes. [Ms. Lane, are you sure? The project lasts two years, and you won’t be able to return during the contract. Does your husband, Mr. Hale, know?] Then I type one line. [Yes. I’ll see you at the airport in three days.] Nathan doesn’t need to know. Because he doesn’t deserve to be my husband anymore.

The next morning, I go to the studio early. Nathan texts me during the day. [Babe, did you hear my phone last night?] I look at the message for a few seconds. [No.] He explains before I even ask. [Nothing serious. My ex called. I must have answered by accident while I was drunk.] [I saw her before a business dinner yesterday. There was still some property stuff to sort out from the divorce.] [Don’t worry about it. She probably just forgot to tell me something.] What a perfect excuse. Before last night, I would’ve admired how honest he sounded. Now all I can think is how damn good his acting is. I don’t reply. That afternoon, I’m shooting a bridal campaign on location. We shoot from two to four under the hot sun. Afterward, my assistant and I bring the gowns back to a couture bridal salon. And I see Nathan. He is sitting in the VIP lounge in a white suit, flipping through a wedding dress catalog. He looks exactly like a groom waiting for his bride. My assistant sees him too and covers her mouth. “Soph,” she whispers. “Did we just ruin a surprise?” “Your two-year anniversary is coming up, right? Is Mr. Hale planning another wedding shoot for you? That’s so romantic.” I frown and start to speak. Before I can, the fitting room curtain slides open. Saffron walks out in a lace mermaid gown, looking effortlessly elegant. She hurries to Nathan and twirls in front of him. “Do I look good, Nathan?” Her voice is sweet and eager. “This cut still looks best on me, right?” Nathan’s expression stays flat. He lifts his wrist and checks the time. “Yeah. If you like it, take this one.” He closes the catalog. “Once you’ve picked one, I’ll go pay. Sophie should be getting off work around now.” My phone buzzes. Chloe. [Soph! That bastard agreed to take Saffron to the Maldives for another wedding shoot just to make her happy.] [My friend overheard Saffron bragging about it at brunch this morning.] [Also, she and Grant broke up. She’s single now. She’s coming back for Nathan.] I almost laugh. Nathan Hale. You really can’t stand watching Saffron suffer for even one second, can you? My assistant’s eyes go wide. Her face turns painfully awkward. I walk straight toward them. “You’re right,” I say. “I did just get off work.” Both of them look at me. I smile. “What a coincidence, seeing you two here.” Then I look at Nathan. “Honey, are you picking out a wedding dress for your ex-wife?” Nathan’s face shifts, but only for a second. He stands and explains before I can say more. “Sophie, she’s getting married. She asked me to give an opinion.” Helping the woman who cheated on him pick out a wedding dress? And paying for it? What a pathetic excuse. I laugh. “Wow. That’s generous.” His eyes sharpen. “She cheated on you, and you’re still here helping her pick out a dress?” “Sophie.” Nathan’s voice drops. Nathan is used to getting his way. Most of the time, the reason doesn’t really matter. Once he’s made up his mind, he expects me to give him a way to save face. He'll try to make it up to me later, in private. But this time, I don't want to play along. Saffron walks over in the white dress. She puts on a pale, pitiful expression. “Sophie, I’m sorry. This is my fault.” I look at her. “Grant is away on business, so I asked Nathan to help me.” She lowers her eyes. “I’m sorry. I already took Grant from you, and now I’m dragging Nathan away too.” I laugh coldly. “Saffron, is this really all you know how to do?” Her face stiffens. “You need your ex-husband to pay for the wedding dress you’re wearing for your next husband?” I step closer. “No wonder they say you look more like a gold digger than an heiress.” “An heiress who can’t pay for her own dress? What happened, Saffron? Did Mommy cut you off? Or are the rumors true?” I smile. “Who knows, maybe you’re just some fake heiress the Harts picked up somewhere.” “Maybe you should take a DNA test sometime.” There had long been rumors that Saffron wasn’t the Harts’ biological daughter. It was the one thing she couldn’t stand anyone bringing up. Her face turns red, trembling with rage. “Sophie Lane, you’ve gone too far.” “You’re just a replacement.” Her eyes burn into mine. “You're just a stand-in. To Grant, I’m the woman he could never forget. To Nathan, I’m the one he could never let go of.” She sneers. “What the hell are you?” “Enough.” Nathan cuts her off, his voice low and sharp. “Shut up.” He walks over, takes my hand, and tries to lead me toward the door. “Sophie, I’ll explain at home.” Then he sighs. He looks at me like I’m a child throwing a fit. “Be good.” A sales associate hurries over to Saffron. “Mrs. Hale,” she says, “are we confirming the dress? We can deliver it today.” Mrs. Hale. Saffron’s expression immediately brightens into a satisfied smile. “Yes. Nathan will wire the payment later.” Something inside me snaps. I rip my hand out of Nathan’s grip. “Explain what, Nathan?” I stare him dead in the eyes. “How much fun your little wife-swap game is?”