Chapter 1I snuck onto my husband's camping trip to surprise him—and walked straight into his dirty little secret.
Some brunette sashayed up to the front desk.
"Ms. Blair Reynolds? Mr. Kieran Smith's waiting in Tent 3."
She fucking giggled. "Good. Been dying to see his face—brought him something special."
The clerk ate it up. "Two years now! You two are so cute together."
My heart stopped. Kieran Smith. My husband.
I slammed my hand on the counter.
"Tent 4. The one right fucking next to theirs."
Oh, honey. You want cute?
Wait till wifey crashes your little love nest.
---
The clerk snorted.
"You sure about that?"
"Nobody picks Tent 4."
"Why?"
"'Cause it's dead next to Tent 3. And Ms. Reynolds and Mr. Smith? Those two fuck like crazy. You'll hear everything. Still want it?"
My hands went cold, but I kept my face straight.
"They here a lot?"
"A lot? Girl, they're practically married to this place. Lifetime members."
"Two years straight. The whole camp knows them—they're like, the poster couple for relationship goals."
"People literally come here just to see them be all cutesy. Our business blew up because of them."
"They're our golden geese."
My chest felt like someone had punched a hole straight through it.
Two years.
Perfect couple.
Everyone knew.
I didn't.
Then it hit me.
Two years ago—that's when Kieran started this camping bullshit.
I was drowning at work back then. Late nights, no breaks.
He bitched about being bored. Said camping would give him something to do.
After that? Every time I got slammed with deadlines, he'd vanish here.
I thought it was harmless. Just a stupid hobby.
Turns out the bastard was playing house with someone else.
The clerk's voice snapped me back.
"Miss? You backing out?"
I stared at the silhouettes moving inside Tent 3.
"Nope. Tent 4. Give it to me."
She shrugged and wrote my name down.
Walking past Tent 3, I heard them.
"Babe—one week without you? Thought I was gonna die."
"Down, boy. You bring condoms this time?"
My blood ran cold.
That was him. No question.
The woman laughed.
"Bonfire tonight. Got you a surprise."
"Blair, you're the fucking best."
I couldn't take anymore.
Heart shredded, I stumbled into Tent 4. I didn't go back out. Didn't yell. Didn't do shit. Just sat there, completely numb.
By nighttime, everyone outside was buzzing.
All of them were gushing over Blair and Kieran's perfect fucking love story.
Through the tent crack, I watched them hang fairy lights and build the bonfire, laughing like they were in some cheesy movie.
Chapter 2
Someone walked past Tent 4 and spotted me inside.
"Yo, you're new, right? I get wanting to witness their whole fairy-tale vibe, but girl—why torture yourself?"
"Front desk didn't warn you? Nobody sleeps through the night next to Tent 3."
I stayed silent.
She laughed. "Stock up on tissues, babe. You'll need 'em." Then she bounced.
Thinking about all the years I'd killed myself working, I let out this hollow, bitter laugh.
Soon the bonfire started.
Through the crack in my tent, I watched Blair pull Kieran to the center, fingers laced with his.
They launched into their whole origin story: how they met, fell in love, all that sappy garbage.
Hearing it from their own mouths? Way worse than anything the clerk had said.
Then Kieran dropped to one knee. Whipped out a ring.
"Blair, I love you. Marry me."
Blair gasped, hand flying to her mouth. But her eyes? Sparkling like Christmas morning.
Some chick nearby grabbed her boyfriend's ear and twisted.
"You see that? That's how it's done. Learn something."
Everyone started hollering. Blair slowly held out her hand. Kieran slid the ring on.
Then they made out. Full-on, in front of everybody.
After that, they started passing out cake slices.
They stopped at my tent.
"Hey! Whoever's in there, bet you came to learn how real couples do it, huh?"
"Here, have some cake. Hope all your dreams come true."
My voice cracked. Barely held it together.
"...Yeah. Thanks."
I didn't unzip the tent, just shoved my hand through the flap and grabbed the plate.
It took every ounce of strength not to fall apart right there.
When I didn't come out, they exchanged this sickeningly sweet look and walked off.
Eventually, the bonfire died down.
Everyone stumbled back to their tents, still hyped up.
Once it got quiet, voices drifted from Tent 3. Blair and Kieran.
"Kieran, shh, someone's literally next door."
"Who cares? If she didn't wanna come out earlier, she obviously doesn't want anyone knowing who she is."
"Let's give her the full experience. Make her trip worthwhile."
My blood turned to ice as I hit record on my phone.
I didn't sleep. Not one second. The night felt like it lasted a decade.
Next morning, before the sun even came up, I crawled out and bolted for the exit.
Ran into that girl from yesterday.
"Damn, girl. I'm in Tent 6 and I still heard everything."
"You running off to go fuck your man's brains out or what?"
I stared at her without saying a word.
She scratched her head, totally confused.
Back home, I tore down every wedding photo, smashed the frames, and dumped them in the trash.
Next day, Kieran walked in.
Hickey on his neck. Barely covered.
He caught me looking. Panic flickered for half a second, then he smiled.
"Mosquitoes out there are insane. Got bit like crazy last night."
I just watched him lie to my face.
Before? I would've swallowed that bullshit whole.
But now? I kept my expression flat.
"Uh-huh."
He frowned.
"What, you don't believe me?"
I stared at him, hunting for even the tiniest crack.
Nothing.
He was smooth. Too smooth.
And I'd believed him over and over and over.
Without a word, I slid the divorce papers across the table.
"Sign it. Fifty-fifty split. Done."
Chapter 3
Kieran froze.
"Divorce?"
"The fuck? Where's this coming from? You're seriously pulling this shit because of some crap you made up?"
Then his face shifted. Like a switch flipped.
He grabbed my arm, plastering on that bullshit smile.
"Oh—wait. You pissed I didn't hang with you today?"
"Babe, come on. Don't be like this. Tomorrow, yeah? I'll make it up to you. Whatever you want."
I ripped my arm away.
"Sign. It."
His eyes turned red.
"Honey, Mom and Dad are gonna fucking lose it if they hear about this. You really wanna put them through that?"
Mom and Dad.
Yeah. They worshipped him.
But how much of his "perfect husband" routine was real? How much was straight-up fake?
I slammed the papers on the table.
"I don't give a shit who you call. Sign it."
When he saw I wasn't budging, his whole vibe changed. Tears gone. Now he looked mad.
"Mia, what the hell is your problem?"
"I'm not signing shit!"
"Fine! If you won't listen, I'll bring in people who will!"
He stormed into the bedroom and slammed the door so hard the walls shook.
Twenty minutes later, his parents burst through the door.
Mine showed up right behind them.
The second I opened it, his dad's hand flew at my face.
SMACK.
"You selfish fucking bitch! Starting divorce drama over nothing! Have you lost your goddamn mind?"
"My son called me sobbing! Now you better explain why the hell you're doing this!"
His mom jammed her finger in my face.
"You piece of work! Before you came along, my boy never lifted a finger! We spoiled him rotten!"
"Three years dealing with your bullshit! Cooking, cleaning, treating you like a fucking princess!"
"And your parents? He's bent over backwards for them! Gifts every damn holiday!"
"Three years busting his ass for you, and you just toss him out like garbage? You're gonna ruin him!"
My parents stood behind them, glaring at me.
"Mia, is work getting to you?"
"That's no excuse to blow up your marriage."
"You earned that slap."
"Kieran's treated us better than we had any right to expect. Like actual family."
"Remember when Mom was sick and you were too swamped? Kieran showed up. Every. Single. Day."
"Those late nights at the office? He waited up. Made you soup. Every time."
"How can you just turn on him like this?"
Kieran stumbled out of the bedroom, eyes bloodshot and puffy.
"Babe, just—just tell me what I did wrong. Please. What made you want this?"
"They're all saying it. I've been good to them. Good to you. I never screwed up once."
"Isn't this a little harsh?"
I stood there, silent.
They weren't wrong. On paper, Kieran looked spotless. Perfect husband. Perfect son-in-law.
Before? Seeing him cry would've destroyed me. I would've caved.
But now? All I could see was him with Blair in that tent, laughing and kissing and acting like I didn't fucking exist.
You don't forgive cheating.
Offering him half of everything without dragging his name through the mud? That was me being generous.
But if he wants to make this ugly? Game fucking on.
I locked eyes with him.
"Kieran, you know exactly what you did. Or should I spell it out for everyone standing here right now?"
