The CEO's Sister, The Rival's Wife

"How could that be, Connor? I've only ever thought of Audrey as a sister."

"She's a great person. I just looked out for her a bit more at the company, that's all."

"I never dreamed you'd get the wrong impression."

I stared hard at Edwin's achingly familiar face.

A year-long secret affair.

Three hundred and sixty-five nights of stolen passion.

And with one casual, dismissive sentence, he’d erased it all.

A sharp pang lanced through my chest, the sound of something inside me cracking.

But I took a deep, steadying breath and forced a smile onto my lips.

I stepped forward, linking my arm through Connor's.

"Don't worry, Connor. I'll bring my boyfriend to meet you on Thanksgiving."

Connor patted the back of my hand, his smile bright and encouraging.

"That's my girl! I can't wait to finally meet the guy you've been hiding from me."

"I'll have to vet him properly. I can't have just anyone dating my little sister."

Edwin didn't seem to be listening, his gaze fixed on Anaya, completely absorbed.

A piercing ache stabbed at my heart, but it was quickly followed by a spark of reckless revenge.

I curled my lips into a sharp smile and shot him a pointed look.

"Coincidentally, my boyfriend is also a CEO."

"His company is in Chicago."

The air around us went still.

The smile on Edwin's face instantly stiffened.

He glared at me, his lips forming the silent words: Don't you dare.

Just like he used to do when we would steal kisses in his penthouse.

Whenever the housekeeping staff walked by, he would shove me into the walk-in closet in a panic.

Then, he would peek through the door, his eyes pleading for me not to be angry as he stole a soft, apologetic kiss on my forehead.

But now, the panic in his eyes was pure fear—fear that I would ruin his perfect new life with Anaya.

Fear that I would expose him for the two-timing hypocrite he was.

I looked into those familiar, pleading eyes.

An invisible vise clamped around my heart, sending a shooting pain all the way to my fingertips.

My lips twitched. I looked away, pointedly ignoring him.

"But he's very low-key. I'll bring him to the next gala, and you'll all get to meet him."

Edwin visibly relaxed.

Suddenly, Connor's phone buzzed.