Chapter 1
Leanne Castillo had just finished a delicate retinal reattachment surgery and was stepping out of the OR. After scrubbing out, she flicked on her phone to find a call from Joy Campbell, her bestie.
“Babe, your hubby’s back in town?” asked Joy.
“I’ve been trying to hit you up for lunch, but you ignored me. What’s up? Your man flies back, and you don’t give your best friend a heads-up?”
Leanne shut her locker and headed out. “Just got out of surgery. I had no idea he was flying in today.”
“What?” Joy’s no-nonsense tone burst through, “That jerk, he’s returned and didn’t even bother to call you?”
Leanne sighed. “When has he ever?”
It had barely been six months since they tied the knot when Curtis Richardson had jetted off to Starlake City without discussion with Leanne.
He’d return once or twice a year, landing without giving her a heads-up every time.
But Curtis did have a brilliant mind. In just a few years, his ElitePinnacle Investments had carved out a legend on Bullion Boulevard.
At 27, he was already on the list of the top 50 most influential people in global finance and graced the cover of “The Banker” magazine, all of which Leanne had learned from the financial news, not from him.
“Girl, your man’s return is all over the news. The girls at the office have been buzzing about it all day, and here you are, totally clueless.”
Joy
y sent a screenshot of the headline news and continued, “Just look at that. Ignoring hist personality for a second, your husband is so handsome!”
The Richardson family, one of Stonebridge’s elites, had always been a hot topic for the local financial media. Curtis’ comings and goings had become even more of a focal point these
years. The domestic press seemed to know more about his whereabouts than Leanne, his wife.
The photo was a candid shot at the airport, a Gulfstream G650 jet parked at its private slot, with a tall, imposing man descending the steps.
Curtis’ face was beyond handsome, with chiseled features and a deep-set brow, nose, and eyes that stood out in the bright afternoon sun
His sleek suit hugged a frame that boasted broad shoulders and long legs, his every move radiating a natural air of aristocracy.
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An assistant followed a half step behind, reporting something to him while a secretary pushed luggage behind them, all business.
But Curtis appeared relaxed, a hint of exhaustion lingering maybe from the long flight. His side profile in the photo radiated a vibe of casual indifference.
Leanne stared at the photo.
Curtis was back?
And she found out later than Joy.
“So, I guess you’re not coming out for dinner with me tonight,” Joy grumbled. “I just got a bonus and wanted to treat you.”
Leanne replied, “Don’t worry. I won’t let your treat skip. We’ll catch up another day.”
After hanging up, Leanne noticed the sky outside had darkened.
She had been so busy that she hadn’t even had time to eat, starving to the point of feeling hollow. She hurriedly hailed a cab to her married home in the luxurious Crystal Cove
Villas.
As a busy doctor, Leanne often worked late and rarely cooked, especially since they had a housekeeper. Plus, cooking was not exactly her forte.
Curtis’ timing couldn’t be worse. Leanne had just fired the housekeeper, and it would be shameful if he came home to find nothing to eat.
Following an online recipe, Leanne whipped up a few dishes, a two-hour ordeal. The meal was ready, but Curtis hadn’t shown up ye
yet.
She waited at the dining table for nearly an hour and then tried calling Curtis, to no avail. The message she sent went unanswered as well.
The hunger pangs had passed, leaving her with no appetite.
The clock struck ten, and Curtis was still not home.
Leanne debated whether to put away the cold meal and was mindlessly scrolling through social media when she came across a post from Devin Perez.
Just two words for the caption. [Welcome back.]
She clicked on the photo, which seemed to be taken at some swanky club, Curtis surrounded by his buddies in a glittering setting.
His suit jacket was off, the top two buttons of his expensive shirt undone, revealing a casually open collar, adding to his indifferent air.
The photo was taken from the side, showing his long legs crossed at the ankles, a cigarette casually held in his elegant hand, which rested on the armrest.
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A woman in a tight mini-skirt sat close beside him, her gaze toward him oozing with.
adoration.
Curtis looked relaxed, a slight smile playing on his lips..
Leanne closed the app, picked up her fork, and started eating the cold food. After cleaning.
the kitchen, she retreated to her room for a shower and some much-needed rest.
up
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