*Michael*Unknown caller reads across my phone screen, and my heart stops. I reluctantly pull myself off the couch and away from Shelby. She stared up at me, worry lines appearing on her forehead.“I have to take this,” I mumbled as I retreated toward the kitchen.“Hello? Who is this?” I answered the phone call, doing my best to keep my voice down so Shelby wouldn’t hear.A scratchy voice sounded on the other end of the line, and static assaulted my ear. I quickly pulled the phone away until the static settled. I had to listen closely to make out what the voice was saying through the static.“You are going to… get what is coming to you….and she will too.”At the last word, the call dropped abruptly. Goosebumps rose on the back of my neck, and I scanned the windows but couldn’t make out anything in the blackness. I stood frozen in the kitchen, unsure of what to do next. Could Blaine possibly have found out we were staying here? Was there something I m
*Shelby*“We need to talk,” Michael said, looking serious. I was so confused at the sudden shift in Michael’s demeanor. With one phone call, fun, and teasing Michael was gone. Seriousness clouded his eyes, and he wouldn’t meet mine. He put a hand on the small of my back and led me out of the office and back into the living room. Guiding me to one of the chairs in front of the fire, he did not sit next to me. Instead, he started pacing back and forth in front of the fire. He was making me anxious just watching him, and the long pause he was taking only made things worse.“Can you please just tell me what happened? Who called you?” I asked, as my eyes darted back and forth following Michael’s movements.He still didn’t immediately answer, making me worried that someone we knew had been seriously hurt.“I don’t know how to say this,” Michael said, stopping and placing his hand on the mantle of the fireplace.My stomach dropped at his words. I figured
*Michael*The cabin felt incredibly quiet after watching Shelby drive away. I couldn’t get the image out of my head of Shelby staring at me; clear hurt etched into all of her features. I hated myself for the pain I caused her, but deep down, I knew it was the only way to keep her safe.I tried to fill the last two hours with anything to distract myself from the pain of sending her away, but nothing was helping. I tried to finish the movie we started, but I was only able to focus on the lead actress's eyes and how they looked so much like Shelby’s. I ended up pacing the kitchen with a glass of whiskey held tightly in my fist.Maybe once I made sure Blaine was behind bars for good, I could reach out to Shelby and explain everything. I didn’t know if she would even want to see me then, or ever again for that matter. I wouldn’t blame her after my whole speech about how she would be better off without me. It stung me to realize that she really would be better off if she had n
*Shelby*I woke to a soft and steady beeping, but I found it hard to open my eyes. When I did, the lights were dimmed, and I was only able to make out the bumps of my feet under a mauve-colored blanket. I tried to move, but my arms felt heavy, lying on the bed. Long tubes were attached to me, but it took me a few moments to realize they were monitors and an IV, and the beeping came from a machine next to my bed, a hospital bed.Suddenly, the memory of a blinding flash of headlights came to mind. Were we in a car crash? I looked around the room, and the light was streaming in softly; I figured it must have been the early hours of the morning. Christmas Day, I realized. As my eyes adjusted, I noticed a small chair in the corner, and Michael was sitting in it.My stirring must have woken him. His eyes were sleepy, and his hair was slightly disheveled as though he had been running his hands through it. I knew he only did that when he was frustrated. I wanted to r
*Michael* I walked out of Shelby's hospital room feeling shattered. I don't know what I expected. She had every right to yell at me and wish I wasn't there. I was the reason she was there in the first place. I made my way back down to the waiting room where Bruce was sitting, but he was no longer alone; a police officer in full uniform was waiting for me to return.“You must be Mr. Michael Astor,” the officer said, rising from his seat.“That’s right. What can I help you with, sir?” I asked, glancing down at Bruce. His face gave nothing away.“I need to speak to Miss Hatton first, but I would ask that you two remain in the hospital until I return. I may need to bring you in for questioning,” the officer said.“Why do we need to be questioned in regards to a car accident?” Bruce asked. “We’ve been searching all night to find where these two were; we even made calls to the police trying to get accident reports. No one seemed able to talk to us then.”“Initi
*Shelby*“Good news Shelby,” the kind nurse with curly black hair said as she walked into my hospital room.“I get to go home today?” I offered, hoping she was coming in with my discharge paperwork.I had been promised I would get to go home today as long as I didn’t show any worrisome symptoms during the night, which I hadn’t. I couldn’t wait to get home and let my family and friends know that I was still in one piece. I knew that Lin must be frantic with worry after I told her I was on my way home, then fell off the grid for two days. I’d asked the nurses to call her, but it wouldn’t be the same as me calling her myself.“Well, yes, that is good news, but this news is different,” she held something behind her back as she made her way to my bedside.“Come on, the suspense is killing me,” I said with a little laugh.“One of the officers working your case just stopped by. They found your wallet,” she said, pulling my black leather wallet from behind her bac
*Shelby*“I think snow is useless after Christmas,” Lin said as she linked her arm with mine.“I don’t think you get to decide when the snow has to stop,” I laughed as we trudged through the soft downpour leaving our first lecture of the semester.“Well, I think I should. You know what else I think?” Lin asked.“Oh no, do I dare ask?” I said in a teasing way,“I think we head over to that little coffee shop to weather out the storm. We only have an hour and a half before the next lecture starts, and I don’t want to walk all the way back to our apartment,” Lin said.“I agree with you on that one,” I said, and we immediately changed directions making our way to one of my favorite places on campus.We walked in the front door, and the warm air inside felt like it enveloped us. The smell of coffee and pastries filled the small shop, and the warm-toned wood walls created a cozy feel in the space. Large, worn-out armchairs dotted the dining space mixed amon
*Shelby*Standing at the front of the lecture hall was the last person I wanted to see. My old friend and Michael’s only daughter. “Lauren?” I said out loud, not believing my own eyes. Lauren turned and noticed me sitting in the front seat. A wicked smile flashed across her face for a quick second before melting into something softer.“Oh my god, Shelby, I didn’t know you were in this class too.”Lauren turned her attention back to the professor, whipping her hair over her shoulder in one fluid motion. I slid down in my seat wishing I could melt into the cushions, wanting to disappear from the room. “What’s she doing here? I didn’t think she even had her undergrad done,” Lin said to me in a whisper.“Last time I talked to her, she didn’t. Although it seems a lot has changed since the last time I saw her. Just a few months ago she was engaged to my ex, ready to spend the rest of her life as a social media influencer,” I mumbled.The girl sittin
*Shelby**Five Months later*I sat staring out the small window in my office. It was nowhere near as impressive a view as Michael's top-floor CEO office, but I liked the fact that it was mine. I’d been an attorney at Stockton and Associates for five months now, and just last month, I was promoted from my tiny cubicle in the corner to my very own office.I’d framed photographs of Michael and me at our wedding, at a castle in Ireland on our honeymoon, and of us in Greece from our most recent vacation. I couldn't help but imagine another picture frame of a beautiful little baby, swaddled up tight in a hospital bassinet sitting next to the rest. Michael and I had taken a more active approach to try to have a baby. I took my temperature every morning to track my fertility window, and our bathroom was littered with boxes and boxes of ovulation tests. It seemed like the majority of my free time I now spent thinking of our future family. I even had an entire nursery planne
*Shelby***One Year Later**“To you, my amazingly talented, intelligent, and beautiful wife,” Michael said, holding a glass of wine in the air over our cozy two-person table.I clinked my glass on his and took a small sip of the wine as I looked out over the dark blue sky littered with thousands of tiny bits of starlight. The lights of the city shone brightly below, illuminating the blue dome roofs over the buildings. The waves crashed against the cliff faces below, sending bits of seawater into the air, making everything smell like salt.We’d been in Greece for the last few days and were currently eating dinner in a quaint little restaurant toward the top of the city, with an amazing view. For the past month, we’d been touring Italy and Greece on our yacht. I’d recently graduated from NYU with my law degree, and Michael planned the trip as a way to celebrate. I’d been interning at a law firm called Stockton and Associates, and I was surprised by their o
*Shelby*I woke up and stretched across the king-size bed. It felt so strange to be in such a large bed all by myself. I lay there, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings of the hotel room. Then the realization hit me; it was my wedding day. The day I was going to become Mrs. Shelby Astor.I sat bolt upright, and let my feet hit the floor. In one swift motion, I was up and taking leaps across the room with a little squeal. I swung open the door and rushed into the main room of the hotel suite.“Aubs! Lin! Get up! I’m getting married today!” I squealed.Within a few seconds, Aubrey was up, rubbing her eyes as she opened the door to her private room. All we heard from Lin’s room was a sleepy moan, which made me laugh loudly.“I know that some brides get cold feet on their wedding day, but something tells me we don’t have to worry about that with you,” Aubrey said, yawning a little.“I can’t believe it’s actually here, Aubs. I mean, after all that we’ve gone t
*Shelby*After a hasty breakfast, Lauren’s words still lingered in my mind. The click of the coffee pot being pulled off of the warmer snapped me back to reality. I set my phone down on the counter and flashed Michael a soft smile. He grabbed a travel mug from the cupboard and poured the remainder of the dark liquid into his cup. While he screwed the lid into place, he leaned over and kissed me quickly on the lips.“I’m so sorry I don’t have time to say much in the way of a goodbye, but thank you for breakfast. I had an emergency meeting with investors pop up last minute,” Michael said, slipping his arms through his sport coat.“That’s okay, I understand. Will I see you for dinner?” I asked.“Yes, you will. I’ll make sure I’m home by five at the latest. What are your plans for the day?” Michael asked.“I’m going to the country club to make sure everything is ready for tomorrow,” I answered.A huge smile took over Michael’s face, “Well, that sounds like a great way to spend
*Shelby*Lauren looked… humbled.Even her clothes were telling. She wore a long, demure skirt and a blouse that didn’t show a hint of cleavage and covered her arms down to her elbows. No big brand names or luxurious accessories. Her hair also needed a wash.I’d never seen her dress so modestly or look so run-down, and I had an inkling of what she was trying to accomplish by coming here. I stood there, frozen, not knowing what to do. I wasn’t sure Michael would want to see her, and part of me didn’t want Michael’s day to start off with a fight. On the other hand, I couldn’t make those decisions for him.“Come in,” I said, stepping aside to let her pass. I closed the door and gestured for her to sit in the adjacent living room, just as I heard Michael’s quick steps running down the stairs. “What smells so good? My mouth is watering! Shelby, honey—” He froze when he saw Lauren sitting on the couch. She gave him a smile and a quick wave.Michael’s eyes focused on me,
*Shelby*Ever since that kiss in the elevator, my body ached for Michael. When he whispered into my ear, a shudder ran down my spine, turning me on.He gave me a taunting look, and his eyes wandered around the park. “Michael…” I said, “what’s going on in your head?”He chuckled and leaned closer to me. “It wouldn’t be the first time we made love out in the open,” he said in a low voice.I almost spit out the coffee I’d just sipped.“But we were alone on the beach! Well, the second time, anyway. This place is full of people.”“There are some dark places…” He smiled mischievously at me. “And you’re not making it easier for me.”His eyes wandered to my chest, where my dress hung really low and gave him a great view of my breasts thanks to the way I was leaning toward him.I felt his leg caressing mine under the table, and I pretended to scowl at him.“You aren’t making it easier either,” I said. He took his phone out of his pocket and grinned, informing me that the
*Michael*When Shelby walked into the office, I could tell she was dying to tell me something. Her excitement was written all over her face.“I suppose the hunt for a dress went well?” I said, and she immediately ran around the desk and gave me a kiss. “I’ll take that as a yes,” smiling at the joy on her face.“I found the perfect one,” she said as she sat in the chair across from me. “I just wish I could show you or tell you about it, but you know how that goes.” “You could wear a T-shirt and jeans, and you’d still be the most beautiful bride to walk this earth,” I said dramatically, eliciting a giggle from Shelby. I would never tire of hearing her laugh.“I thought your lawyer would be here already,” she said, looking at her watch.“Aren’t we going home?” I had no idea what she was talking about.“Did you really forget?” Shelby laughed. “Only you could forget that we’re going to sign our prenup today.”The truth was that it had completely slipped my mind. Shelby was
*Shelby**One Month Later*“I can’t believe it’s the end of the summer already,” Lin said with a sigh.I pushed open the door to the salon and was instantly enveloped with the smell of cucumbers and ocean salt.“I know. It seems like it went so fast, but I’m so glad we get to spend more time together before you have to go back to Cambridge,” I said.“Damn, this place is so posh,” Lin said rather loudly.I chuckled, “Shush, Lin. Just pretend that we come to places like this all the time.”“Oh, right,” she responded, a small smirk on her lips.We walked up to the front desk where a woman with purple hair greeted us. Once she found our appointments, she took us back to a private room to get our pedicures. The lights were dimmed and soft piano music played from an indistinguishable place in the room. She handed us each a glass of champagne before leaving us to wait for the nail artists.“So what are we having done today?” Lin asked me as we slip
*Shelby*I’d just slid the baking tray, with two salmon filets and vegetables, into the oven when I heard the front door open. It abruptly closed with a shutter that echoed through the house.“Michael?” I called down the hallway.“It’s me, Shelby,” he called back, and my heartbeat slowed at the sound of his voice.“You’re just in time. I just put dinner in the oven, and it should be ready soon,” I said as Michael walked into the kitchen.I looked up to see him wearing a very serious expression on his face. The corners of his mouth were tugged down in concern, and there was a strange expression in his eyes—a mix of sadness and anger.“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” I asked, my heartbeat speeding up again. “Is Bruce okay? Lucille?”“Everyone’s fine. I just had a very unpleasant conversation is all,” Michael said, sliding onto one of the barstools.“With who?” I asked, picking up and folding a dish towel with nervous anticipation.“I went