When Olivia Anderson found out she was pregnant, it was supposed to be the happiest moment of her life-until she caught her husband, Jason, in an affair that shattered everything. Now, months later, Olivia is a thriving divorce attorney, determined to move forward for the sake of her unborn child. But when Ethan Hart, a renowned lawyer with a dark past and Jason's best friend, is assigned to represent her ex-husband, everything she thought she knew about love and loyalty is thrown into chaos. Ethan's arrival stirs something Olivia thought she had long buried-an attraction that's too dangerous to explore. Torn between the child she carries and the undeniable connection growing between her and Ethan, Olivia must decide: Can she rewrite her own story, or will the scars of her past keep her from the love she deserves?
Chapter 1 Betrayal in the night
Olivia Anderson stood frozen in the doorway of the luxury hotel suite. The world around her blurred, sound faded to a distant hum, and the only thing she could focus on was the sight of her husband, Jason, sitting on the edge of the bed. He wasn't alone.
Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing like a drum, but she couldn't move. She had spent the last thirty minutes racing through the city, driven by suspicion, driven by the text message that had shattered her world. "He's here, Liv. Room 814, with her."
Now, seeing it for herself, every piece of doubt disintegrated. There was Jason, shirtless, his face paling as he noticed her in the doorway. The woman beside him hastily pulled the sheets around herself, her lips forming an apology Olivia would never want to hear.
Olivia's breath came in shallow gasps, the betrayal burning hot and bitter inside her. She had been prepared for something-an argument, a denial-but seeing it in the flesh was worse than she'd imagined. Her mind raced, clashing with the last few months of their marriage. The cold nights, the late work hours, the excuses.
Jason stood up quickly, panic rising in his eyes. "Olivia, wait-this isn't what you think."
She blinked, her body finally breaking free from its paralysis. Not what you think? The words rattled in her head. The sight of him standing there, half-naked, was all the confirmation she needed. There was no explaining this away.
Her voice was colder than she had ever heard it. "How long?"
Jason hesitated, as if calculating whether a lie would save him. Olivia's gaze hardened, her fingers curling into fists. "How long, Jason?"
"Just a few months," he finally muttered, looking down. The truth slipped out, but the weight of it dropped like a bomb between them.
Months. Months of lies, deception, and betrayal, all while Olivia had tried to hold on to the threads of their marriage. Her stomach churned with disgust, and without another word, she turned and stormed out of the room. She didn't need to hear more.
She ran down the hotel corridor, her heart breaking, shattering with each step. When she reached the elevator, her body collapsed against the cold wall, her hands trembling as she pressed the button. Her breath hitched in her throat, tears welling up, but she forced them back.
She had to leave before she broke down completely.