HAVEN “We should tell her tonight instead,” I whispered as I stared at the marriage certificate. We just needed to sign it and have the officiant sign it, and we would be married as soon as it was filed. It felt unreal. It felt too fast. “I agree,” Ben said as he tossed the kitchen towel over hi
HAVEN “You’re a great mom.” I beamed under his praise. It felt incredible to hear it, and Cynthia and Bonnie had told me often, but it felt different coming from Ben. “Hey, Siri,” I said, walking over to join her in the living room. “Can I talk to you about something for a minute?” “Of course,”
HAVEN Siri refused to leave Ben’s side the next day, and I was relieved because Diana had several notes for me on my statement and demanded that I get them fixed that morning so the press conference could be in the afternoon. As soon as Ben was done with his physical therapy and massage, I went i
HAVEN: “Our daughter’s name is Siri, and she is three years old, about to turn four,” Ben said, and I could see the excitement light in the eyes of the reporters like vultures watching their prey fall to the death for easy pickings. “I did not know about her until recently, but it wasn’t for lac
HAVEN “Excuse me?” I snapped, and Ben’s eyebrows rose in amusement as I moved my shoulder in front of his and faced the microphones. He didn't need me defending him, but I was furious. “You have a lot of nerve making that accusation. Benjamin Evans is a good man and never forced himself on me. He r
HAVEN It had been exhausting to plan a wedding in only three weeks, but somehow, we managed to get it done. The best part was that no one outside of immediate family and friends knew where or when it would be, despite the press trying to get the information out of us. We had gone from a Hollywoo
BAILEEI held my breath as the housekeeper pushed open the hotel room door. The woman gave me a pitying look as I slipped her the cash I had promised in exchange for her help getting into my husband’s luxury suite. Caleb had been so rushed for his ‘urgent business meeting’ that he had forgotten his laptop. Like the loving wife I was, I raced over to grab it for him. I had made it my goal to make his life at home as easy on him as possible by helping where I could with the cooking and cleaning since he worked so hard to provide for us. It was never good enough for him, but little things like bringing him his laptop would surely make him happy.Only I had frozen in horror when I saw the messages popping up on his computer from his phone. The smiling, poorly clad woman stared back at me. I could see her nipps through her lace underwear, and she had one hand down between her legs, covering herself.His assistant. Lorna: I got your gift. I’m at the Rosewood Hotel. Don’t make me wait
BAILEE“Bailee!” Caleb yelled as I threw open the door and rushed down the hall.I needed fresh air. It felt like the walls were closing in on me, and I could hear my blood pumping in my ears.“Bailee, would you stop for a minute?” The sound of my name on his lips as he zipped his pants made me feel queasy, but I held it down. A hand wrapped around my forearm, and I was yanked to a stop just before the elevator. “No!” My scream came out in a hoarse sob. “No! Get off of me, you lying piece of garbage!” The rage and venom behind my words made him release me immediately, but he stayed close as he glared down at me. I took a step back, shaking my head at him. “You don’t get to touch me. You don’t get to ever touch me again!” The elevator dinged behind me, and the doors opened, but I didn’t pay any attention to the people getting off until I heard them speak. “Bailee! Lower your voice! That is no way to speak to your husband!” “Mom?” Caleb asked, and I turned to face Helen and Georg
HAVEN It had been exhausting to plan a wedding in only three weeks, but somehow, we managed to get it done. The best part was that no one outside of immediate family and friends knew where or when it would be, despite the press trying to get the information out of us. We had gone from a Hollywoo
HAVEN “Excuse me?” I snapped, and Ben’s eyebrows rose in amusement as I moved my shoulder in front of his and faced the microphones. He didn't need me defending him, but I was furious. “You have a lot of nerve making that accusation. Benjamin Evans is a good man and never forced himself on me. He r
HAVEN: “Our daughter’s name is Siri, and she is three years old, about to turn four,” Ben said, and I could see the excitement light in the eyes of the reporters like vultures watching their prey fall to the death for easy pickings. “I did not know about her until recently, but it wasn’t for lac
HAVEN Siri refused to leave Ben’s side the next day, and I was relieved because Diana had several notes for me on my statement and demanded that I get them fixed that morning so the press conference could be in the afternoon. As soon as Ben was done with his physical therapy and massage, I went i
HAVEN “You’re a great mom.” I beamed under his praise. It felt incredible to hear it, and Cynthia and Bonnie had told me often, but it felt different coming from Ben. “Hey, Siri,” I said, walking over to join her in the living room. “Can I talk to you about something for a minute?” “Of course,”
HAVEN “We should tell her tonight instead,” I whispered as I stared at the marriage certificate. We just needed to sign it and have the officiant sign it, and we would be married as soon as it was filed. It felt unreal. It felt too fast. “I agree,” Ben said as he tossed the kitchen towel over hi
HAVEN I expected a celebration, a kiss even. Instead, we spent the next hour writing up my statement to the press about how Ben had been a complete gentleman and that what happened between us was not abuse or harassment. In turn, he also drafted a statement that stated the same. I had been refu
HAVEN “Mommy,” Siri said, pulling her headphones off and letting them and her tablet fall to the floor as she looked around the room at all the strange faces. Her arms wrapped tighter around Ben, and I looked around the room, too, seeing how she could be scared. “This is not a conversation that
HAVEN “I worked for Ben for years, but in reality, I worked for your entire team,” I said, and Coach Dawson’s face tightened. “I did everything ever asked of me, regardless of who asked from your team, the cost, or the time it would take. Your wife’s bake sale, when over half of the team wives and