Just One Kiss, before divorcing me tells the story of a contract marriage between Marrin Reeves and her billionaire boss, Calvin Reeves. On the surface, they’re the glamorous “Dream Couple” embraced by Houston’s elite. But behind closed doors, it’s all a sham — a business agreement designed to give Calvin a respectable image.

Just One Kiss, before divorcing me Summary
Marrin Reeves has spent three years as Calvin Reeves’ “perfect wife,” but only in name and appearance. The marriage is a contract — a facade meant to give Calvin the public image of a devoted family man.
When Calvin finally presents divorce papers for a no-contest split, Marrin agrees — but on her own terms. She demands a cash payout (not the house), insists that everything be settled before the divorce is finalized, and requests that Calvin personally take her to the airport for a one-way ticket to Italy. She also wants something she’s never had: one real, honest kiss from him — a “goodbye kiss.”
But the plan takes an unexpected turn. The plane she’s meant to take crashes. Marrin disappears; the world assumes she’s dead. Calvin is shattered and consumed by guilt — convinced he sent her to her death.
Then, shocking revelations surface: Marrin was never on that flight. She faked a terrifying plane-crash voicemail to make it seem real. In truth, she walked away — cash in hand — and vanished.
As years pass, women claiming to be his “missing wife” begin appearing. Each claims amnesia and insists she’s Marrin, but Calvin—and only his lawyer—knows their marriage was a sham. None of these women are her.
Then, eight years later, he crosses paths with a woman named Marilyn Riddley — a fantasy romance author — who bears an uncanny resemblance to Marrin. Could she be the real Marrin Reeves, returned under a new identity? Or is she just another impostor chasing his money? The re-encounter forces Calvin to confront obsession, betrayal, and the deepest secrets of their past.
Just One Kiss, before divorcing me — Themes
- Identity & Reinvention: Marrin’s fake death and subsequent reemergence under a new identity explore the lengths one might go to reinvent life.
- Deception vs Reality: The entire contract marriage — and the illusion of the “Dream Couple” — highlights deception layered over a glamorous façade.
- Betrayal and Trust: The betrayal Calvin feels (and then Marrin inflicts) is central to the emotional tension.
- Freedom and Self-Determination: Marrin’s escape — demanding a payout and a final kiss — becomes an act of reclaiming autonomy.
- Obsession and Guilt: Calvin’s guilt over the perceived loss of Marrin, and his obsessive desire to find her, drive much of the later conflict.
- Second Chances and Redemption (suggested): The possibility that Marlilyn Riddley might be Marrin offers a chance — or the illusion — of reconciling past mistakes.
Just One Kiss, before divorcing me — Characters
- Marrin Reeves (Rin) — the female protagonist, the contract wife who disappears.
- Calvin Reeves (Cal) — Marrin’s billionaire “husband,” bound by contract and later consumed by guilt and obsession.
- Marilyn Riddley — a fantasy romance author and Marrin’s possible doppelgänger, surfacing years later under mysterious circumstances.
- Supporting characters — including a lawyer (Wil), others who claim to be Marrin, and individuals tied to Marilyn’s life (e.g. her twin sons).
Plot & Key Events
- Contract Marriage: Marrin and Calvin enter a three-year sham marriage to protect Calvin’s public image.
- Divorce Negotiation: Calvin initiates divorce; Marrin agrees — but only with her demands: cash payout, one-way ticket, and one real kiss goodbye.
- Disappearance / Fake Death: Marrin vanishes. A plane crash seals the illusion; she isn’t actually aboard. She faked a distress voicemail and disappears with the settlement money.
- Calvin’s Obsession: Grief, guilt and anger consume Calvin. Women claiming to be his missing wife begin appearing; he knows they’re impostors.
- Reemergence — Marilyn Riddley: Eight years later, Calvin encounters Marilyn, a successful author who looks like Marrin — raising questions: is this a second chance or another deception?
- Internal Conflict / Investigation: Calvin debates whether to seek proof (Photos, DNA tests on her children), while managing guilt, obsession, and fear — emotionally torn between love, betrayal, and justice.
Emotional Analysis
- Shock and heartbreak — the divorce reveal and Marrin’s final demands hit hard, especially her plea for a real goodbye.
- Betrayal and disillusionment — the glamorous “Dream Couple” façade shatters, leaving deep emotional scars.
- Grief and guilt — Calvin believes he sent the woman he loves to her death. The weight of guilt becomes his driving pain.
- Anger and desire for revenge — discovering Marrin faked her death and absconded with millions triggers rage and a need for closure.
- Confusion and longing — meeting Marilyn ignites hope, but also confusion: is she really Marrin? The possibility of redemption and rekindled love is emotionally fraught.
- Desperation for truth — the search for proof, identity, and closure takes over, accompanied by internal conflict between love, vengeance, and what’s right.
What Readers Can Expect
Readers of Just One Kiss, before divorcing me can expect:
- A dramatic, high-stakes story blending romance, betrayal, mystery, and revenge.
- Intense emotional turbulence: guilt, heartbreak, longing, obsession — a roller-coaster of feelings.
- A gritty depiction of a contract marriage turned tragic, then twisted into a game of identity and deception.
- A slow-burn mystery: are you reading about redemption — or another layer of lies?
- Themes of power, agency, and how far someone will go to reclaim their life.
Who Just One Kiss, before divorcing me is Perfect For
This novel is perfect for readers who enjoy:
- Dark, emotionally intense romance with morally grey characters.
- Billionaire / contract-marriage tropes with unexpected twists.
- Stories of deception, disappearance, and identity — romance as thriller.
- Complex character arcs: from façade to freedom, guilt to redemption, obsession to clarity.
If you gravitate toward romance that challenges the usual tropes — mixing love, betrayal, psychological drama, and suspense — you’ll likely be drawn to this book.
Concluding Thoughts
Just One Kiss, before divorcing me is far more than a typical romance — it’s a tangled journey of illusion, pain, loss, and the haunting effort to reclaim one’s identity. It asks unsettling but compelling questions: how much is love worth? What is real when everything else was a lie? And can someone truly walk away — or return — after faking their own death?
With raw emotion, moral complexity, and a story that twists love into survival, this novel offers a dark, compelling ride — perfect for readers who want their romance with depth, danger, and unforgettable emotional stakes.
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