So it was all a great sham

Meredith had loved Ryan Carlisle at first sight and had been swept off her feet in a dream of romance. The miracle was that Ryan loved her, too.

The dream shattered on their wedding day when she accidentally overheard Ryan telling a friend "to own her shares, I'd have married her had she looked like the rear end of a horse. "

Anger spurred her into action. Meredith didn't know where she'd go or what she'd do--but she could no longer think of living with Ryan... .

Hero: Ryan Carlisle
Heroine: Meredith Simmons Carlisle