Five Years As A DoorMat Wife: Her Time To Shine

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than Silver had ima

romance novels promised. But the Crystalbrook River in December was differen

the beautiful, bridge where she'd stood just moments ago, laughing. Actually laughing, because for o

thing almost like warmth in his voice. "The lan

from Seris Ashford, it had fe

she'd spent three weeks choosing because Kate had mentioned Seris liked emerald gree

e should have taught her that any warmth from Seris

ours ea

e sculptures are read

cking if Seris had read her messages about tonight-and smiled

eir charities, their galas, their pet projects. Silver had this: a free community event featuring

ruth, she'd planned every detail around the hope that for once, for one

lve

red coat that probably cost more than most people's monthly rent. Even in winter, even sick, Kate managed to look l

how to be fragile. She was

reach her eyes. "I'm so glad you c

ors say I should rest, but I couldn't miss your festi

t friends since childhood, since before Silver had saved his life in that stu

r bones, had honored the debt. S

he'd ever been

d, checking her phone again. No

's on his way. He called me to ask what you might

names she found in bank statements. Five years of seeing photos in tabloids-*CEO Seris Ashford spotted in Monaco with mystery brunette

asn't comfortable with crow

ht he'd asked Kate w

's nice of him,

never anything but kind. Never anything but understanding when Silver's husband chose he

*You don't know what it's like to be legally bound

should check on the la

fore Kate could se

d the riverbank, their faces illuminated by string lights and the warm glow of floating paper lanterns. Ch

idge, watching it all,

e you

er, impossibly handsome in his black coat, his dark hair slightly mussed from the win

," he said, stopping bes

t smaller than she'd intended.

er the crowd, and something shifted in his expression. "You planned th

i

do something that mattered. Something

nths, really seemed to see her. "I know I haven't been... I know

in front of hundreds of people, she was going to c

d she become

waving. Even from a distance, Silver could see she was

ris said, already

. Of cour

n Seris did something unexpected-he reached back and took her

Let's release the fir

ting for. Five years of patience, of understanding, of being the per

, her breath coming in short gasps. "It's so co

e shivering. Here-" He shrugged out of his

ent cold where

e protested, even as she

do you mind if I

eam cut

water! Oh my God

mach dropped. The river was high from recent stor

shouted. "She's caught i

g Silver had approved for the brid

the stairs that led down to the riverbank, her mind racing. T

n the water, struggling against the netting that ha

the edge of the water, and S

ust have been trying to

ith barely

ilver had never heard before. He was runnin

eemed

the surface, tangled in the netting-Silver's netting. And Seris, div

nk as her husband swam straig

ght t

ming back to shore. Emergency responders were arriving, someone was throwing a l

The desperat

Ka

rs, had he looked

wanted to make its point crys

much weight, too much pressure on the old structure. Silver heard the g

ve moved. Sho

ready broken, watching Seri

ling ga

ilver

took her was Seris on the bank, holding

e river pulled her under. Of

ever