Chapter 1 Chapter 1 : 96 55 vouchers Matilda Warren never dreamed her marriage would crumble - not because of some sneaky side chick , but because of her sister - in - law , Shelby Webster . Two months ago , Shelby breezed back into town and took over Brandon Grimes's world like she owned it . From mixing up hangover cures to laying out his clothes , from dishing up his meals and peeling his shrimp to linking arms for evening strolls , she even had his bathwater ready before bed . Matilda was drowning in work , leading the charge on a cutting - edge third - gen imaging chip , barely home for weeks . When the nanny dropped hints that Shelby and Brandon were acting way too close for siblings , Matilda shrugged it off . Shelby was seven years younger , practically a baby sister Brandon had saved from a snowstorm and raised like his own . Of course they'd be tight . Plus , Brandon was stone - cold with other women , never so much as cracking a grin . Matilda trusted him completely . Until today , when she came home without a heads - up . Matilda stopped dead at the bedroom door . Shelby , in a skimpy nightgown , was sprawled across Brandon , his bathrobe half - open , showing off his tanned pecs . Matilda's smile vanished like it'd been slapped off her face . " Get your lazy butt up ! " Shelby teased , giggling . " Lola's already at preschool , and you're still snoozing ! " Brandon let out a rare chuckle . " Alright , Shelby , you got me ! I'm up - quit tickling already ! " " Admit it , Brandon , I'm a better wake - up call than your wife , huh ? " Shelby said with a sly grin . Matilda held her breath , waiting for Brandon to shut it down . Six years ago , he'd cut ties with his whole family to marry her . He'd even sworn : Matilda was always right . If she was wrong , check rule one . Itera's elite called him whipped . One glance from her , and he'd roll out of bed , no fuss . But then , in a warm , indulgent tone , Brandon said , " You know it , Shelby . You're the sweetest , the best- Matilda doesn't hold a candle to you . Happy now ? " Matilda's smile shattered like cheap glass . A cold , sharp betrayal sliced through her heart . 9:12 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 1 96 55 vouchers Shelby buried her face in Brandon's chest , her voice soft and sad . " I wish I could stay like this with your forever . " " Silly girl . " Brandon murmured . " This place will always be your home ." ' Shelby's home ? ' Matilda's lips curled into a bitter smirk . ' Did Brandon forget ? This estate is mine . She'd powered through three degrees - bachelor's , master's , doctorate - in semiconductor materials in just five years , fought over by tech giants worldwide . If Brandon hadn't built this Rose Villa to win her heart , she'd never have stayed in North City . Her eyes sparked with icy anger as she turned and stormed downstairs . The nanny spotted her . " Mrs. Grimes ! You're home ! " " Yup , " Matilda said , not breaking her stride . She knew Brandon and Shelby had heard she was back . She planted herself in the living room , waiting . ***** Matilda pulled up the security footage . When she was around , Shelby played the sweet , well - mannered sister - in - law . But when Matilda was gone ? Shelby sipped from Brandon's coffee mug . Hugged him from behind . Napped with her head on his arm . And Brandon ? He didn't push her away . He let her cross every line . Worse , Shelby was getting to Lola . She'd been filling their daughter's head with tales of how awesome other rich kids had it - free to splash on perfume and play with makeup . Lola even blurted out , " Moms are the worst . Aunt Shelby's the best ! " " Babe , can we talk this out upstairs ? " Brandon's deep , cool voice cut through her thoughts . Matilda looked up . There he was , thirty , still tall and drop - dead gorgeous in his tailored suit , his sharp features calm as ever . Shelby stood beside him , petite and delicate , biting her lip like some innocent doe . Brandon , knowing he'd messed up , tried to smooth things over . " Shelby's just my sister , babe . You're my wife . It's not the same deal , so I said she can't be compared to you . " " Yeah , Matilda , Shelby chimed in . " We were just messing around . " " Messing around with you draped all over him ? Matilda snapped , her voice like ice . 9:12 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 1 : Shelby's eyes brimmed with crocodile tears . " Matilda- " " Don'put on that face . Quit acting like you're innocent ! " 96 55 65 vouchers " Matilda ! " Brandon's face darkened . " Ease up . Shelby's my sister , and she's been through a lot . Shouldn't we cut her some slack ? " " Sounds like you want to have it all ! " Matilda shot back , her jaw tight . " Brandon , this is my house . If you want this marriage to work , I don't want her here again , " she added . The Brandon she knew was loyal , steady . If he could own his mistake , she'd give him one more chance . But Brandon's temper flared . " Shelby just got back to Itera . No family , no friends , only twenty - three . Where's she supposed to go ? " " A hotel ! A cardboard box ! Marry some random guy ! Or straight to the grave if she can't handle it ! " Matilda fired back , her words sharp as a razor . Without another look , she stormed out , jumped in her car , and peeled off to the research center . The chip's logic and circuit diagrams needed software support , but she had personal drama to deal with . She handed off the software purchase to her team . At 4:30 p.m. , Matilda picked up Lola from school . Lola , nearly five , was her whole world , but they weren't close . Matilda's firm parenting clashed with the family's coddling . Brandon let Lola play on phones . Her in - laws spoiled her rotten . Now Shelby was in the mix , buying Lola's love with zero boundaries . Matilda was the only one enforcing rules . Lola was sulky that Shelby wasn't picking her up . She barely spoke the whole ride . When she saw Shelby was gone from the house , she lost it , pounding Matilda's legs . " You chased Aunt Shelby away ! " she shouted . " She's too scared to even talk loud when you're here ! Why'd you come back ? Give me Aunt Shelby back ! " Matilda's heart sank Lola had never been this cruel before . She knelt to reason with her , but Lola , like she was under a spell , grabbed Matilda's arm and bit down hard . Matilda stared , stunned . Her own daughter , ready to tear her apart for another woman . Brandon stormed in , scooped Lola up , and carried her to her room to calm her down . 9:12 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 1 96 55 vouchers Matilda's nerves were frayed . She pulled a cigarette from her pocket , drifted to the window , and lit it with at shaky flick . Brandon stepped out of Lola's room and spotted Matilda smoking . Her eyes were hollow , like a ghost's , stripped of any life or feeling . A sharp pang twisted in his chest . ୦ 五 AD Comment