Our Wedding Was Ruined and I Found a Husband 20

Riley was silent for a long moment before sighing. “Just… be careful, Nessa. Some skeletons don’t stay buried. And Jason Bradshaw? He’s the kind that digs them up.” 

*** 

Thursday came faster than I wanted. 

I tried to bury myself in meetings that morning, tried to pretend this was just another negotiation. But the contract sat heavy in my desk drawer, waiting. A signature line that felt more like a noose than an agreement. 

At precisely two o’clock, Jacob knocked on my office door. “Ms. Harper? Alpha Bradshaw is here for your appointment.” 

“Send him in.” 

I expected Jason alone. Instead, Brittany swept in behind him like a shadow made of diamonds and venom. 

Ice sluiced through my veins. 

She looked exactly the same. Effortless blonde waves, designer perfection, that superior smirk that could curdle blood. 

Her gaze swept my office with disdain before landing on me. Her lips curved into that familiar sneer. 

Her eyes swept my office dismissively before landing on me with that familiar sneer. 

“Nice office,” Brittany said, glancing around dismissively. “Very… humble. I was expecting Vanessa Harper to have something more impressive.” 

She settled into the chair across from my desk like she was doing me a favor by gracing it with her presence. 

“I’m sure she’ll be here soon,” Brittany continued, examining her perfectly manicured nails. “Though honestly, I don’t understand what all the fuss is about. From what I hear, she’s probably just another opportunistic saleswoman trying to capitalize on pack politics.” 

Jason’s jaw tightened. “Brittany—‘ 

“I 

“What? It’s not like she’s here to be offended.” Brittany’s voice dripped condescension. “I’m just saying, this whole mysterious act is probably just marketing. Make yourself seem exclusive so people want you more.” 

Heat crawled up my neck. Six years, and she could still make me feel like that scared eighteen–year–old girl. 

“Wow, somehow you seemed to have topped your rudeness from the other day,” I said coolly, standing slowly. 

Brittany blinked, looking confused. “I’m sorry, what? Do I know you?” 

“The elevator incident with the coffee. You told me you’d have Vanessa fire me,” I continued, letting steel harden my voice. “Remember that?” 

“I…” She looked genuinely puzzled, then dismissive. “I meet a lot of service staff. I can’t be expected to remember every-” 

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Chapter 20 

+25 Bonus 

“Brittany.” Jason’s voice carried that dangerous Alpha edge. “Stop. Talking. Now.” 

“Why? What’s the big deal? She’s obviously just some assistant or-” 

“She IS Vanessa Harper,” Jason cut in sharply. 

The silence that followed was deafening. 

Brittany’s face went through several expressions–confusion, disbelief, then mortification. “She’s… what?” 

“The woman you’ve been dismissing as ‘just some employee‘ is Vanessa Harper. The liaison we’ve been trying to secure a contract with for months.” 

Brittany’s mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. “But… she can’t be… I mean…” 

“Do you still want me to fire myself?” I asked, letting the sarcasm drip like honey. 

Jason cleared his throat, clearly trying not to smile. “Perhaps we should focus on the contract?” 

I pulled the papers from my drawer, spreading them across polished wood. Clean terms. A year bound to him. 

“Everything’s in order.” 

I signed quickly, my hand steady until the last page. My flourish curved the V in Vanessa dangerously close to an L, the same way it had since I was eighteen. 

Jason’s eyes tracked every stroke. He lingered too long. 

“Vanessa,” he said casually—too casually. “That’s such a unique signature. Almost looks like your name begins with an L.” 

My blood froze. 

“Messy handwriting,” I said lightly, forcing a laugh. “I’ve been told that since grade school. Hazard of writing too fast.” 

But his gaze stayed on my face, unblinking. Calculating. The way a predator studies prey that moves too suddenly. 

I capped the pen, slid the contracts across the desk. My hands trembled despite my control. “That should cover everything.” 

“Almost.” Jason gathered the papers with deliberate calm, then looked up, green eyes sharp enough to cut. 

“One question,” he said, tone conversational but lined with steel. “Which pack did you belong to before this?” 

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