My Husband Kept A Mistress As My Stand-In

Maddie Mills hovered quietly in the corner of the living room, watching the relatives gravitate toward Declan Williams like eager kids crowding Santa at a holiday party. Archer Williams stood beside Eliza Sanchez, flashing his brother a polite smile.

Just moments ago, the uncles had been falling over themselves to praise Archer. Now their attention swung to Declan, their faces bright with eager smiles.

"Declan, what brings you home so suddenly?"

"Heard you've been busy buying up a company in Europe. You get more impressive by the day, Declan."

"Come in, sit down. We brewed our best Arabica for you."

Archer's expression flickered at the shift, but he recovered fast, leading the way with a bright, easy smile.

Maddie watched Declan get ushered in like a celebrity. Instinctively, she stepped back, letting the crowd swallow her at the edges. She shuffled sideways, making room for others, trying to fade into the background.

Declan Williams strode in like he owned the room, his presence a world apart from Archer's upbeat charm. There was something brooding and aloof about him—like a towering tree dusted with snow. Striking, yet untouchable.

He nodded at the praise, his gaze drifting across the room with cool detachment.

But the second his gaze landed on Maddie, he froze.

"Something wrong, Declan?" Archer asked, stopping beside him.

Declan didn't answer. His eyes settled on Maddie, and though the look lasted only a heartbeat, she felt strangely exposed.

She and Declan had barely ever spoken, yet something about his presence rattled her.

Archer and the others followed his line of sight. Archer's brow lifted.

"Maddie, come say hi to your brother-in-law."

Maddie had barely readied herself to move when Declan beat her to it and walked toward her.

The move caught everyone off guard—especially Archer. Until now, people came to Declan. Not the other way around.

Declan's eyes gave nothing away. "Maddie?"

Maddie's pulse kicked up under his attention, like a sudden breeze against her skin.

She hadn't expected him to speak to her directly, not after so many years of near silence between them.

She nodded. "Declan. It's been a long..."

Before she could finish, Declan extended his hand.

The gesture looked utterly natural.

Instinctively, Maddie took it, their palms meeting.

The moment their hands touched, his grip tightened just a fraction. His thumb brushed across her fingers, leaving a slow, lingering warmth.

A second later, he let go.

Archer slid in smoothly, wrapping an arm around Maddie's waist and lacing his fingers through hers at her side.

"How long are you in town this time, Declan? Maddie and I should take you out to dinner."

Declan's gaze dropped to their joined hands, then to Archer's arm around her waist. "About a month."

Just then, the Williams family patriarch started down the stairs, the butler at his elbow.

Declan went to speak with him, and soon after, dinner was announced.

Maddie followed Archer to their seats on the left side of the main table.

As everyone settled, Declan and Archer took their places at the head of the table. The patriarch sat in the center, Eliza Sanchez and Declan on either side. Maddie and Archer were farther down—Maddie directly across from Declan.

Dinner unfolded with the conversation orbiting Declan and his latest victories. Maddie ate quietly, but she couldn't help listening.

Wall Street powerhouse. Top shareholder in Amazon. Financial dealmaker. Founder of a smart-transport AI...

Every title painted the same picture: a man with a remarkable career.

She remembered seeing his name on a Wall Street invitation list, near the top while hers sat at the very bottom.

They'd barely crossed paths over the years, but she remembered her wedding day. This elusive brother-in-law had shown up just long enough to hand over a gift—then vanished.

In only a few years, Declan had become a major player on Wall Street. There was no denying what he was capable of.

As dinner wound down, guests drifted around over dessert.

Maddie remembered why she'd come: the marriage certificate. She excused herself, claiming she needed to change upstairs.

Archer, still distracted by Declan, waved her off without looking. "Go ahead."

Maddie slipped upstairs to Archer's room on the third floor.

There it was. A framed copy of the marriage certificate Archer had given her, displayed beside their wedding photo.

Maddie walked toward it, her mind replaying every intimate moment between Archer and that other woman. Her fingers curled tight as she reached for the frame.

The official-looking seal seemed to mock her for being so naive.

She never should have gone easy on him. Never should have given Archer another chance.

Once a cheater, always a cheater.

Swallowing her disgust, Maddie dragged a swivel chair over and carefully climbed onto it.

She smoothed down her pearl-white dress and reached up.

Her fingertips grazed the air just two inches from the frame.

Maddie rose onto her toes, straining, but the frame stayed just out of reach.

Frowning, she scanned the room from her perch and grabbed a book from beside the cabinet. The moment she leaned over, footsteps echoed down the hall.

Quick. Decisive. A man's footsteps.

Her heart pounded. She tried to climb down, but her sleeve caught on the edge of the cabinet.

She yanked at it, caught off guard when the door swung open.

Maddie froze. Her balance tipped, and she tumbled backward off the chair.

A startled cry broke from her lips, but the fall never came.

A strong hand caught her thigh, another steadied her waist, pulling her into a firm hold.

She landed against a solid chest, the musky scent of sandalwood wrapping around her.

It wasn't Archer's scent.

She looked up and nearly bumped into his chin.

Declan released her at once and stepped back, giving her room.

Her face burned, the warmth of his hand on her thigh lingering with embarrassment.

She stumbled over her words. "Th-thank you."

Declan's steady gaze flicked over her flushed face and the red mark where he'd gripped her. His Adam's apple bobbed.

"I didn't realize anyone was up here. Sorry."

Maddie shook her head, embarrassment climbing hotter up her neck.

She was the one who'd inconvenienced him.

Declan glanced up. "Need help with that?"

Her eyes followed his.

The framed marriage certificate sat exposed on top of the cabinet.