Chapter 3
The next morning, Summer got out of bed with a pale face and trembling legs.
She wanted to pack her things early, so once the helicopter arrived, she could leave immediately.
But the moment she opened the door, she nearly bumped into Wilder–who was holding a cup of ginger–infused toddy.
He frowned and set it down on the table.
“Babe, why are you up? You should’ve stayed in bed a little longer.‘
Summer stared at him, her voice cold.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on a business trip? What are you still doing here?”
Wilder always had some excuse to leave town every month.
She used to believe he was just busy.
Now she knew better.
He was busy, all right–but not with work.
He’d been busy spending time with Grace Caldwell.
Wilder pulled her into his arms and tapped her nose playfully with his finger.
“You’re feeling this awful, how could I leave now?”
“Don’t worry. I’m staying home today—just to take care of you.”
His words dripped with tenderness.
Once upon a time, they would’ve made her cry from joy.
She had loved him so much that even a crumb of kindness felt like a feast.
Looking at the man who once had eyes only for her, all Summer felt now was pain–sharp and suffocating.
She parted her lips to speak, but before she could say anything, his phone rang.
Wilder glanced at the caller ID and shot her a quick look.
“It’s Shaw. I’ll take this in the study.” He didn’t wait for a response–just turned and walked away, locking the door behind him.
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Summer stared at the closed door.
She hadn’t realized Shaw had changed his name to Grace Caldwell.
She didn’t touch the ginger–infused toddy. Instead, she walked outside.
Soon, the study door opened again.
Wilder had changed into fresh clothes. He rushed out with a spring in his step, beaming with joy.
He’d completely forgotten about Summer.
Until he reached the front door.
“Where are you going?” she asked. “Weren’t you going to stay home and take care of me?”
Maybe he was too thrilled to catch the biting sarcasm in her voice.
He pulled her in by the waist and kissed her lightly on the lips.
“Babe, I just closed a huge deal–but I have to sign it in person. Be good while I’m gone, and I’ll bring back your favorite cake, okay?”
Summer forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
As soon as he left, she followed.
And just as she suspected, Wilder didn’t go to sign any deal.
He drove straight to the airport.
Not long after, Summer saw him walking out of the terminal, arm in arm with a woman whose belly
had just begun to show.
He held out a bouquet of flowers he’d clearly prepared in advance.
And the face of the woman–Summer could never mistake it.
Grace Caldwell.
The woman who’d been in a coma for two years.
Summer’s heart stopped.
So Grace wasn’t just awake–she was pregnant.
Summer’s whole body trembled. It felt like her heart was bleeding.
Grace giggled and threw herself into Wilder’s arms.
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He removed his sunglasses and tapped her nose with his finger.
Summer’s pupils shrank sharply.
That move-
Wilder used to do that to her, too.
Only when he was really in love.
So even that gesture… wasn’t hers alone.
Grace stood on her toes, asking for a kiss.
Wilder hesitated, looking around nervously.
But when she looped her arms around his neck and whispered playfully in his ear, he gave in.
That coy little act–Summer had seen it a hundred times. It used to be his weakness.
His eyes darkened with desire.
He picked her up and carried her off toward a corner of the airport.
Summer followed numbly, but couldn’t keep up.
By the time she arrived, they had already slipped inside-
The nursing lounge.
The door was locked.
From within came the sound of wet, intimate kisses.
“What are you doing here by yourself? Why didn’t you bring Martha? You’re gonna scare me to
death one of these days.”
Wilder’s voice–so familiar it made her chest ache.
He sounded like a machine gun, firing off questions without pause.
Grace giggled. “So many questions, which one do I answer first?”
“All of them! I want to hear everything-”
She suddenly kissed him hard.
With a bright smile on her face, she looked up at him.
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“Fine. The answer is–I missed you, baby.”
Wilder’s breath caught. His eyes blazed with heat.
The next second, he grabbed her by the neck and kissed her back fiercely.
“You little minx,” he growled. “I’m not letting you walk out of here.”
“Ah! No–don’t kiss me there… Baby! I–I’m sorry!”
“Oh, now you’re sorry? Too late.”
His voice, low and hoarse, felt like a blade slicing through Summer’s chest.
From behind the locked door, Grace’s moans mixed with the slick sounds of their bodies.
Summer stood frozen outside, her eyes blank. Her heart felt like it had been carved out and left to
bleed.
She turned and walked away, but those sounds-
They followed her.
No matter how far she went,
She couldn’t outrun them.
Chapter 3
