Chapter 1
Five years into their marriage, Genesis Rowe found the vitamin C pills her husband gave her way too bitter. So she grabbed the bottle and headed to the hospital.[]
The doctor examined the pills and frowned. “These aren’t vitamin C.“]
“I’m sorry, what did you just say?“[]
“I could tell you ten times over–same answer.” He tapped the bottle. “These are mifepristone tablets. Take too many of these and you’ll never have kids. Plus, they’ll mess up your body pretty bad.“[]
Something was stuck in her throat. Her grip on the bottle turned her knuckles white.]
“No way. That’s impossible! My husband gave me these. He’s Isaiah Merrick–works at this hospital too!”
The doctor looked up at her. His expression turned a little strange for a moment, then he gave a dry laugh.
“Miss, maybe you
should talk to someone in psych. We all know Dr. Merrick’s wife. She just had his baby two months ago. You’re young. Don’t get caught up in things that aren’t yours.“]
He pulled out his phone and showed her a picture.[]
There was Isaiah in his white coat, holding a baby, with a smiling woman next to him.]
It’s Sadie Voss–the woman he always called his “adopted sister.“[]
But the doctor had just called her Isaiah’s wife. []
Genesis felt the world spinning. She could barely breathe as she stumbled to the elevator, desperate to get to the fifteenth floor and find Isaiah.[]
When the elevator doors closed, she heard two familiar voices up front. Wrapped up in her coat with a hat on, they hadn’t noticed her.[]
“Dude, aren’t you scared Genesis is gonna find out? I still don’t get why you had to go and marry her. Could’ve just stayed with Sadie and saved yourself all this sneaking around to see your own kid.“[]
Cameron Voss sounded almost amused. []
Isaiah’s voice was ice–cold. “She’s not gonna find out. And Cameron–keep your mouth shut. You know what you can say around Genesis.“||]
“Man, I really don’t get you,” Cameron said with a snort. “Sadie’s been like family since she was five. You used to be crazy about her, then Genesis shows up and suddenly you’re head over heels.”
“You shipped Sadie off for Genesis, then moved mountains to bring her back. So who do you actually love?“]
Isaiah went quiet for what felt like forever before answering. “I love Genesis. But I can’t just forget about Sadie. Thinking about how rough she had it overseas… it kills me.“[]
“Genesis got the ring and the last name. At least I can give Sadie a baby… It’s the least she’s got.“]]
Cameron sighed. “But what if you and Genesis have kids? You gonna treat them all the same? Sadie’s my cousin, man.“[]
The elevator dinged.]
As the doors opened, Isaiah’s voice cut through: “That’s not happening.“]
Cameron looked confused as hell–wasn’t sure if Isaiah meant no kids or no favoritism–and just followed him out, scratching his head.[]
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Chapter 1
But Genesis knew exactly what he meant.[]
They weren’t having kids.[]
Because he’d already been feeding her sterilization drugs, clearing the path for his childhood sweetheart.]]
The elevator was packed and stuffy, but Genesis felt like she’d been dropped into an ice cave–cold to the bone.
It wasn’t until the elevator reached the first floor that she gasped like a drowning person finally breaking the surface, coughing violently.
Her phone buzzed. The screen lit up with a flight screenshot from Isaiah:[]
[Gen, see you at the racetrack tomorrow. Remember to wear my lucky charm~]]
Reading that message broke the dam. Tears streamed down her face.]]
Sure, doctors were busy, but in all their years of marriage, Isaiah had never missed a single one of her races. Even if it meant catching a red–eye flight, he was always there waiting at the finish line.[]
He’d book restaurants in advance, buy flowers, and celebrate her victories–every time.]]
She remembered how his buddies used to joke that she was the once–in–a–lifetime he’d moved heaven and earth to get back.]
To get her to return from overseas, he’d fought international racing teams for her contract, nearly getting himself killed in the process.]
To keep her here, he’d thrown millions at hiring world–class coaching teams and opened an exclusive racing club just for her.[]
After they got married, his spoiling knew no bounds.
One night she’d mumbled about missing her mom in her sleep, and by dawn he’d pulled every string to track down her mother’s belongings.
Yet this same Isaiah had been keeping another woman on the side all along.
Suddenly, everything clicked.]
No wonder Sadie knew every corner of their house better than she did. No wonder someone who’d supposedly been overseas for years knew all his friends‘ nicknames. No wonder a “foster sister” could make him cancel six months of surgeries to go racing with her.
There was no “foster sister“-she was his childhood sweetheart, promised to him from day one.
Just minutes ago, Genesis had been thinking that if Sadie dared to be a homewrecker, she’d never stand for it.]
Now she understood: she was the homewrecker.
She was the one who needed to step aside.
Ice–cold dread crept up from her feet, numbing her whole body.
She’d always thought people would scream and cry when they broke down. But now she knew, real breakdown was silent.
Only endless tears and a heart sinking to rock bottom told her she was dying inside.
Her heart felt like it was being ripped apart, shredded into a million pieces.[]
Her phone buzzed again. Sadie had sent a family photo with a message:]
[Oh Genesis honey, maybe it’s time to stop playing house in someone else’s life? I really thought you’d take the hint by now, but I guess some people just don’t know when they’re not wanted. Isaiah says little Axel has his eyes–don’t you think they look just alike~?]]
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Chapter 1
Genesis barely glanced at it before closing the message.
She wants him so bad? Fine. Let her have him.[]
But she knew Isaiah too well. Even when he was done with something, he’d never just let it walk away.
Her finger hovered over the keypad for ages before finally dialing a number she’d almost forgotten.
The moment the call connected, she heard her own voice shaking:[]
“Nolan Whitaker… that deal we made back then…does it still count?“[]
