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Chapter One
Rancho Mirage, California
Chantelle’s hands were shaking as she put the last of her things into the suitcase. If she was lucky, she would be able to get out of here before Wade got back. She didn’t want to face him.
Not when she was this angry.
The bastard had gone too far. He had promised on their wedding day that he would love her and it would be only her in his life. That he would never need anyone else when he had her at his side. Chantelle had believed him.
They had barely lasted three months as husband and wife before she realized that he had lied to her. He had always lied to her. And Wade didn’t care that he had.
She had been made a fool of for the entirety of their relationship. She wasn’t going to let that carry on.
The last suitcase was finally full, and Chantelle zipped it closed. Then she headed downstairs and staggered out to the car. It was already packed full with her things, and she still had plenty to take out. If she was lucky, maybe she could get a neighbor to store the rest until she was able to come back. Chantelle didn’t want whatever she left behind to be destroyed by Wade in revenge.
Not for the first time, Chantelle wished she had a bigger car.
She slotted the suitcase onto the passenger seat, careful not to squash her laptop case. Then she went back inside and looked around. They had only moved into this house six months ago. Fresh out of university, they were starting a new life together. It wasn’t a new thing to live with Wade after living with him during college, but it had been the first time they had lived without roommates. Chantelle had enjoyed it, knowing she had Wade to herself and not having to worry about being quiet when they had sex.
She wondered how many women Wade had brought back to their place when she was at work. How many had been fucked in their bed. Wade certainly knew how to charm the ladies into removing their clothes.
But no more. She was not going to be the dutiful wife. She was out.
She had gathered the remainder of her things and was putting them into boxes when she heard a car pull up outside. Hurrying to the window, Chantelle looked out to see her husband get out of his car, staring at hers with the trunk and passenger door open. It was obvious to anyone what was going on.
Her heart sank. She had hoped to leave before he got home. Shit.
Taking the boxes, Chantelle put them into the cupboard under the stairs. Wade never looked there; he thought the vacuum cleaner and mop came out of nowhere. Her things would be safe, for now.
They had to be.
Bracing herself, Chantelle headed towards the door, jumping back as Wade came hurrying into the house and almost knocked her over. Her husband looked confused.
“Chantelle, what’s going on?”
“I...” Chantelle swallowed. Now was not the time to falter. “I didn’t think you would be back yet.”
“Evidently. What are you doing? Why is the car packed?”
Chantelle had hoped to do this over the phone or by text; she was really scared of his temper. There was no backing out of this now. She had to do it.
She took a deep breath.
“I’m leaving you, Wade. I want out of this marriage.”
It took a moment for her husband to figure out what she had said. She saw the shock, then the confusion, and finally the anger settled in. His eyes darkened as they narrowed.
“You are walking out on me?”
“Don’t be so shocked about it. You checked out of our relationship long before this.”
“It was just a mistake, and it was only one time. That’s it. I apologized.” Wade held up his hand with the wedding ring on clear display. “You wouldn’t have married me if you had any doubts about me.”
“I married you because I genuinely thought it was the only one!” Chantelle shouted back. “Then I found all the messages from Brittany, Tina and Tracey. Including the older ones from Bethany, Sarah and Sally. Do those names ring a bell?”
From the way his face paled, Wade clearly knew the names. He spluttered.
“How...what...what makes you think I’ve cheated on you with them? The only one was Dina in college, and that never happened again.”
