Chapter 2

A heavy silence filled the room after I spoke. Gregory just stared at me, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes before it was replaced by a cold, dismissive smile.

"A divorce?" he scoffed, taking a step toward me. "Don' t be dramatic, Calista."

He reached out, his hand touching my arm in a gesture that was meant to be soothing but felt like a cage. "Think about the company. The shareholders. A scandal like this would be a disaster."

I flinched away from his touch. "You should have thought of that before you cheated on me and destroyed my career."

"I didn' t destroy it," he said, his voice dangerously calm. "I made a business decision. Brodie' s version was more commercial. It was better for the company." He glanced back at her, a look of pride on his face. "She has a drive that you lack. She deserved the opportunity."

My jaw tightened. He wasn't just admitting it; he was proud of it.

Suddenly, Brodie let out a small, theatrical cry. "Oh! My ankle!" She stumbled dramatically, clutching her leg as if in terrible pain.

Instantly, Gregory' s attention snapped to her. "Brodie? What is it? Are you okay?"

He rushed to her side, abandoning our conversation without a second thought. He knelt, his hands gently probing her ankle, his face a mask of concern. "Did you twist it? Let me see."

I stood there, invisible, watching my husband lavish attention on the woman who had helped him ruin me. The absolute ease with which he discarded me was the most painful blow yet. He didn' t even look back.

My phone buzzed in my hand. A news alert. I glanced down, and the world tilted on its axis.

"Tech CEO Gregory Gardner Accuses Wife of Plagiarism, Cites 'Unstable Behavior' as Reason for Professional Split."

The article was brutal. It was a statement from Gregory' s company, full of lies. It painted me as a failed, jealous developer who tried to steal ideas from a rising star. He had twisted everything, framing me as the villain in my own tragedy.

My phone slipped from my numb fingers, clattering onto the hardwood floor. The sound was unnaturally loud in the quiet room.

I looked at him, still kneeling by Brodie' s side, cooing at her. He had done this. While I was reeling from the loss of our child, our marriage, he was meticulously planning my public execution. The betrayal was so complete, so malicious, it was hard to breathe.

I didn' t think. I just acted. I grabbed my keys and ran out of the house, driving blindly, tears blurring my vision. I ended up at his office building, the gleaming glass tower that was supposed to be our triumph.

I stormed past the security guard, ignoring his shouts, and took the private elevator to the top floor. I burst into his office without knocking.

The scene inside stopped me cold. Gregory had his back to the door, his hands on Brodie' s waist. They were kissing, celebrating their victory as my world burned.

They broke apart when they heard me. Gregory' s face was a thundercloud of annoyance. "Calista, this is a private office."

"How could you?" My voice was raw. "That press release... you lied. You destroyed me."

He sighed, an exasperated sound. "It was necessary. You were becoming a liability." He walked to his desk, pulled out a checkbook, and scribbled something. He tore out the check and held it out to me. "Here. This should be enough to keep you comfortable. Just sign the divorce papers quietly and disappear."

He thought he could buy my silence. He thought my life, my work, my heart, had a price tag.

The pain from my fall ached deep in my bones, a constant reminder of his violence. This new emotional blow felt just as physical.

I looked at the check, then back at his cold, indifferent face.

"I want a divorce," I repeated, my voice now steady and hard as ice. "And you will get nothing but hell from me."