Chapter 1
My husband’s sister–in–law, Sophie Foster, had an unusual condition- she craved physical touch. But her husband worked abroad most of the
year.
“Noelle, when I have an episode… could you let me spend a night with Mark?”
Did she just ask to sleep with my husband?
“Sophie, do you hear yourself? Mark is my husband–your brother–in- law!”
I turned to my husband, Mark Johnston, in shock. As I expected, he immediately turned her down.
I used to think he truly loved me… until the next night when I walked in on him in bed with Sophie.
While catching his breath, Mark said, “Sophie, I made it just in time, didn’t I?”
I closed my eyes, my heart sinking. Fine. If that’s how it is, I won’t let either of them walk away unscathed.
I picked up the phone and called Flynn Johnston, Mark’s elder brother.
***
Flynn got in touch with Mark.
“Mark, I’ve got a traitor to deal with and won’t be back anytime soon.
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Sophie’s condition hasn’t improved. While I’m away, make sure you look after her when she has an episode.”
I glanced at Mark and asked, “If your brother doesn’t come back soon, what are you going to do the next time Sophie has one of her episodes? This isn’t some common flu you can treat with pills.”
Flynn, the Johnston family’s eldest son and grandson, was in charge of their hidden affairs.
He handled the family’s darkest business.
He loved Sophie deeply. If he ever found out she turned to another man for help with her illness, the consequences–for her and that man— would be terrifying.
Sophie showed up looking like she’d been crying.
“Mark, your brother said he won’t be back this time. Why is my life so hard? I have a husband, yet I feel like I’m a widow. And I still have this
awful illness.”
Her voice shook as she went on, “I almost didn’t make it through my last episode. Since Flynn doesn’t care if Ì live or die, can’t you just ignore me? The pain is unbearable when it hits.”
Mark replied awkwardly, “But I can’t let you go find someone else.”
Sophie stayed quiet for a few seconds. Then she turned to me and asked, “Noelle, could I borrow Mark for one night while I’m sick? I swear I won’t come near him once I get better.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
Was she asking to sleep with my husband?
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“Sophie, have you lost your mind? Do you hear yourself? Mark is my husband–your brother–in–law!”
She grabbed my hand like she was clinging to her last hope. “Noelle, you’re also a woman. Please try to understand me. You have a husband. You don’t know how much it hurts when my illness strikes.
“They won’t let me go out to find relief, but Mark is always around.”
I stared at Mark, trying to read his reaction.
He gave me a firm look and rejected Sophie with a frown.
“Sophie, stop talking nonsense. How could I ever face Flynn if I did something like that? And what about Noelle? I love her. I’d never betray her.”
Sophie started crying again, her eyes full of blame.
Mark took my hand firmly and stood up. We were ready to walk her
out.
“Sophie, we’ll forget everything you just said today. But if you bring it up again and upset Noelle, I won’t stay calm.
That moment reassured me. I felt like I’d trusted the right person.
Five
years ago, my family hit a financial wall. My parents wanted me to marry an old, overweight client to save their business.
I was on a bridge, unsure if I should end it all when Mark appeared like a light in the dark.
His kindness and warmth touched me deeply. When he asked me to marry him, I didn’t think twice.
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Sophie wasn’t done. She stepped up and grabbed Mark’s collar. “If you won’t help me, then just look away. Pretend you didn’t see anything. Let me go find someone else.”
I pulled her hand off him.
“Sophie, you’re putting Mark in a terrible spot. How about this? I’ll get you a ticket and send you to Flynn.”
Sophie quickly shook her head. Her father died in a plane crash. Since then, she’d been afraid to fly. That was why she stayed in America.
“I was wrong to ask something so unreasonable. I’m sorry.”
She lowered her head and walked out slowly, almost stumbling.
Mark stood there, frowning.
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