99 Houses for His Love One for My Freedom novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2

For five straight days, Ethan’s once–pristine social feed had come alive–vivid and buzzing, just like his love

life.

Doves released in the downtown plaza by day.

Parades watched from the rooftop of the Grand Mirage Hotel by night.

Every place they visited, every picture–perfect moment with Tiffany, I saw it all.

As for the promise he made to me? He probably forgot the second she got off the plane.

I stood up to pack, the room a scattered mess of clothes and boxes, when my phone rang. It was Ethan’s

assistant, Lucas.

“Mrs. Whitmore, just a reminder–the fireworks show at Starlake Pier is set for eight tonight. You’ll be there, right?”

“If anything goes wrong, Mr. Whitmore’s gonna have my head.”

Lucas was the only one who still called me “Mrs. Whitmore,” the only one who knew we were even married.

I didn’t want to make things difficult for him, so I agreed.

But when it came time to actually leave for Starlake Pier, my steps hesitated.

Five years ago, right after our wedding, Ethan had arranged a secret firework display–one only Lucas had dared to tip me off about.

Now I was returning to the same place. But my heart… was nothing like it was back then.

By the time I reached the pier, the crowd was already swelling.

Tourists. Locals. Even reporters.

The entire shoreline glittered with anticipation.

A strange unease settled in. I began to doubt myself–was I in the wrong place?

I pulled out my phone and dialed Ethan, but got voicemail; I tried again, still nothing.

I didn’t even know what I was hoping for at this point.

Eight o’clock was just minutes away. The crowd grew louder.

Someone shouted, “The show’s about to start!”

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“This whole display was arranged by Mr. Whitmore for his wife–lucky us, huh?”

I froze.

Ethan had always kept up the image of a bachelor in public. So the “wife” they were talking about… wasn’t

1. me.

I knew the best view of the fireworks would be from the northern edge of the pier.

And since I was already here, I figured–why not watch?

At least the fireworks wouldn’t lie.

The crowd pushed forward, and I was swept with it.

Then I saw him.

Right there, in the best spot, with Tiffany wrapped tightly in his arms.

One after another, fireworks bloomed in the sky above them, bursting like glittering confessions.

Each explosion echoed in my ears–loud, beautiful, deafening.

And then, in the midst of all that noise, I heard his voice-

Ethan, whispering words of devotion into Tiffany’s ear, surrounded by cameras and flashing lights.

A reporter stepped forward, holding out a microphone.

“Mrs. Whitmore, how are you feeling about this?”

Ethan held Tiffany close, his gaze soft with expectation.

Tiffany took the mic, her expression coy as she opened her mouth to speak—

Then she paused.

Because our eyes met.

Ethan’s breath hitched. His lips parted before he could stop himself.

“…Maddie.”

For one surreal moment, everything stopped.

The fireworks faded. The crowd hushed.

Every pair of eyes turned toward the woman he’d just named.

Me.

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Tiffany looked at me, arched a perfectly plucked brow, and turned to Ethan.

“And who exactly is that?”

Ethan stammered, licking his lips, clearly scrambling for a way to clean up the mess.

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