Our Wedding Was Ruined and I Found a Husband 44

Chapter 44 

Laila’s POV 

Riley’s name lit up my phone screen right as I was neck–deep in contract revisions. 

Weird. She never called during business hours. 

“Hey, what’s-” 

“We need to talk. Right now.” Her voice trembled. “I just left from seeing Jason. He and Marcus ambushed me at a coffee shop.” 

Ice water flooded my veins. “What?” 

“They grilled me for over an hour. Questions about you. About Laila. Everything.” Her breathing came shallow and quick. 

I shot up from my chair. Made it to my office door in three steps. Locked it. 

“What’d you tell him?” 

“I stuck to the script. Said I met you years after Laila disappeared. You’re different people. But Nessa…” A beat of silence. “He straight–up asked if Vanessa was Laila. Direct hit.” 

The room did a little spin. 

“He’s way closer than we figured,” Riley pushed on. “The way he stared at me. Those questions. He’s connecting dots.” 

“Did you manage to hold it together?” 

“Barely. My hands shook so bad I nearly dropped my coffee.” She let out this laugh that sounded more like a sob. “I don’t know if he bought it. Marcus sat there taking notes the whole time.” 

I collapsed into my chair. Palm pressed hard against my forehead. 

“I’m sorry,” Riley said, voice going quiet. “But I can’t do this again. If he calls me back, pushes harder… I might crack. Lying to an Alpha’s face? I’m not built for that.” 

“I get it.” 

“Do you though? Because this game you’re playing? It’s dangerous. Jason’s not some idiot. And he’s obsessed- I saw it in his eyes.” 

Obsessed. With a ghost. With the guilt of a dead girl. 

Never with me when I was actually standing right there. 

“Thanks for the heads–up,” I managed. “I’ll watch my back.” 

“Watch more than that. Maybe end the business relationship now. Cut ties before he pieces it together.” 

After we hung up, I just sat there. Shaking. 

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Jason had asked Riley point–blank if Vanessa was Laila, which meant his suspicion ran deep. 

How much time did I have before he found actual proof? 

My email dinged. A calendar notification. 

Contract finalization at Moon Ridge Pack. Three days out. Attendance mandatory. 

My stomach hit the floor. 

Pack territory. Walking straight into Jason’s kingdom. Where dozens of wolves who’d known Laila might take one look at my face and remember. 

This was a nightmare scenario. 

I called William. He picked up on the second ring. 

“Hey. You okay?” 

“Not even close. Jason interrogated Riley today. About me. About Laila.” 

Dead silence. Then swearing. “How much does he suspect?” 

“Too damn much. And I’ve got contract meetings at his pack in three days.” 

“I’m coming with you.” 

“That’ll make it worse. He already sees you as competition.” 

“So, what’s your plan? You can’t skip the meeting—that’ll raise every red flag.” 

He had a point. Refusing would look suspicious as hell and tank the business deal I desperately needed. 

Trapped. I was completely trapped. 

“I’ll go,” I said. “Professional. Quick in and out.” 

“This is a terrible idea.” 

“I don’t exactly have options here,” 

After hanging up, I stared at my screen. Contract details blurred into meaningless shapes. 

Someone rattled my office door. They tried the handle. 

“Ms. Harper?” Sheila’s voice dripped artificial sweetness with poison underneath. “Are you in there?” 

I unlocked it and swung the door open. 

Sheila stood there wearing that calculating smile. “I heard about the pack meeting. Congrats on landing such a major contract.” 

“Thanks.” 

“Though I’m wondering…” Head tilt. Fake concern. “Will you actually be able to attend? With Ava’s surgery 

and 

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all your personal drama?” 

The subtext screamed loud and clear. Too distracted. Too weak. Too compromised for important business. 

“I’ll be there,” I said. Ice in my tone. 

“Really? Walking into Alpha Bradshaw’s territory seems… risky. For someone in your situation.” Her smile stretched wider. “Maybe I should go instead. Handle negotiations.” 

My jaw locked tight. “I said I’m handling it.” 

“But can you though? Everyone’s talking about how stressed you’ve been. This might be too much.” 

She was baiting me. Trying to watch me crack. 

“Your concern is noted, Sheila. I’m perfectly capable of managing my contracts.” 

“If you say so.” She turned, paused dramatically. “Though if something goes wrong… if you can’t deliver… well, we both know the consequences.” 

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