I Buried Him for Five Years, Then He Came Back with Another Woman Chapter 01

I Buried Him for Five Years, Then He Came Back with Another Woman Chapter 01

Five years ago, Adrian Caldwell supposedly drowned while saving me.

For five years, I kept Caldwell Maritime afloat, held off his enemies, and looked after everyone Adrian had once considered family.

But just as I was about to scatter his ashes at sea, a brightly lit engagement yacht glided toward me.

A massive engagement photo hung along its hull.

The man in the photograph was my fiancé, who was supposed to have been dead for five years.

The woman in his arms was Tessa Lane, the best friend I had personally rescued from a human trafficking ring.

I went rigid.

The next second, Reid Lawson, who had followed me for ten years, pressed a gun to the back of my head.

“Maren, don’t ruin Adrian and Tessa’s happiness,” he said.

Adrian stood on deck, watching me with cold indifference.

“Maren Hale, you’ve smothered me for the past five years.”

…

The sea wind struck me with its sharp, briny scent.

The urn in my arms knocked against the railing with a dull thud.

I looked up at him.

“Say that again, Adrian.”

Adrian steadied Tessa by the waist and lowered his voice.

“I’m alive.”

“I never died five years ago.”

The deck fell silent for a moment.

Then someone looked away.

Someone else raised a champagne glass.

Another guest quietly hid a confetti cannon behind his back.

No one gasped.

No one demanded an explanation.

The longtime Caldwell employees stood on both sides of the carpet in formal evening wear, as if they had rehearsed this reunion.

I gave a short laugh.

“You all knew?”

No one answered.

I looked at the first mate behind Adrian.

“You knew too, Derek?”

First Mate Derek Cole lowered his head.

“Ms. Hale, tonight is Mr. Caldwell’s special night.”

I turned to the woman who handled the company books.

“Mrs. Walker, when Caldwell Maritime was on the verge of collapse five years ago, I made sure your son could stay in college.”

She tightened her grip on her champagne flute.

“Ms. Hale, everyone has to move on eventually.”

I clutched the urn until its edge bit into my fingers.

“Move on?”

“I spent a week at his memorials holding his photograph, and you were moving on?”

“I sold three vessels to settle Caldwell Maritime’s claims and keep its creditors at bay, and you were moving on?”

“I gave the Caldwell fleet priority access to Hale docks—and all of you were moving on?”

Adrian frowned.

“No one asked you to do any of that.”

His words struck harder than a slap.

Even the waves suddenly sounded harsh.

I stared at him.

“No one asked me?”

“When Caldwell Maritime was collapsing, who begged me to take control and save it?”

Someone nearby cleared his throat.

Adrian’s expression hardened.

“Don’t charge every debt to me.”

“I’ve been dead to the world for five years.”

“You chose to wait for me.”

I nodded.

“Fine.”

“My choice.”

Tessa rested a hand over her stomach and stepped forward.

She wore a white dress embroidered with tiny stars.

Her fingers curled around Adrian’s sleeve.

“Maren, don’t blame Adrian.”

“These five years were hard on him too.”

I looked at her stomach.

Reid immediately stepped closer, the gun still touching my head.

“Tessa is pregnant, Maren.”

“Don’t go near her.”

Adrian raised one hand.

“Protect Tessa.”

Two security guards moved in front of her at once.

Tessa’s eyes reddened.

“I know you hate me.”

“But the baby is innocent.”

I studied the wall of men around her.

“You called yourself innocent when I pulled you out of that traffickers’ warehouse too.”

Tessa bit her lip.

“I’ve never forgotten what you did for me.”

“That’s why I wanted you here tonight.”

I laughed aloud.

“You invited me?”

Reid lowered the gun but remained in front of her.

“Mr. Caldwell said you couldn’t be allowed to cause a scene aboard the yacht.”

I turned toward him.