Too Pretty to Be Your Backup novel Chapter 2

Travis came back to the villa early the next morning. Dropping onto the sofa, he rubbed his temples, fatigue written all over his usually cool and composed face.

“Amanda, come give me a head massage,” he called out.

Nothing. Silence.

Normally, Amanda would already be at his side as soon as he got home—smiling, fussing over him, massaging his shoulders, doing her best to make him laugh.

He glanced around the huge, empty villa. No Amanda anywhere.

Michelle, the housekeeper, hovered awkwardly in the kitchen doorway. “Ms. Tully hasn’t come home since yesterday,” she said quietly.

Annoyance flickered across Travis' handsome face. He rubbed his brow again. He knew why Amanda was upset; he’d called off their engagement party the day before. She was pissed. Acting out.

He pulled out his phone and opened his chat with Amanda. There it was: her breakup text.

Travis let out a dry laugh. Break up? As if she’d ever really leave.

He stood, grabbed his coat, and dialed his assistant. “Chad, book me a flight to Australia. I need to handle the MA1 conference.”

Michelle hesitated before speaking up. “Sir, Ms. Tully’s been gone all night. Aren’t you worried?”

Shouldn’t he at least try to make it up to her? Canceling the engagement was a big deal. No girls could just brush that off.

Travis caught the meaning in Michelle’s voice and gave a half smile. “I don’t have time to babysit her.”

And just like that, he walked out.

The conference in Australia would take a week. He figured that was enough time for Amanda to cool off. By the time he got back, she’d come home—she always did.

*

Amanda flew back to Rocktown, spent a night at the airport, and then took a cab to her little house the next morning. Standing in front of the small two-story place, she felt a comforting warmth spread through her. This was her childhood home, filled with memories she could never find in all her years in flashy, crowded London.

She was about to unlock the door when the house next door opened, and someone rushed out, heading the opposite way in a hurry.

The urgency in his steps gave him away. Amanda called out, “Henry!”

Lost in his own thoughts, Henry stopped short when he heard her voice. He turned, surprised, and saw Amanda smiling at him.

“Amanda? You’re back?” he asked, his face lighting up.

She smiled. “Yeah, I’m back, Henry.”

Amanda’s knees nearly gave out. Kylee had always looked after her as a child—a gentle, strong sister. She never imagined this would happen.

Now, Kylee’s only child was out there, in danger. They had to save him.

Amanda straightened up. “Wait here, Henry. I’ll get my ID and we’ll go to the registry office right now.”

Getting married was surprisingly simple. They went to the office, took a photo, signed some papers, said a few words, and got their marriage certificate. That was it.

It was so easy—but after seven years with Travis, she’d never gotten one. Instead, he’d canceled their engagement the night before the party.

What a joke.

At least she was still young. It wasn’t too late to start over. Her life was just getting started.

With the marriage certificate in hand, Henry thanked Amanda and rushed off to the airport. Every minute counted. Every second wasted put Kylee’s child in more danger.

Watching Henry disappear, Amanda pressed her hands together and whispered, “Please let Henry and Kylee’s kid come home safe.”

She had no idea that as she spoke, a gentle white light seemed to glow softly around her.