1 Chapter 1

The sun has set already as I pace in the entryway of the mansion. My husband hasn't gotten home yet and I am starting to worry. The day started off great like any other day. We both woke up and had breakfast together before we both set out for work. I had met with my brother, Jaxon, to look at a property we are thinking about purchasing to turn into a bar. The only thing about that is that my husband doesn't know my family. I wanted him to love me for me so I hid my background from everyone who would try to look into it. My brother helped me make a fake background file just in case someone got nosy.

My family is a well-known family in our city of Nashville, Tennessee. My name is Natalia Lane. I am 29 years old and have brown hair with green eyes and stand at 5 foot 4. My husband, Christopher Lane, is from a family that wasn't from the same background. From the time he graduated, Christopher has worked extremely hard to get to the position he is in today as the CEO of the Lane Publisher Company at the age of 31. We met at a wedding that of a friend we had in common and hit it off right from the start.

Two years after we started to date, he proposed to me on a trip to Italy for vacation. He had taken us to a winery in Verona then we went to a fancy restaurant where he proposed. It was so romantic and over the top but I would have been just as happy if it happened at home or at a fast food restaurant. The place or the size of the ring isn't what is important. It's the show of love and affection with the one you love that matters. Now, five years later, we live in a beautiful mansion in Belle Meade that is honestly to big for just the two of us.

I look at the clock on the wall again and it is eight already. Christopher is two hours late getting home and I try to call his phone again. Like the other six times, there is no answer. My worry starts to build more and more with every tick of the clock. Christopher always messages me or calls when he is going to be working late at the office.

Just as I am about to call his office again, headlights flash through the window from our driveway. I rush over and look out to see his BMW coming to a stop. Quickly, I go over to make sure that the table looks great and the food still is in place. I had the staff help me with the dinner set up tonight since I had some big news to tell Christopher.

The front door opens to reveal Christopher in his Navy Armani suit. Christopher is 6 foot 4 with dark brown hair. His eyes are bright blue with some flakes of green and has a chiseled jawline that just adds to his appeal. His voice when he speaks is deep and sends chills down my spine whenever we talk about anything. My heart fluttered at the sight of my husband getting home safely and my worry disappeared in an instant.

"Honey! You're home. I was so worried when you didn't come home or answer any of my calls," I tell him and hug him. Something is off because he doesn't hug me back like he normally does. I pull back and look into his eyes. "What's wrong?"

Christopher looks at me in anger and pushes me away from him before he walks towards the dining room. He stops when he sees what I had set up for him and turns to walk away.

"Christopher, what is wrong? Talk to me honey," I call out to him. He stops in his tracks and turns to face me with anger blazing in his blue eyes.

"What is wrong? WHAT IS WRONG?" he yells at me as he slowly walks towards where I was standing. "I'll tell you what is wrong. You were seen cheating on me with another man today and you have the nerve to ask me what is wrong?"

"What are you talking about? I have always been faithful and never once even thought about doing that," I defend myself. My mind tries to figure out where he got the idea that I would do such a thing.

He reaches in his pocket and pulls out an envelope and tosses it at me. "I received this a few hours ago at my office. It's proof of your infidelity so you don't have to lie to me."

I open the envelope and pull out the pictures that were inside. As I look at them, they are of my brother and me looking at the possible property of our business we are wanting to open. I flip through to the last one and see my bother in the picture kissing what looks to be me. The brown hair looks close to mine and the height is almost the same, but I already know who this is because of the tattoo peeping out of the sleeve of the shirt she is wearing. The person my brother is kissing is my sister-in-law, Megan.

"The last picture isn't me. The others were taken out of context and isn't what you were led to believe. It was a busin..." I start to explain but he interrupts me.

"So you don't deny that you were with another man. I thought that I meant something to you but I guess not. My lawyer and I just drew up the divorce papers and I want you to sign them tonight," Christopher states as he pulls a folder from his briefcase. He tosses them on the table by the stairs that is next to me.

I walk over to pick them up when the front door opens up again. When I turn around, I see Chelsea, Christopher's personal assistant, walk into the mansion. She smirks at me as she passes me and wraps her arms around Christopher that is more than professional. My heart drops to my stomach as realization hits me. For months, she has called or texted me to brag about her and Christopher being together but I just brushed it off as her being jealous. When I look at my husband, I am only met with a cold expression.

I straighten my back and make the silent vow to move on and also to make them pay for what they did. "If you wanted me to leave, all you had to do is say so. Not make up some bogus excuse that I was the unfaithful one when clearly you have been all this time," I state. Christopher looks at me confused but I don't give him time to say anything. "You jumped to the conclusion that my business deal was me cheating on you but you weren't told that from the source, isn't that right Chelsea? You want the divorce? Fine, I will sign them. But I will make this one promise. You both will pay for what you have done and I will just watch on while laughing at the way karma will get you both."

I reach into the drawer of the table and pull out a pen. As I start to flip through the papers, Max, Christopher's lawyer, walks in. I sign everywhere I need to and get to the page about the personal properties. In the divorce agreement, I am supposed to receive 5 million dollars and some of the houses we purchased together. I mark out all of that and sign the line designated for me at the bottom.

"Mrs. Lane, why did you mark out your part of the assets?" Max asked me in shock.

"I don't want anything from Mr. Lane. It seems he isn't the man I thought I had married," I state with a glare towards a shocked Christopher. I hand Max the papers and make my way upstairs to pack.

As I walk to the room I share with Christopher, I think about what comes next. Pulling out my luggage, I start to grab all of the clothes that I had bought myself in the past five years. The ones that Christopher bought stay where they are since I don't want anything that he had given me. The betrayal is enough to remind me of him. Pulling out my phone, I call one of my brothers to come pick me up. Jaxon was with Megan on a date right now like he told me earlier. So, that leaves either Huxley or Grayson. Grayson might actually kill Christopher if I had him come so the best option would be Huxley. Scrolling down to his contact, I push call and place the phone to my ear.

"Hey sis! What do I owe the honor of this call?" Huxley's cheerful voice answers after two rings.

"Brother? I need you to come get me," I say as I try to keep the tears from surfacing.

Immediately, Huxley's voice changes to concern with a hint of anger at the tone of my voice. "I'm on my way," is all he says and hangs up. I pull up my life 360 app that mom made me get and see that he is downtown and will be here in 10 minutes with the way he drives or makes his driver drive at times. If he is with his driver, then he will still have him get here in record time.

I finish putting my stuff in my bags and look at the rings on my left hand. The past five years were for nothing. This is not the way I visioned our marriage to go. Taking off the rings, I place them on the desk in the corner of the room with a note that says 'Thanks for nothing' laying where he will see it as soon as he walks in. Next, I place the envelope with the pictures into my purse for later since I know my family will be demanding an answer. My hand goes to my stomach and I take a deep breath at the fact that I don't know what the future will hold, but I know one thing is for certain. I won't be facing it alone.

Gathering my bags, I walk out of the room I have slept in for five years and make my way down to the front door. As I get to the stairs, the sight before me makes my heart clench in pain. Christopher has Chelsea in a hug with his hands on her hips while he whispers in her ear. Her giggling makes me want to hurl but I keep it in. With a stoic face, I walk down the stairs to the door. I turn around to my now ex-husband with no emotion.

"I hope that it was all worth it. Throwing away your family for this trash better be or you will always regret what you have done to me. May you get what ever comes your way," I say coldly and turn to the door.

Huxley's Rolls Royce Phantom comes to a stop at the steps just in time for my exit. I shake my head at the car for him to not get out of the car even though I can't see him. Frankie, Huxley's driver, gets out and takes my bags to the trunk then opens the door for me.

"You deny it but you have him pick you up. I always knew that you were a gold-digging slut and this just confirms it. At least now Christopher knows who you really are. This one will leave you to for a prettier woman like me," Chelsea arrogantly says from the steps. I turn to her with anger all over my face. She is the reason this is happening. The nerve of this woman to call me that when she is only after Christopher for his fame and fortune.

With an air of elegance, I walk up to her as she smirks at me. I tilt my head to the side before I slap her hard across the face. Chelsea's scream causes Christopher to come barreling out of the house like a raging bull.

"I know that you don't like this but you will not touch her again. Leave now before I call the police," he bellows at me. I just look at him in amusement and scoff. Chelsea should have became an actress with the show she is putting on with the innocent act.

"Christopher, there is no need. I am leaving but your bitch here insulted me as well as thinking that she is a higher power. You of all people know that I don't let anyone trash talk me the way she just did. Keep your bitch on a leash or the next time I won't be so nice with her punishment," I state before I get into the car.

Frankie gets into the driver seat and pulls away from the home I have known the past five years. So many happy memories were made in that house and now they are all soured by the filth that is there now.

Huxley puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into a side hug. "It's great to see you sis. We have all been wondering when you would visit again but Jaxon apparently wants you and your brain all to himself," he starts off. I know the million dollar question is about to be asked. "So, what happened tonight?"

I turn to look at him and the tears fill my eyes. "I honestly don't know where to start."

"Start from the beginning," Huxley says in a soft voice. Huxley is the fun, energetic, clown brother. He is always in a happy mood and tries to make everyone laugh. When it comes to his family, however, he turns into a killing machine if they are harmed or threatened.

"This morning, I met up with Jaxon to look at that property we were talking about. I had a check-up with the doctors today, so after the appointment, I went and got all of the ingredients to make his favorite foods tonight to celebrate. Well when he got home two hours late, he accused me of cheating on him and handed photos of me and Jaxon looking at the building. There was a photo taken of him and Megan that was presented as me in it. Christopher handed me divorce papers just as Chelsea walks in and states that they have been together for a while now." By the end of my recap of what happened, tears were falling silently down my cheeks.

Huxley sees this and moves over to pull me to him. "He doesn't deserve you. You are the most amazing woman that any man would dream of having. I hate to see you like this. The woman who is sitting here crying over a cheating bastard like you are is not my strong, kick ass sister," Huxley says with a sternness lacing into his gentle tone. "The hard part will be telling mom and dad about this."

"Huxley, that isn't going to be the hardest part," I state as I pull back from him and wipe my eyes.

"What do you mean?" Huxley asks looking at me confused.

"What I mean is, the hardest part will not happen for about seven months." I look my brother dead in his eyes and tell him the major news as my hand goes to my stomach. "I am pregnant with his child."

My brother looks down at my hand and back up to my face in shock. A few minutes pass before he regains his composure. Shifting in his seat, he sits up straighter as he looks at me. I can see concern as well as excitement dance in his eyes.

"Well shit, you were right. Telling mom and dad will be a walk in the park compared to that. We will help you through it all sis," Huxley says and pats my shoulder.