Manhattan: Married First, Love Later — A 90-Day Divorce Countdown
Chapter 1The ceremony was about to start.He shoved the rings and his tux into my hands, “Chloe’s sick, I’m going to calm her down.”On his way out I heard one of his friends snicker, “Ethan really knows how to keep a woman in line, bet even if you two share a bed she’ll still believe nothing happened.”He once risked his life to save me.I pinched the satin of my gown and kept my head down.When it was time to go on stage, I caught my nemesis at the corner, eavesdropping.
“Had your fun,” I said, “then get up there and be my groom.”“What?”Mason Reed clearly hadn’t expected that.I yanked him by the tie and, rough from holding back tears, kept my voice low.
“Cover me this once, I owe you.”Laughter rolled on outside the doors.“Ethan, you should marry someone as gentle as Grace, quiet at home and no fuss outside. Drinks tonight are on me.”“No big deal,” Ethan waved it off.“Can’t wait to see your show, Ethan.”The room burst into laughter.My knees buckled. I would have gone down if Mason hadn’t caught me by the waist.I fought not to ruin my makeup. With bloodshot eyes I stared at Mason and begged him for an answer.“Fine.”Ethan Holt had a girl he grew up with.They were a perfect match on paper, and close.Just to buy her a proper birthday gift, he dropped seven figures at an auction for a diamond necklace.At the gala he even announced he would be her one and only, her personal guardian for life.She was spoiled and willful.
After our engagement went public, she refused to let Ethan kiss her or hold her.She padded barefoot across the penthouse in his shirt, pushed out her chest and cooed, “The one who isn’t loved is the other woman. Ethan, you’re mine alone, right?”Ethan looked at her and couldn’t stand to see her upset.So he fed her possessiveness and let it grow.I was the one who kept getting cut by their love story.Because I cared about Ethan, I even covered for them again and again.The first time was right after our engagement was announced.Back then I didn’t know Chloe Shaw existed.I was full of happy plans, thinking I’d spend my life with the boy who once saved me.Both families sat together at dinner, smiling.He put an arm around me in front of his parents and swore, “I’ll be faithful to Grace for the rest of my life.”When he posted our exchanged keepsakes on Instagram, my heart jumped with surprise and joy.Later one of his friends tore the truth open.
He had set that post so I was the only one who could see it.The second time was the worst fight we ever had.At his engagement party he left me standing there alone.Chloe had “fallen ill.”His friends didn’t show either.
They all waited with her at home.I cried and couldn’t stop.
I clutched his sleeve and begged him to finish the ceremony.He still walked away and tossed back, “Grace Bennett, stop being difficult, no ceremony outranks a life.”A ceremony doesn’t outrank a life, but it outranks a fake illness.While I was scrambling to reassure our parents that he was just tied up with work,
he was at a noisy party,
holding Chloe and kissing her while his friends whooped.I called him, and a cold recording answered.
The third time, he tried to get intimate with Chloe right in front of me and asked me to understand.I was done.“I’ll ask you once more, are you serious?”“I am.”“Grace Bennett.”I couldn’t hold it in. Tears slipped, and he kissed them away.“Okay, we’ll get married.”
Chapter 2The next morning, Ethan pulled up outside my building to pick me up.He was in a great mood and never asked how yesterday’s wedding mess got fixed.He talked about the honeymoon, stateside or overseas, someplace warm or someplace cold.Then he shook his head, a slow smile tugging at his mouth. “How about Iceland?”“The first time we met, you pointed at the sky and said you wanted to see the northern lights.”He parked in front of a bar and leaned over to unbuckle my seat belt.He frowned and his palm skimmed my cheek. “Why are you crying again? I told you to stop being jealous of Chloe. She’s like a little sister to me, don’t overthink it. Keep this up and you’ll cry yourself dry.”He slipped an arm around me as we got out. I caught the scent on his shirt, daisy perfume.I cut in. “Whose daisy perfume is that?”He cleared his throat and rubbed his nose. He didn’t explain.Then he walked me inside.The place was full of his friends, and Chloe was there.We had barely stepped in when the teasing started.They said we were late and insisted we drink.I’d worked since I was a kid and wrecked my stomach. I couldn’t drink at all.I had told Ethan that.Back then he looked at me like I mattered and said, “Grace, I won’t let you touch a drop again. I’ll take care of you.”Now he was the one handing me a glass. “Grace, you’re late so take three shots. It’s basic manners, no bargaining.”I wanted to refuse. My body couldn’t handle it. “But…”His friends sniped from the side. “So delicate. Can’t even handle a couple drinks. Should’ve married someone like Chloe.”Chloe chimed in. “Grace really can’t handle even one? Ethan loves a woman who can drink.”She leaned closer and the daisy perfume rolled off her.I said nothing and lifted the glass. I downed them one after another.Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ethan rest his hand on Chloe’s shoulder.I saw them lean in, trading secrets no one else could hear.I saw them link arms and drink while the room cheered.My stomach lurched and bile rose.My chest went numb.I wanted to leave.Just then my phone lit up with WhatsApp.
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