Betrayed hearts and second chances

o surprise George for their third wedding anniversary. The roses

was half open. She

ready," George said. "I'

ze on the

's voice. "I can't wait to get that pa

, she saw George and Sharon in bed together. Nak

rge said. "But her family connections were worth it. Now that

e settlement?"

ng to the business. Just played

hook. The roses

you love her," Sharon

trol. Sign here, attend this event, smile for

ed by a better model," Sh

ies with Winston Corporation. Double

e body trembled. Three years of marriage.

her purse. The roses lay scattered

ery anniversary gift, every I love you, e

g at 8 AM. Ge

rney Morrison. I need to se

rea

and quietly. He's prepared to offer yo

ree years of marriage.

ime to revie

Friday. He's planning to announce his e

eady engaged to Sharon. How lo

er mother in

eetheart, w

Mom. He's been cheating w

ome home. Stay with us unt

yone will know

ure. George is a f

rge completely. Loved him with everything she had

e to her hotel room. He

we need

, attend this event, smile for the

ced. "You

ars of marriage was j

pposed to hap

e cheating or g

l room chair. "I do ca

ld Sharon I w

s her. She's important

rtant than

s merger to survive. My father built Winston C

fice our marriag

uggested it when Winston Corporation needed Char

im. "My father arr

thought it would bene

Her own father had sold her t

Monica sa

mething out. Maybe postpone the

out

e Morrison contact you abo

, Monica call

rrange my marri

e on t

ke a good match. Both

e care wha

d happy wi

he loved me. I th

tart as business arrangeme

this

d threw the phone

it, her chest heaving with anger and betrayal. Twenty-eight years old, and she was just now

father, probably her mother too. She w

s new lens of understanding. Those chance encounters wi

untry club events. George's perfectly timed appearance at her college graduatio

so naive?" she whispe

orge's ambitions," to "remember that marriage requires compromise." Now she understood w

dn't be a vi

She needed to focus on something concrete, something she could control. Her eyes fell on t

with fresh eyes. The settlement terms were insulting-Geor

investments they'd built together. He'd even had the audacity to claim the jewelr

ention of the countless business dinners she'd hosted, the relationships she'd cultivated, the deals she'd h

t. The anger was crystallizing into something harder, more focused. She read every

nica Winston and everything that identity had represented. The grateful dau

es: Monica Charleston. Her maiden name fe

broken woman

build her own life. She had a business pla

rstanding of how these corpora

Winston would regret