My Best Friend’s Secret Plan, My Dead Husband’s Watching Eyes Chapter 02

My Best Friend’s Secret Plan, My Dead Husband’s Watching Eyes Chapter 02

“A misunderstanding?”

Miles blinked at me.

Then he reached for my hand again, his voice going soft.

“Maren, don’t do this. I know you’re upset about the ring. We’ll go pick out a new one right now, okay?”

Vanessa stepped in with a smile, slipping her arm through mine.

“See? He was just nervous. You two need to make this official already so I can finally relax.”

[Oh, she’ll relax all right. The second that ring goes on your finger, your dead husband starts his body count.]

[She’s ice-cold. And you’ve never done a single thing to hurt her.]

I looked at her, at the face I’d known for ten years, and for the first time, I didn’t recognize it.

“Why do you want me married off so badly?”

Vanessa froze.

“What has gotten into you? You’ve always liked Miles.”

“You said he was younger than Graham, that you were tired of Graham smelling like an old man. You said you and Miles…”

Graham was only two years older than me, but he carried himself like a much older man.

He dressed in muted tones and classic cuts that only aged him further.

People assumed he was older. Once, some guy trying to get my attention called Graham an old man to his face. That guy ended up in the hospital.

“I’m older than you. If I go first, who’s going to look after you?”

It ate at him. It always had.

And I had never, not once, said I didn’t want him.

She was putting words in my mouth.

I slapped Vanessa across the face.

Miles shoved me to the ground before the sound had even faded.

“What the hell is wrong with you? She’s delicate. You know she gets panic attacks! You can’t just hit her!”

He pulled Vanessa into his arms like she was the one who’d been hurt. The worry on his face said everything. He couldn’t even hide it.

I was still on the ground. He didn’t even glance at me.

I wasn’t stupid. I could see exactly where I ranked.

“The ring was my fault, okay? Be mad at me. Don’t take it out on her.”

His panic cracked his act wide open.

Whatever Miles felt for me, it wasn’t what he’d been selling.

I didn’t say a word. My ankle had twisted hard during the fall, the joint already throbbing and starting to swell.

He noticed. Froze. Then guilt dragged him over to help me, a beat too late.

“I’m sorry, Maren. Come on, I’ll take you to the hospital.”

I pulled away from his hand.

“Vanessa looks like she’s going to pass out. Take her first.”

Miles started to argue, then caught himself. He nodded a little too fast.

“Okay. I’ll take Vanessa to the hospital first, then I’ll come back for you. We’ll pick out a ring after, yeah?”

He scooped Vanessa up and was gone.

I got myself to the hospital on my own. And of course, there they were.

Miles was leaning over Vanessa, brushing his thumb across her temple, the same thing he used to do with me.

After Graham died, I shut down.

Billions of dollars in the hands of a grieving woman with nobody to protect her. That was a target, not an inheritance.

Graham’s extended family circled like vultures. Between their scheming and my grief, there were weeks I couldn’t make myself walk out the front door.

That’s when Vanessa brought Miles into my life.

He showed up every day. He dragged me back into the world.

I still loved Graham. But Graham was gone, and loving a dead man doesn’t keep you alive.

I really thought Miles meant it.

Miles spotted me watching. He crossed the room fast.

“Don’t worry. Vanessa’s fine. She was just shaken up.”

“Let’s go pick out a ring. Vanessa’s got great taste. She’ll help you find the perfect one.”

“I’m not marrying you.”

His face went rigid.

“It was one mistake, Maren. One. Why can’t you let it go?”

“I sold my family’s place back home and put a down payment on a house. A real house, for us. That’s how serious I am about this.”

He pulled a shiny new house key from his pocket and held it out to me.

“Maren, I’m going to take care of you. I’ll make sure you never feel that kind of pain again.”

[Right. After the wedding, you’ll be paying his mortgage while he never works a day in his life.]

[He’ll need the newest sports car, obviously. And when you’re dead, he won’t even bother to claim your body.]

I actually laughed.

“Paid in full?”

Miles flinched like I’d caught him in a lie.

“Okay, it’s financed. But I’ll handle the mortgage myself. Maren, trust me.”

Vanessa stepped up beside him, letting out a long sigh.

“Look, I know you care about money. You told me yourself that if Graham hadn’t been loaded, you never would’ve married someone that obsessive.”

“You said Miles was different. That you loved Miles. That you never loved Graham.”