Divorced my Abusive Husband, Married his Rival!
[Mature content: R-18+]
The world thought I had it all. Married to Lucas Hamilton, the charming, handsome man who every woman desired and every man envied, I was supposed to be the luckiest woman alive. Our wedding was like something out of a fairy tale, complete with a dazzling gown, a sea of flowers, and adoring gazes. Everyone saw our smiles, our perfectly timed dances, our laughter. But nobody saw the darkness lurking behind Lucas’s eyes, the kind that only revealed itself when we were alone, when the cameras were gone.
Three years into our marriage, I felt like I was living with a stranger. The man I had fallen in love with, who had promised to love and protect me, had morphed into someone else—someone cruel and controlling. To the outside world, we were still the perfect couple, but inside our lavish home, I walked on eggshells, never knowing what would trigger Lucas’s wrath.
The day I found out I was pregnant was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. After three years of trying, of hoping, I was finally going to give Lucas the child he always wanted. I rushed home, my heart full of joy and a nervous excitement, eager to share the news. But the home I entered wasn't filled with joy. Lucas was waiting, his face stormy, photos scattered across the marble countertop—photos of me and his brother, twisted into a narrative I didn't recognize.
“You’ve been sleeping around?” he accused, his voice dangerously low.
I froze, shock gripping me as I looked at the pictures, my denials dying in my throat. They showed me with his brother, Richard, at a moment that had been innocent but looked compromising through the lens. Richard had been forward with me on several occasions, but I had always pushed him away. I had never betrayed Lucas.
But Lucas didn't believe me. His rage was terrifying. The man who had vowed to protect me became my worst nightmare. He struck me, over and over, the pain blurring into a haze of fear and disbelief. I pleaded with him, told him about the baby, hoping it would stop him. It didn’t. He just kept hitting me until everything went black.
When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed, pain coursing through every part of my body. The baby was gone. I had lost my child because of Lucas's unfounded jealousy. The grief was overwhelming, but there was no time to mourn—not when I had to think about survival.
That’s when Karl Tanner appeared. My husband’s rival, a man Lucas both hated and feared. Karl was everything Lucas was not—calm, considerate, and genuinely concerned for my wellbeing. When he asked me to marry him can I trade my previous prison for another?
Warning: Book touches on sensitive topic of domestic violence and abuse. If you read I hope you know it’s okay to leave and you will find love again.^^