“But Curt Dudley has been lying to you.”
“If you don't believe me, try something tonight. Don't drink the orange juice he gives you, and see what happens……”
So tonight, when the orange juice came—
I didn't drink it.
Pretended to. Tipped the glass, let it touch my lips.
The second Curt left the room, I ran to the bathroom and spat every drop out.
He thought I was dead asleep, same as always.
He had no idea I heard every word.
“You haven't done anything out of line these past few days, have you?”
Curt pointed at the security camera in the living room,
a mocking smile curling the corner of his mouth.
“Whatever you've done, I already know.”
“I'm warning you—you're here as my stand-in. While I'm busy with Lila, you keep Georgia from catching on.”
“If she notices anything off, I'm coming for you first.”
Cigarette smoke drifted through the room.
I could picture it—Curt on the living room couch, cigarette pinched between his fingers, exhaling smoke like he had all the time in the world.
Rage climbed up from somewhere deep inside me.
Every night, I thought it was Curt lying next to me.
And all along, for Lila—he'd sent a stranger to spend the night in my bed. Three years. Three whole years.
After a long silence, the stand-in spoke again, hesitant.
“Mr. Dudley, Miss Pruitt still hasn't realized I'm a stand-in. Do we really keep going?”
Richard Gilbert lowered his eyes.
“I'm afraid if this goes on much longer, things will spiral out of control……”
Curt just laughed softly and clapped him on the shoulder. “Relax. You're the one person I trust.”
“When I first had you step in after the wedding, it was because I couldn't stand leaving Lila alone.”
“Georgia had no clue. The entire honeymoon, it was you beside her the whole time.”
“Three years and she still can't tell the difference.”
“With a brain that dense, she'll probably go her whole life without figuring it out.”
Something dimmed in Richard's eyes. He opened his mouth, then stopped.
“But things have been different lately.”
“Miss Pruitt, she……”
Before he could finish, a flush crept up behind his ears.
I knew exactly what he was trying to say.
These past few months, I'd been clinging to him harder at night.
Kisses and holding weren't enough anymore.
I'd been wanting more.
He was barely holding it together.
Curt looked Richard up and down, amused. “I know what you're worried about. Don't be.”
He clapped the man on the shoulder again, casual and easy, like none of it mattered.
“You can't even function in that department. It's not like I don't know.”
“Even if I put a real beauty in front of you, you wouldn't flinch. Let alone someone as plain as Georgia……”
Richard said nothing. His throat moved once, barely.
He was thinking about last night.
Georgia in a lace nightgown, every line of her slender figure traced by the fabric.
Just thinking about it made his eyes burn.
That was……plain?
“Mr. Dudley, she's still your wife. It's not really fair to her. Maybe tonight, you could stay……”
Richard hesitated, wanting to say more.
Curt cut him off, impatient.
“I don't have time. Lila's pregnant. I promised her I'd take her to her prenatal checkup tonight……”
His phone rang. He took the call, and within minutes he grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.
“Richard. Play your part—be a good stand-in.”
