1

Lara Carson

In the embrace of the night’s shadows, I took a deep breath to steady my racing heart as I made my way to the room.

The soft silk nightgown clinging to my curves with a gentle caress. The absence of underwear heightened my senses, sending thrilling shivers down my spine with each step.

I was always looking forward to seeing my husband.

The cool breeze whispered against my bare skin, making me tremble, but it also carried a promise of something enchanting. 

With a determined spirit, I urged myself forward, pushing aside any fears that threatened to dampen my excitement. After all, the man waiting inside the room was none other than my beloved husband, Greyson.

As I stood outside the door, I gently touched my flushed cheeks, trying to calm my nerves. Inhaling the fragrant scent of roses that adorned the room, I knocked softly, my heart fluttering with anticipation.

One. Two. Three seconds...

The door opened, revealing Greyson’s tall and powerful figure, but there was a hint of distance in his eyes, an unfamiliarity that saddened me. Yet, the sight of him, as handsome as a deity from an ancient Greek masterpiece, made my heart skip a beat.

Jesus, I got hot just looking at him!

“It’s late. What’s up?” His voice was cool and distant, leaving me with a pang of uncertainty, as if I were facing a stranger instead of my husband. 

Summoning my inner strength. “Greyson, baby, do you remember what day it is?” My voice quivered slightly, betraying the vulnerability I felt. 

His brow furrowed, his guarded expression softening just a fraction. “Get to the point,” he replied, his tone still distant, but there was a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes.

Despite my disappointment at his initial response, I refused to let it overshadow my plan. 

With a brave smile, I continued, “It’s our third wedding anniversary. You’ve been so busy lately, but that doesn’t matter now. I prepared a surprise for you!” As I spoke, my voice grew softer, carrying a hint of invitation. 

I stepped closer, feeling the magnetic pull between us, an undeniable force that seemed to draw me in. My heart raced as I reached out, my fingers brushing lightly against his hand, feeling the warmth radiating from his skin. The contact sent a shiver through me, igniting memories.

I leaned in slightly, my voice a soft whisper, almost a caress. “I want to remind us both of the fire that brought us together,” I said. With each word, my fingers traced a delicate path along his skin. I longed for the warmth of his touch.

I could feel the tension thickening the air around us.

As soon as I finished speaking, a woman materialized from the shadows behind Greyson, effortlessly taking her place beside him. 

What the...

"What's up, Greyson, honey?" She wore an infuriatingly serene smile, her presence radiating an unsettling confidence that sent a jolt through me. 

My heart fucking sank, disbelief coursing through my veins as I processed the scene unfolding before my eyes.

“Lara! I’ve heard so much about you from Greyson. You are even more beautiful than he said. We haven’t been introduced, have we?”

She was beautiful, with a gentle voice and lively eyes that gave her an air of innocence, almost as if she invited protection. But the sight of her shocked me, and I froze, feeling the warmth drain from my hands and feet.

“Vivian? Why are you here?”

Though we had never met, Vivian Haywood’s presence had always loomed over my marriage like a dark cloud. I mean, she'd been a part of Greyson's life since they were kids.

The house was filled with traces of her, and every member of the Carson family had reminded me time and again that Vivian was Greyson's true choice, while I was merely the titular Mrs. Carson.

Noticing my revealing nightgown, Vivian lowered her eyes with an embarrassed look. “Greyson, am I disturbing you?” she asked softly.

I couldn’t hold back my hostility. “Yes.”

The color drained from her face. “I am sorry. Please, do not be angry. I’ll leave right away.”

Vivian moved as if to go, but Greyson frowned, turning to me. “Vivian is our guest, Lara. Watch your attitude.”

Standing at the door, I felt a crushing weight in my chest, a humiliating sense of exposure and vulnerability. It was as if my heart had been laid bare, and all my hopes and dreams had been shattered in that single moment.

My guest? I do not think so.

Despite being his wife in name, I had endured three years of neglect and disrespect from Greyson and his family. The loneliness haunted my days and my nights, a constant reminder of the growing emotional distance between us. 

Greyson was always consumed by his work, leaving me yearning for his presence. But even when he did return, he seemed like a distant stranger.

Realizing we no longer shared the same bed was like a knife to my heart, a cruel reminder of the chasm that separated us. And now, standing on the threshold of his room, I was faced with a scene that shattered my soul... another woman, brazenly occupying the space meant for me.

Not that at any moment I had actually occupied that place.

The betrayal and hurt hit me like a tidal wave, leaving me gasping for breath. Tears in my lower eyelashes, trembling legs, a weak voice, and a pale face. That was how I looked on the outside. And on the inside, I was shattered.

Anger and pain swirled within me, yet I felt powerless to react. All my efforts to be patient and understanding had been in vain. The hopes I’d held for a loving and devoted husband now felt like a cruel joke. The pain of abandonment and the emptiness in my heart threatened to consume me completely.

Fuck! What had happened to the promises we’d made on our wedding day, the vows we’d exchanged? 

I looked into Greyson's eyes, searching for any trace of the man I’d once fallen for. "What about me?" I asked.