Chapter 1: The Honeymoon Betrayal
I stared at Julian as if I had suddenly forgotten how to understand the English language.
"Sienna is coming with us?""
The question sounded ridiculous even as it left my mouth.
Because there was no version of reality where that sentence belonged in my honeymoon story.
Not after the wedding.
Not after the vows.
Not after the promises.
Julian looked around the airport, clearly uncomfortable with the attention from strangers passing by. He lowered his voice.
"Clara, please. Don't make a scene.""
A scene.
That was the first thing he cared about.
Not my feelings.
Not my shock.
Not the fact that his new wife was standing beside him while another woman rolled a suitcase toward our flight.
He was worried about appearances.
I almost laughed.
Only yesterday, Julian had stood beneath thousands of flowers in Central Park and told two hundred people that I was the only woman he would ever choose.
Now, less than twenty-four hours later, he was asking me to accept his assistant joining our honeymoon.
"How long?"" I asked quietly.
Julian frowned.
"What?""
"How long have you known she was coming?""
His jaw tightened.
I knew that expression.
It was the same one he wore when he was preparing to turn a conversation into my fault.
"Clara, this isn't what you think.""
I looked at Sienna.
She was watching us.
Not nervously.
Not awkwardly.
Like she already knew how this conversation would end.
Like she had seen the script before I had.
"I didn't ask what I should think," I replied.
"I asked how long you've known.""
Julian sighed.
"Three days.""
Three days.
My fingers tightened around the handle of my suitcase.
Three days ago, he had taken me to a rooftop restaurant overlooking Manhattan.
Three days ago, he had held my hand across the table and talked about our future.
He had told me he wanted us to start a family.
He had told me I was his peace after years of stress.
And all that time, he knew another woman would be joining our honeymoon.
"You planned this before our wedding.""
"It wasn't like that.""
"Then what was it like?""
Julian glanced at Sienna again.
That tiny movement hurt more than his words.
Because it told me everything.
He was checking on her.
Not me.
Sienna stepped forward with a small smile.
"Clara, I really hope you don't misunderstand. Julian and I have a very professional relationship.""
I looked at her.
"Professional relationships usually don't involve surprise honeymoon vacations.""
Her smile faded slightly.
Julian immediately stepped in.
"Enough.""
Enough.
The word hit me.
Not because it was loud.
Because it was familiar.
Over the past three years, Julian had become very good at deciding when my emotions were inconvenient.
When I was hurt, I was dramatic.
When I asked questions, I was insecure.
When I noticed problems, I was creating problems.
But somehow, when he lied, I was expected to be understanding.
"I can't believe you're doing this," I whispered.
Julian rubbed his forehead.
"I knew you'd react this way.""
My eyes lifted.
"You knew I'd react badly to finding out my husband invited another woman on our honeymoon?""
"No, I knew you'd make it bigger than it was.""
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Because I realized something.
Julian truly believed he was the victim.
He believed my pain was the problem.
Not his betrayal.
Sienna cleared her throat.
"We're going to miss the flight.""
I turned toward her.
The confidence in her voice made something inside me go cold.
She wasn't worried about losing her job.
She wasn't worried about offending me.
She was worried about missing the vacation.
Our honeymoon.
The trip I had spent months planning.
The trip where I imagined waking up beside my husband, drinking coffee on a balcony overlooking the ocean.
A trip that suddenly felt like a stranger's dream.
Julian reached for my hand.
"Clara, please. Let's just get through this. Once we're in Maui, everything will be fine.""
I looked down at his hand.
The same hand that had held mine while he promised forever.
Then I looked at the woman standing beside him.
And suddenly, I felt strangely calm.
The anger disappeared.
The tears disappeared.
Something else replaced them.
Clarity.
"You're right," I said.
Julian blinked.
"Really?""
I nodded.
"Let's not ruin this trip.""
Relief crossed his face.
I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
"Thank you," he said.
"I knew you would understand.""
I smiled.
It was the kind of smile people give when they have already made a decision.
"I hope you both have a wonderful trip.""
Julian froze.
"What?""
I stepped away from him.
Sienna's expression changed.
Just slightly.
Enough for me to know she understood something was wrong.
"I said I hope you have a wonderful trip.""
"Clara, don't be ridiculous.""
"I'm not.""
I picked up my suitcase.
For the first time that morning, the weight of it felt easy.
Because I wasn't carrying my expectations anymore.
I wasn't carrying the dream of a perfect marriage.
I wasn't carrying the responsibility of protecting a man who didn't protect me.
Julian followed me.
"Where are you going?""
"Home.""
His face changed.
"Clara.""
I looked at him one last time.
The man I married yesterday.
The man I thought knew my heart.
The man who had just shown me exactly how little he valued it.
"You should enjoy your honeymoon, Julian.""
May you like
Then I turned around.
And I walked away.
