Gone Before the Bloom

Joanna Malone spends ten years with Rowan Swanson to finally hear him say, "Marry me."But on the day of their wedding, he leaves her behind and rushes off to save Hattie Duncan—the secretary who has been secretly in love with him for years.Too concerned for his safety to nurse her heartbreak, Joanna chases after him without a second thought.When she arrives at the scene, she watches in horror as Hattie—trying to protect confidential documents for Rowan—is pushed from a rooftop by one of his rivals. Hattie survives, but falls into a coma.Driven by guilt, Rowan sends Hattie to the most advanced private hospital for long-term care.Joanna agrees to his request and takes care of Hattie's mother, Sabrina Wilkinson, who suffers from a severe mental illness. For two years, she endures every vicious episode and every cruel insult Sabrina throws her way during each psychotic break.One day, during a particularly vicious episode, Sabrina rips through Joanna's belongings and cuts everything to shreds—including what Joanna believes to be her marriage certificate.Exhausted and emotionally worn, Joanna drags herself to the registry office to get a replacement.But the clerk frowns at the computer screen, then looks up and says, "Ms. Malone, this marriage certificate is a fake. According to our records, you've never been married."