Chapter 4: Beachside Betrayal

A month later, it was time for our company’s annual team-building trip.

Everyone looks forward to it all year. It’s our chance to cut loose, soak up some sun, and pretend work doesn’t exist for a few days.

Our company’s pretty chill about it. Everyone votes on a destination, the company covers flights and hotels, and gives us a travel allowance. After the group photo, we’re free to do whatever we want.

It’s the most democratic thing we do all year. Last year, Nashville. This year, the beach won out.

This time, we picked a Gulf Coast island.

White sand, turquoise water, seafood shacks as far as you can see. I couldn’t wait.

As usual, after the group photo, everyone scattered.

There’s always that one person who tries to plan group activities, but most people just want to go off and do their own thing.

"Brother-in-law, Autumn, can I hang out with you guys?" Lindsey bit her lip, looking all pitiful. "I don’t know anyone here. I’m scared."

She clung to her beach bag like it was a life raft. I could see straight through her act.

Mason and I were about to check out the local seafood market when she latched onto us, determined to play third wheel.

She practically glued herself to my side, hoping guilt would make me cave.

"Scared, huh?"

Mason’s voice was flat, but there was a glint in his eye.

She nodded, trying to look even smaller, like a lost puppy.

She piled it on—wide-eyed and helpless.

Mason called over his assistant. "Jamie, get Lindsey a return ticket so she doesn’t have to worry about anything here."

Jamie appeared out of nowhere, already scrolling through flight options on her phone.

Lindsey panicked. "Brother-in-law, that’s not what I meant. I want to hang out with you. You’re such a big, strong guy—I feel safe with you."

She clung to his arm, but he just shook her off gently.

She glanced at me, voice trembling. "Autumn, let him say yes. Or are you really so selfish you’d ignore my safety just to have him to yourself?"

She tried to guilt me, but I just raised an eyebrow.

I didn’t bother to answer. Instead, I looked at Mason with a half-smile. If Lindsey wanted to stir the pot, she’d have to see if Mason would let her.

I leaned into him, my smile saying it all.

Sure enough, Mason said coldly, "Lindsey, I want some alone time with Autumn. Try to crash our plans again, and I’ll make this trip very unpleasant for you."

His words were icy, but under the table, his hand found mine and squeezed gently.

Lindsey saw the look in his eyes and backed off fast. "Never mind, I’ll go by myself. I won’t bother you two again."

She slunk away, muttering under her breath.

After she left, Mason and I finally had some peace and could actually enjoy our trip.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Finally, just the two of us.

We wandered the seafood market, picked out fresh shrimp and oysters, and had a food stall cook them up for us. I didn’t cook it myself, but I picked it, so I felt weirdly accomplished.

We ate on a wooden bench by the water, the sun setting behind us. Mason fed me shrimp, grinning like a kid at a carnival.

All in all, it was a blast.

We laughed, snapped silly photos, and forgot about work for a while. It felt like a real honeymoon.

The next day, Mason took me surfing and skydiving—both totally wild. I’d never surfed before, but with his patient coaching, I actually got the hang of it.

He cheered me on from the waves, his voice echoing over the water. I wiped out more times than I can count, but he was always there to pull me up.

While we were out, Monica called to warn me that Lindsey was still asking around about us—she just couldn’t let Mason go.

I rolled my eyes. Some people just never learn.

Oh, and by the way, Mason and I didn’t stay at the same three-star hotel as everyone else. We booked the presidential suite at a five-star place. Mason’s always lived large, and ever since we got together, he wants to give me the best—especially when it comes to stuff. Sometimes I think it’s overkill, but he says I deserve the world. He’s hopelessly romantic, and honestly, I love it.

The suite had a view of the ocean, a private balcony, and a bathtub big enough for two. Mason insisted on rose petals—he’s a sucker for the classics.

After two days of fun, I was wiped out. Mason, with his endless energy, wore me out during the day—and even more at night. I just couldn’t keep up.

I tried, but by the end of the second night, I was asleep before my head even hit the pillow.

On the third day, I slept till noon, ate a little, then crashed again. That evening, I snuck off to the hotel spa for some serious pampering.

I booked a massage, a facial, and a mani-pedi. Pure heaven.

Just as I was about to drop off my bag, Mason called, sounding anxious. "Autumn, where did you go?"

He sounded so worried, like I’d disappeared off the face of the earth.

"I’m at the spa," I told him, knowing he’d want to tag along. "But it’s women-only—no guys allowed."

I could practically hear him pouting on the other end.

"Autumn, do you hate me now?"

He sounded a little hurt, and honestly, it was adorable.

He gets so dramatic when he’s worried. I had to laugh.

"Of course not. I love you the most! You just wore me out, that’s all. I’m not a robot, you know—I get tired, too."

I showered him with sweet talk until he was all smiles again. "I’ll wait for you to come back."

I could hear the grin in his voice. He’s so easy to please.

"Okay."

I promised I wouldn’t be long.

As I hung up, I thought I saw Lindsey lurking around the corner, but when I looked again, it was just a staff member. Probably my imagination.

I shook my head, refusing to let her ruin my spa day.

I stored my bag and went in for my appointment.

I let myself relax, letting go of all the stress. For once, it was all about me.

I didn’t expect trouble to find Mason the one time we were apart.

It’s like the universe can’t resist tossing us a curveball.

When I finished and came out, Mason was waiting for me.

He looked relieved, but there was a storm brewing in his eyes.

I couldn’t help but laugh—does he really love me so much he can’t be alone for five minutes?

He looked sheepish, running a hand through his hair. "Missed you."

Then he said, "Autumn, I almost lost my cool."

His voice was low and serious. My heart skipped a beat.

My face fell. "What happened?"

I took his hand, bracing myself for whatever he was about to say.

He told me everything that happened after I left.

He spoke quietly, but I could hear the anger simmering just beneath the surface.

Besides me, Mason’s biggest passion is making money. Of course, it all ends up for me in the end—so really, I’m still his favorite.

He always says, "What’s mine is yours." And he means every word.

With me gone, he went to the office in our suite to get some work done while he waited. After a while, his eyes got tired, so he stood by the window, looking out at the city lights.

He says a good view helps him think and unwind.

Suddenly, someone hugged him from behind.

He stiffened, thinking it was me. But something felt off—way off.

His first thought was that I’d come back—no one else should have been able to get in.

But then he realized something was off. I’m not the type to sneak up and hug him like that. He looked down and saw the hand around his waist wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.

He’s memorized every detail about me—even the way my rings fit.

The second he realized it was another woman, he felt disgusted—and then furious. He knows how much I hate betrayal. My parents divorced because they both cheated, and their constant fighting when I was a kid made me hate marriage. My mother promised to treat me well, but it was all lies. She betrayed me, and I grew up seeing marriage as a trap.

He’s heard all my stories, seen the scars. He knows exactly how much it would hurt me.

It wasn’t until I met Mason—the wild, hopeless romantic—that I started to believe in love again. He’s like a moth to a flame when it comes to me—drawn in, no matter the risk.

He always says I’m his gravity, the thing that keeps him grounded.

Of course I love him. But if he ever cheated, I’d be gone in a heartbeat.

He knows that. It’s the one line I’ll never let anyone cross.

Mason knew if I saw this, I’d never trust him again. And just the thought of losing me was more than he could take.

He’s told me before—if I ever left, it would destroy him.

So, without a second thought, he broke the woman’s arm.

He acted fast—no hesitation, no mercy.

A piercing scream tore through the room. He turned and saw Lindsey, wearing nothing but a bathrobe—absolutely nothing underneath. Her intentions couldn’t have been more obvious.

He said he felt sick just looking at her.

She was in so much pain, her face twisted and drenched in cold sweat, staring at her limp, broken arm.

She crumpled to the floor, clutching her arm, sobbing uncontrollably.

"So it was you!" Mason’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "How did you get in?"

He sounded like a man with nothing but pure, protective rage boiling over.

By then, any crush Lindsey had on him was long gone. She was pale and shaking. "I… I took Autumn’s room card."

Her voice was barely a whisper, trembling with fear.

"What about Autumn? Did you do anything to her?"

His first thought was always for me. That’s Mason—always putting me first.

Hearing that, Lindsey broke down even more. He’d just broken her arm, but all he cared about was my safety.

She sobbed, her whole body shaking. I almost felt bad for her. Almost.

Seeing the icy look in his eyes, she didn’t dare lie. "I didn’t do anything to her. I just took her room keycard from her locker. I watched her enter the code."

She stared at the floor, unable to meet his gaze.

As Mason stepped closer, Lindsey trembled like a leaf. "Don’t come any closer!"

She tried to scoot away, her face white as a sheet.

"Then get out," he said coldly.

His voice left no room for argument.

Lindsey bolted, scrambling away as fast as she could.

She didn’t even look back. The door slammed behind her.

Smelling her perfume on himself, Mason immediately showered and tossed every piece of clothing she’d touched in the trash. He said just thinking about it made him want to scrub his eyes out.

He said he scrubbed so hard, his skin turned red. Everything she touched went straight in the garbage.

So he rushed to find me.

He hugged me, burying his face in my neck. "My wife smells best."

He breathed me in, like I was the only thing that could calm him down.

I nuzzled his soft black hair. "You smell good too."

He smiled, finally relaxing in my arms.

He wrinkled his nose, still annoyed. "I used half a bottle of body wash to get rid of her cheap perfume."

He wrinkled his nose, still frustrated.

"Mm."

I stroked his back, letting him know I was here.

"Lindsey’s got a broken arm now. Your mom’s definitely going to come looking for trouble. If she calls, don’t pick up—I’ll handle it."

He squeezed my hand, his eyes serious.

"Okay."

I trusted him. Mason always handled everything.

Honestly, having Mason by my side gives me a real sense of security. He’s like a big oak tree shielding me from every storm, so I can focus on my designs.

With him, I can finally breathe easy. I can chase my dreams for real.

Recently, a company got interested in my private museum design. We’re working out the contract, and if it goes through, my work will finally become reality. Just thinking about it makes me giddy.

It’s the kind of thing I used to dream about as a kid. Now, it’s right there—within reach.

I still think about the study-abroad opportunity Lindsey stole from me. If I’d gone, maybe my dreams would’ve come true sooner. But life’s all about give and take. If I’d left, I wouldn’t have reconnected with Mason, fallen in love, and married him.

Sometimes the universe closes one door so it can open another.