Chapter 5
AVA
FLASHBACK
" I can't believe I'm your wife."
Roman leans in, his lips capturing mine as the waves lap softly against the shore beside us. He looks unfairly attractive in nothing but white swim shorts, his skin golden from the Caribbean sun.
"Imagine how I feel," he murmurs, his grin lazy and perfect. "You're burning my eyes, you're so damn hot, Mrs. M."
I bite my lip as his fingers trail up my thigh, heat curling low in my belly. He props himself on one elbow, his other hand shielding his emerald-green eyes from the sun as he gazes at me like I'm his whole world.
"I knew it the second I saw you, you know."
"Knew what?" I shift onto my side, mirroring him, squinting as I tuck my hand above my brow.
"That I'd marry you," he says simply. "That you'd be the woman I'd have kids with. That you'd be mine. Forever." His voice, usually teasing and cocky, softens—earnest, raw. The sincerity in his eyes steals my breath.
We're alone on this stretch of private beach. Just us, the sea, the sun…on our honeymoon.
Perks of being married to a superstar athlete, I guess.
"Yeah, right," I tease, flopping onto my back to bask in the sun.
A shadow falls over me. I glance up to find him hovering, smiling down at me like I've hung the damn stars. "Yeah. Right."
He leans down, kissing me hard, possessive, claiming. My lips melt beneath his as his arms wrap around me, lifting me effortlessly to my feet. He tugs me toward the water, his laughter echoing across the sand.
"Didn't you hear my vows, baby?" he whispers as we wade into the clear turquoise sea.
I groan as the cool water soothes my sun-kissed skin.
Roman draws me close, his mouth finding mine again, tongue stroking deep as my legs lock around his waist. I break away, breathless, laughing against his lips.
"I wasn't really paying attention…" I tease, my hands threading through his damp hair.
"No?" His grin widens, his arms tightening around me. "Let me refresh your memory." His voice drops lower, rougher. "I said you're the most beautiful woman I've ever met—inside and out. I said I wanted to grow old feeling this lucky. Every damn day."
I stare at him, my heart pounding, my fingers brushing his hair from his face as I shake my head softly.
"What?" he laughs, that devil's smile lighting up his whole face.
"Why me?" I whisper. "You could've had anyone ."
He holds my gaze, his smile softening into something reverent.
"That's exactly why it’s you."
PRESENT DAY
"Earth to Ava!"
I blink, snapping back to find Shannon waving her hands in front of my face.
"Jeez, where did you go?"
"Back to our honeymoon."
Her eyes soften instantly. She reaches for my hand across the couch.
"Oh, babe. I'm so sorry he's done this to you. If it's any consolation, she's nothing compared to you."
I try to gulp down my tears, waving a dismissive hand at myself. "Compared to a twenty-one-year-old model, I feel like a ninety-year-old who's just been dug up. How could I ever compete with that?"
Shannon's expression darkens as she shoots a glare toward the door Roman stormed through hours ago. "You shouldn't have to compete," she replies fiercely. "There's always going to be someone younger, prettier, thinner?—"
"You're really not helping," I whisper as fresh tears blur my vision.
Flashes of the online photos burn behind my eyelids—Roman leaving a hotel late at night, Roman sprawled half-naked in her bed, Roman's lips pressed to hers.
I let out a moan that sounds like I’m dying.
"Stop it," Shannon orders, squeezing my hand.
"I'm his wife , Shannon!" I choke out. "How dare he do this to me!"
"I know, I know," she soothes, holding me tighter. "Your aunt wants to kill him."
I bet she does. Aunt Jane stepped in without hesitation when my mother died, raising me as her own even though she was barely thirty herself. My father wasn't in the picture—hadn't been since I was six. Aunt Jane was the only real parent I had after Mom was gone.
I'm sobbing again, and she pulls me into her arms, rocking me, kissing the top of my head.
"I'm staying here," she murmurs. "Just for a few days."
"But what about Axel?"
Even as I ask, I already know Axel—her husband, Roman's teammate—would never begrudge her staying. Axel is kind. Axel would be just as angry.
Her gaze hardens. "He's with your husband. Trying to figure out what the fuck he was thinking."
My chest caves inward. The weight of everything presses down, suffocating me.
By one in the afternoon, I don't even hesitate when she hands me a glass of wine.
"Let's watch a movie."
I follow her into the den, flipping over every wedding photo, every frame with Roman's face. I want to scream at that version of me—the smiling, trusting idiot frozen in those perfect pictures. I want to reach in and shake her.
God, I hate him.
I'm still sitting in the same spot, knees hugged to my chest, almost two hours later when my phone pings with a new message from Roman.
"What's he saying?" Shannon asks sharply, stuffing potato chips into her mouth as she nods toward the phone.
I glance down. "He's sorry. He didn't love her. He doesn't know how it happened. Same old lies," I mutter.
Shannon sighs, brushing my hair back from my face, giving me a tired but affectionate smile. "You're so beautiful, you know that? Don't forget it."
I swallow, forcing a nod. "Yeah, well...maybe that's not enough. It's not like me and Roman have been all wild sex and passion lately. Things change when you have a kid."
Shannon nods knowingly. "You don't have to justify shit. He's a grown man who made his choices."
"You know what I need?" I ask quietly.
She grins gently. "More wine?"
"Yes."
I hand her my glass as she stands. "I'll bring the whole bottle."
I manage a faint smile as she disappears into the kitchen. But the second she's gone, the fear returns—clawing up my throat, squeezing my chest.
I can't breathe.
I stare at the blank TV screen, memories flooding in brutally. His late nights. His short temper last week when I dared question him. His way of making me feel like I was the problem.
Had he been with her then?
A sick ache pangs in my gut.
Did he tell her he loved her? That she was beautiful? Did he look at her like she was everything to him?
I close my eyes, willing the thought away, but it festers, grows, multiplies. I know that look. I've seen it in his eyes before—when it was me .
He was supposed to be my person. My forever.
Shannon returns, refilling my glass to the brim. Her eyes study me with quiet worry.
"What's going through that head of yours?"
I stare into the wine for a beat.
"She knew about me, didn't she?"
It's not even a question, but Shannon answers anyway.
"Of course, she did. Everyone knows you guys. You were literal goals. She's a fucking homewrecker." Her lips curl into a sneer. "Honestly, I'm this close to showing up at her shitty little apartment and knocking her teeth out."
"Don't tempt me," I mutter, gripping the glass tighter. "But...the decision was his, Shannon. She didn't say our vows. He did."
Shannon's mouth twists in frustration, sipping her wine as I continue quietly.
"I think he only told me because she sold her story to the press."
Shannon's eyes widen. "So it wasn't guilt consuming him? It wasn't that he decided to come clean. You think it was damage control?"
"Yep."
"Jesus Christ, Ava." She shakes her head, jaw clenched. "Did he really think he could have an affair and it wouldn't come out? He's so fucking high-profile. What an idiot."
"He said she sold the story because he tried to end it." I swirl my wine, watching the liquid spin.
Shannon snorts. "He's a liar."
I nod, blinking back fresh tears as her hand squeezes my knee.
"I'm sorry," she says softly. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"You're right though." I exhale shakily. "He's a liar. And I don't even know who he is anymore."