Chapter 3 3

"Ma'am, your nose is bleeding again!" Sophie exclaimed, concern evident in her voice.

Cleo instinctively reached for the handkerchief in her bag, pressing it gently against her nose to stop the bleeding. "Oh my God," she murmured, a hint of panic in her tone. "I forgot to take my medication."

As the elevator doors opened, Sophie helped guide her out, and they hurried toward the car waiting outside. Cleo's steps were hurried but unsteady, and Sophie's worried glances didn't go unnoticed.

"Driver, please take me to my husband's office," Cleo instructed as she settled into the car.

"But ma'am, you're still bleeding. Are you sure you're okay?" Sophie asked hesitantly.

"Don't worry. I can handle it," Cleo replied firmly. "I just need to deliver this to Ethan. The deal has been finalized, and I want to hand him the signed contract personally."

Reluctantly, Sophie nodded. "Okay, ma'am."

The car pulled up in front of LX Group's sleek corporate building. Cleo stepped out, her face pale but determined. She clutched her bag tightly, making her way inside. The receptionist greeted her warmly, though Cleo couldn't help but notice the flicker of discomfort on her face.

"Good afternoon, ma'am. Is Mr. Ethan in his office?" Cleo asked.

"Yes, ma'am. Let me call to let him know you're here," the receptionist offered, reaching for the phone.

"There's no need for that," Cleo said quickly. "He's my husband."

She walked briskly toward Ethan's office. As she neared the door, a faint sound of laughter stopped her in her tracks. A woman's giggle rang out, followed by Ethan's deep voice. Cleo's heart sank, unease creeping up her spine. Without knocking, she opened the door.

Inside, Ethan was seated at his desk, sharing lunch with the manager's daughter. They looked up in surprise at Cleo's sudden entrance.

"What's going on here?" Cleo demanded, her voice trembling.

Ethan stood abruptly, his expression a mix of annoyance and guilt. "Cleo, why are you here? You didn't tell me you were coming. Why didn't the receptionist inform you I wasn't seeing anyone at the moment?"

"What do you mean you're not seeing anyone? I'm your wife, Ethan!" Cleo shot back, her voice rising.

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Cleo, I'm having lunch. And honestly, your nosebleed isn't helping matters."

Cleo's hand flew to her face as she dabbed at the blood with her handkerchief. Despite her humiliation, she stepped forward and placed the signed contract on his desk. "The CEO of Mablethorpe signed the deal this morning. I wanted to hand it over to you personally," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan glanced at the contract and gave a curt nod. "Good job," he said flatly. Then, as if remembering something, he opened a drawer and pulled out an envelope. "I have something for you as well."

Cleo blinked in confusion. "What is it?" she asked hesitantly.

Ethan handed her the envelope. Her hands trembled as she opened it, revealing divorce papers. The room seemed to spin as her world came crashing down.

"What... what is this, Ethan?" she stammered, tears welling in her eyes.

"Can't you read? Or are you blind now?" Ethan said coldly. Behind him, the manager's daughter stifled a chuckle.

Cleo's gaze shifted to the young woman. "Is she the one you're replacing me with?"

Ethan smirked. "She's not a replacement. You were just a placeholder. I never loved you, Cleo. You were useful to help me get this job. Now that I don't need you anymore, I don't see the point of pretending."

His words hit her like a dagger to the heart. Cleo staggered back, tears streaming down her face. "After everything I've done for you? After all these years? Ethan, I loved you. I gave you everything-my heart, my soul, my life. What did I ever do to deserve this?"

Ethan remained indifferent, his eyes cold and unfeeling. "You served your purpose, Cleo. Now, it's time to move on."

Shattered and heartbroken, Cleo clutched the divorce papers, realizing that the man she thought she knew had never truly existed.

---

Cleo took a deep, shuddering breath, but the ache in her chest only seemed to grow. With tears blurring her vision, she darted through the office hallways, her heels clicking frantically against the polished floor. Ethan's cruel words played on an endless loop in her mind: *"You were just a placeholder... I never loved you."*

She couldn't believe it. No-she *refused* to believe it. This had to be a bad dream, a nightmare conjured by her worst fears. Yes, that's all it was-a cruel figment of her imagination. Any moment now, she would wake up in her bed, safe and warm, with Ethan lying beside her, just like always. She clung to the hope as if it could shield her from reality.

*How could Ethan do this to me?* she thought desperately. *No, this isn't real. Maybe that wasn't even Ethan. Maybe I went into the wrong office. It has to be a mistake. Ethan wouldn't-*

But deep down, she knew the truth. It *was* Ethan. It was his voice, his face, and those were his cold, unfeeling eyes that had looked at her as if she were nothing. No matter how much she tried to deny it, her heart couldn't ignore the pain etched in his words.

Cleo continued running, blinded by her tears. The hallways around her blurred into indistinct shapes and colors as sobs caught in her throat. She wasn't even sure where she was going anymore; all she knew was that she had to keep moving, as if running could somehow outrun the heartbreak consuming her.

And then it happened. She collided with something-or someone. The impact felt like hitting a wall, and the force sent her stumbling backward. Her legs gave out beneath her, and she collapsed onto the cold, hard floor.