Chapter Three

"Mr. Burnes, is it true that you're joining the board?"

"Mr. Burnes, is it true that the company revenue has risen by 20% since you became a senior associate?"

Lights flashed and dozens of microphones were thrust in our faces as soon as we stepped out of the car. I fixed a polite smile on my face while Victor fielded the questions.

Eventually we were inside the glittering walls of the event hall.

"Tonight is important to me," Victor gripped me tight by my elbow and hissed the warning right into my ear. "You better not do anything to mess it up. If you don't know the right cutlery to use for dinner, you better not eat at all."

It was true that I came from a lower background where things like using different forks for different meals couldn't even be imagined, but I'd done my best to polish myself up for Victor. I didn't understand why he was suddenly acting like he was ashamed of me.

"I—"

"There you are." A sultry voice cut in.

We spun around to see Gia approaching in a gorgeous silver dress that hugged her slim curves and bright red lipstick that made her look seductive. Nearly every man in the vicinity was openly staring at her, and my husband was no exception.

"What are you doing here?" My question came out too sharp.

Had Victor invited her? Or had she barged her way in like she normally did?

She shot me a glare. "Why else? I came as emotional support for Victor. Today is a big night, and the world will finally see him for the brilliant businessman he is. I thought it would be nice for him to have a friendly, supportive face around."

My fingers curled into fists at my sides. "A friendly, supportive face?" I echoed. "I'm his wife. Not to mention the one who helped him get to where he is. If there's—"

"Shut your mouth," Victor hissed. "Are you trying to cause a scene and ruin my reputation?"

Then he glanced over at Gia with a soft, adoring smile. "I'm so glad you came. You don't know how nervous I've been about this whole thing."

My stomach twisted in knots as I watched her reach up and brush a lock of my husband's hair away from his face.

I couldn't stand it anymore. I turned to walk away and immediately bumped into a hard wall of muscle. A hand wrapped around my waist, steadying me before I could face-plant.

"Are you alright?" a deep voice asked.

I raised my head and met the most stunning blue eyes I'd ever seen in my life. My breath caught in my throat as recognition hit.

"Ramsey, get your hands off my wife," Victor demanded, pulling me away from the taller man's grip.

I knew who Ramsey Black was, of course, but this was my first time meeting him in person. He was far more striking than in his pictures. It was just too bad that he was a big asshole, my husband's enemy and his biggest competition.

"Which of them is your wife?" the man drawled.

Heat rose up my cheeks and I tore away from the crowd in humiliation, tears burning the back of my eyes. Had the entire party seen Gia's open affection for Victor? I could only imagine what they were saying about us now.

I waited until I was in the safety of the bathroom to give in to my tears. Why was this happening now? Why was everything becoming a mess now that we were almost at the peak? How was I supposed to tell my husband about the baby he had never known about with his childhood best friend attached to his side?

"He loves me," I assured myself, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My makeup was smudged, my eyes red-rimmed. I looked like exactly what I was—a woman falling apart. "It's fine." Everything was just because he was frustrated about the award tonight. As soon as he got on the board, everything would go back to normal. It had to. Because if it didn't, then what had all this suffering been for?

I wiped my tears and reapplied my makeup with shaking hands.

Just as I pushed open the bathroom door, I came to a screeching halt at the sight of my husband entangled with Gia.

"V-Victor?" I gasped.

The two immediately leaped away from each other, no guilt written on their faces.

Time seemed to stop. My brain couldn't process what I was seeing. This couldn't be real. This had to be some nightmare I'd wake up from. My heart was beating so loud I could hear it in my ears, drowning out everything else.

I swallowed. "Victor, w-what— I mean— I d-don't—"

"Ugh, stop the stammering," Gia interrupted. "I guess the cat is out of the bag now, huh?"

"You two—" I trailed off, words failing me. I could feel my entire system slowly shutting down. My legs felt like jelly. The hallway was spinning. This wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening.

"Yes, surprise," Gia smirked.

"Come on now, Leah." My husband shrugged as if he was discussing the weather. "What did you expect? That I'd stay married to you? I'm about to become the youngest board member of a billion-dollar empire. I'll become a public figure. I'm sorry, but you don't just fit into the image I need to project right now."

Each word hit me like a physical blow. Three years. Three years of my life, of believing in us, of enduring his mother's abuse because I thought it was worth it for our love. Had any of it been real? Had I been living in a complete delusion?

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "What about the promises? Everything? You said you loved me!" I cried.

Gia laughed. "How else was he supposed to get you to push him to the top? Thank you for that, by the way." She brushed a possessive palm over his chest. "But now, you're no longer of any use to us. So sad, huh?"

The words hit me like ice water. *Use me.* That's all I'd ever been to him. A tool. A stepping stone. My chest felt hollow, like everything inside me had been scooped out and thrown away.

"Don't tell me you were stupid enough to think a man like me would ever be interested in someone like you," he scoffed. "You are an orphan with no class. You couldn't even give me a son."

The cruelty in his voice was like nothing I'd ever heard from him before. But no—this was who he really was. The gentle man I'd fallen in love with had been the lie. This callous stranger was the truth. And the comment about a son... if he only knew what I'd lost just hours ago because of him.

"She doesn't need to, baby," Gia winked. "I'll give you as many sons as you want. Anything for my billionaire boo."

I watched as she reached into her purse and pulled out some documents, then flung them at me. "Those are the divorce papers. Sign them. No need to make this messy, Leah."

"You used me," I whispered. The words felt foreign in my mouth, like I was speaking a language I'd never learned.

"Stop being so dramatic," the brunette replied coldly. "Even without you, my smart Victor would have still gotten to the top."

"Just sign the papers," the man I had foolishly thought was my happily ever after ordered.

My hands trembled as I reached for the papers. Was this really it? Was this how my marriage ended? Not with counseling or fighting for us, but with pre-signed divorce papers handed to me in a hallway while my husband's mistress watched with satisfaction?

Just as my fingers touched the documents, the door of the hallway burst open and someone gasped from behind me.

"Dear God. It's really you."