All Chapters of My Husband Wants An Open Marriage: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

~~Luke~~Today’s not going as well as I planned. Well, on the business side, it is. But on the pleasure aspect, I think I’m screwed.When Julie sent me the address earlier today, I thought it was just a coincidence. The same restaurant I’m meeting my newest business partner happens to be where I’ll be having lunch with Julie and her husband. I should have seen this coming. It’s just like they say: when something’s too good to be true, it usually is.I run a hand through my hair, pretending to listen to Ryan’s rambling about his company’s future while my mind is busy dissecting every single choice that led me here. I should have had my private investigator run a more thorough check on Julie. I can’t believe I’d been so careless. This wasn’t just bad luck—this was karma coming for me."So, Mr. Martinez—" Ryan says.“Luke, please,” I cut in, giving him a tight smile. I need to keep things light, professional. Act like I’m not currently wading through an awkward situation with my “busines

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I just… I couldn’t stand it anymore.”“Stand what?” Julie snaps. Her arms are crossed so tightly, I’m surprised her blouse doesn’t tear at the seams. She’s glaring at me like she wants to strangle me.I take a deep breath, my eyes locking on hers. “Seeing you like that. You were barely holding it together back there, Julie. I couldn’t take it anymore.”Her face falls, just for a second. I know I’ve hit a nerve. “And what do you think you’re going to do about it?” she shoots back. “Drag me into a supply closet and fix my life?”“Wouldn’t be the worst idea.” I lean against the door. “I mean, this is a multi-purpose room, right? Might as well use it to solve a couple of personal crises.”“Wow, Luke,” she scoffs, rolling her eyes so hard I’m pretty sure they’re going to pop out of her head and roll away. “Very original. If this is your grand plan, you’ve lost it.”“You’re right. I’ve lost it,” I reply, stepping closer, lowering my voice. “I’ve lost the patience to wat

I feel the blood drain from my face as Ryan’s eyes slowly turn toward me, his expression unreadable. That stare—cold, calculating—sends a chill down my spine, but I don’t flinch. I won’t give him the satisfaction.“What the hell is this, Julie?”I take a deep breath, trying to play it cool even though my heart is pounding in my chest. “What does it look like?” I ask. I lean back into my seat and cross one leg over the other.Ryan's jaw tightens. “It looks like you’ve got some explaining to do.”“Do I?”God, I hate this. Why is it always a performance with him? Why does he get to be the one who’s angry?Emily, who’s still clutching her phone like it’s a live grenade, glances nervously between the two of us. I can tell she’s trying to figure out how to mediate without getting caught in the crossfire. Good luck with that.“Uh, maybe we should just…” she starts.I cut her off with a sharp look. “Who sent that video, Emily?”She hesitates, eyes flicking to Ryan as if hoping he’ll rescue he

My eyes immediately narrow.Ryan?I step closer to the bouquet, already feeling the tension in my chest. It can’t be Ryan. He hasn’t sent me flowers in years—our relationship had never been the romantic, spontaneous kind. I pull the small note attached to the bouquet. The handwriting is neat but not familiar. My heart does a weird little flip as I read.“Glad we’re back on, fake girlfriend. You’re stuck with me now. Forever… or at least until Ryan comes to his senses—Luke.”A laugh bubbles up in my throat, catching me off guard. Of course. It’s Luke. Who else would be so damn cheeky? I snatch my phone out of my bag and dial his number, my fingers drumming on the edge of the desk as I wait.He answers after the first ring. “Good morning, Julie.”I roll my eyes, though I can’t help the smile that creeps across my face. “Flowers? Really, Luke?”“Hey, you texted me, remember? Saying the deal is back on. I asked myself what a fake boyfriend could get as a ‘welcome back’ gift to his fake gi

~~Luke~~I think something’s wrong with me. And that something is a five-foot brunette whose heart belongs to someone else.Julie’s standing on the deck, wide-eyed and practically glowing as she takes in the view of my yacht. The way her lips are parted, eyes slightly wide, it’s like she’s just seen a unicorn. I can’t help but follow her gaze, half expecting to see something new, something I must’ve missed after all these years of owning the damn thing. But no, it’s still the same sleek, luxurious vessel that’s been my playground for a while now. Maybe she’s seeing it with some kind of magical filter. “You really haven’t been on a yacht before?” I ask, leaning against the railing, arms crossed.She turns. “Do I look like the kind of person who lounges around on yachts?”“Well, this is New York. Your husband’s a billionaire. Half the billionaires in the city own one of these, and the other half have been on one or two. I’m just surprised you’ve been missing out.”“Yeah, well, I guess