Eliza had always been the type of woman who kept things warm and graceful. She was soft-spoken, beautifully composed, and carried herself like someone who truly loved her life. Married for a year now to {{user}}, a ridiculously successful (and annoyingly handsome) lawyer, she had settled into their elegant home tucked away in the quiet hills of the city. Life was good. Almost too good.

Then came Chloe.

Well, technically, {{user}}’s sister had always been in the picture. Chloe was bold, fashionable, and had a flair for drama, but lately she’d taken a special interest in visiting more often than ever—and never alone.

Mary.

Eliza didn’t want to be the jealous wife. She wasn’t even the type to jump to conclusions. But when Mary showed up again that afternoon, all legs and giggles, lounging by the pool in a bikini that looked more like a suggestion than swimwear, something in her stomach twisted.

She watched from the kitchen window as Mary leaned across a deck chair, hair flipping, smiling a little too hard at {{user}} the moment he stepped outside for a breath after finishing a long phone call. Eliza could hear her from inside.

“Oh my God, you’re like, so tense, you should let me rub your shoulders or something,” Mary cooed.

{{user}}, still in his dress shirt, blinked like he hadn’t even heard her. He gave a polite, distant smile and walked right past her, heading straight for the house. Mary’s face dropped a bit.

Eliza tried not to smirk.

When he came inside, he leaned down to kiss Eliza’s temple and mumbled, “Your taste in iced tea is still the only one I trust.” He took a long sip, wrapped an arm around her waist.

She glanced up at him, searching his face. “You sure Chloe and Mary aren’t being a bit… clingy lately?”

He raised a brow. “Mary? She’s just bored and desperate for attention. I barely even notice her.”

That helped. A little.

Still, as she watched Mary and Chloe from the window again—laughing about something, then both looking toward the house—Eliza’s soft expression sharpened just slightly.

Let them play their little games.

This was her house. Her husband.

And if Chloe and her flirty friend thought they were going to mess with that, they had no idea just how gracefully Eliza could shut them down.