Chapter 2 - THE WIFE THEY NEVER EXPECTED
Dominic reached the staircase first.
“Harper.”
She didn't move.
Victor Bellini stood behind him.
The man's hand rested near his jacket.
Dominic noticed.
“Leave.”
Victor smiled.
“I was only discussing security.”
“You were discussing my wife.”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“I was warning you.”
“You were threatening her.”
Dominic stepped between them.
“Those are different things.”
Victor's eyes moved toward Harper.
“You should ask your wife what she was doing outside the west corridor tonight.”
Harper frowned.
“What?”
Dominic looked at her.
“Did you leave the suite?”
“No.”
Victor laughed.
“She lies well.”
Dominic's gaze sharpened.
“Enough.”
Victor walked away.
Harper waited until the footsteps disappeared.
Then she looked at Dominic.
“What did he mean?”
“I don't know.”
“That's a lie.”
“Yes.”
She stared at him.
“You just admitted it.”
“I know.”
“Dominic, someone accused me of being somewhere I wasn't.”
“I'll handle it.”
“I don't want you to handle it. I want the truth.”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
“Someone entered the west corridor tonight.”
“And?”
“They left behind evidence.”
“What evidence?”
He hesitated.
“A security badge registered to you.”
Harper's stomach dropped.
“That is impossible.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because someone wants me to believe you betrayed me.”
Harper felt suddenly cold.
“You believe them?”
“No.”
The answer came instantly.
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because you don't know enough to betray me.”
She should have been offended.
Instead, she almost laughed.
“That's the least romantic thing anyone has ever said to me.”
His expression softened.
“You wanted honesty.”
“I did.”
“That's honesty.”
The next morning, Harper woke to shouting.
She ran downstairs.
Two guards were arguing beside the kitchen.
One held a small black device.
“What happened?”
The guards went silent.
Dominic appeared behind her.
“Go back upstairs.”
“No.”
“Harper.”
“No.”
She pointed toward the device.
“What is that?”
“A tracker.”
Her heart stopped.
“Where did you find it?”
“In your handbag.”
She grabbed the bag.
“That isn't mine.”
“I know.”
Dominic took it from her.
“That's why I am not arresting anyone.”
“Who planted it?”
“We don't know.”
Harper stared at him.
“Someone has been tracking me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Dominic looked toward the windows.
“Because you're important.”
“I've been important for exactly three months.”
“No.”
His voice became quiet.
“You've been important since before we met.”
Harper frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
“You keep doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Answering half a question.”
He walked away.
Harper followed.
“Dominic.”
He stopped.
“Why did you choose me?”
He didn't answer.
“Was it really because I was convenient?”
His silence hurt more than she expected.
Then he turned.
“You were supposed to be.”
“Supposed to be?”
“Yes.”
“What changed?”
His eyes held hers.
“You.”
Before she could respond, his phone rang.
Dominic answered.
His expression changed.
“What?”
A pause.
“Where?”
Another pause.
“Get everyone there.”
He hung up.
Harper stepped forward.
“What happened?”
“Your sister's hospital.”
Her heart dropped.
“Madison?”
“She was approached by two men asking questions about you.”
Harper went pale.
“I want to go there.”
“No.”
“She's my sister.”
“And that's why you stay here.”
“Dominic—”
“I said no.”
Harper stared at him.
“You don't get to lock me in a penthouse because you're afraid.”
“I'm not afraid.”
“You're terrified.”
His eyes flashed.
“Of losing you.”
Silence.
Neither moved.
Dominic seemed almost shocked by his own words.
Then his phone rang again.
He answered.
“Speak.”
A voice came through.
His face became expressionless.
“Don't touch them.”
He ended the call.
Harper's stomach tightened.
“What?”
“The men who approached Madison have been found.”
“And?”
“They won't approach anyone again.”
She understood what that meant.
She looked away.
Dominic noticed.
“I won't lie to you.”
“You already did.”
“I told you I would protect you.”
“That doesn't mean I want blood on my behalf.”
His expression hardened.
“Then don't marry men like me.”
Harper looked directly at him.
“Maybe that's the problem.”
“What?”
“I already did.”
For the first time, Dominic had no answer.
That night, Harper received an anonymous message.
You don't know what your husband did to your sister.
Attached was a photograph.
It showed Dominic standing outside Madison's hospital room.
Harper stared at it.
Then another message appeared.
Ask him why your sister's treatment was paid for three months before you met him.
Her hands began to shake.
She walked straight to Dominic's office.
The door was locked.
She tried the handle again.
Then she heard his voice from inside.
“Harper?”
She stepped back.
The door opened.
Dominic looked at her.
She held up her phone.
“Why were you paying Madison's medical bills before we met?”
His face went completely still.
And Harper knew.
May you like
There was a secret between them.
A secret far older than their marriage.
