Chapter 2

A soft buzz from my clutch pulled me from the memory. It wasn't my personal phone, but a small, encrypted device. I stepped further into the corner of the balcony, hidden by a large potted plant.

It was a call from Fredy.

"Everything is in place, Alana," he said, his voice calm and professional. "The protocol is ready. Just give the final word."

"Thank you, Fredy."

"Are you sure about this? Once it's done, there's no going back. You should at least say goodbye to your family."

His words pricked at something deep inside me. Family. The word felt hollow. A knot formed in my throat.

Damon wasn't my family anymore. He was a stranger who shared my bed. A business partner in the sham of our marriage.

"Fredy," I said, my voice steady despite the tightness in my chest. "When you trigger the protocol, I want everything erased. Not just my public records. I want Alana Howell gone from every server, every database. Erase me."

There was a pause on the other end.

"Alana, that's... extreme. That's a level of erasure we reserve for burned agents. This Damon, I thought you two were happy."

It was a testament to how well I had played my part. No one, not even my closest contacts, knew the truth about my life.

"He cheated, Fredy."

The words came out flat and toneless.

A long, heavy sigh came through the phone. "Ah. I see." He paused. "Her call a few months ago... the one you asked me to trace. It all makes sense now."

He didn't need to say more. He understood.

"The system will be ready in forty-eight hours. Settle your personal affairs. Once you're on that plane, Alana Howell ceases to exist."

"I will," I said, a wave of relief washing over me. The plan was solid. It was happening.

I wouldn't need to go through a messy divorce. I wouldn't need to fight for assets or listen to his lies and apologies. I would simply vanish.

"Thank you, Fredy. For everything."

"Just stay safe, kid."

He hung up. I slipped the device back into my clutch just as Damon appeared at the balcony door.

"Who were you talking to?" he asked, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.

I turned, my face a perfect mask of calm.

"My mother. She wanted to wish us a happy anniversary."

I held his gaze, not flinching. It was a simple, believable lie.

He studied my face for a moment, searching for something. Then he relaxed, his suspicion fading. He wrapped his arms around me from behind, pulling me against his chest.

"I love you, Alana. You know that, right? I'd be lost without you."

His words were poison. I imagined what would happen if I asked him right now, "What if you betrayed me?"

He'd probably laugh it off.

I remembered a conversation we had years ago, a careless, joking moment. I had asked him what I should do if he ever cheated. He had laughed and said, "Lock me out forever. I'd deserve it."

Soon, you'll get what you deserve, I thought. You will be locked out of my life, forever.

Just then, Kandy Morris walked over. She held a file in her hands, her expression serious and professional.

"Mr. Ayers, sorry to interrupt. We have an urgent update on the Phoenix Project."

Damon let go of me, his demeanor shifting instantly to the focused CEO.

"What is it?"

He took the file, his back to me, creating a small, private space for them to talk.

I watched them, a perfect picture of a boss and his subordinate. Their acting was flawless. For a moment, I almost admired their skill.

I felt a strange sense of gratitude. I was lucky I found out. Lucky I had a way out that didn't involve screaming matches and broken plates.

Damon motioned for a countdown from the event manager. "Five, four, three, two, one..."

He turned back to me, his smile wide and dazzling. "Happy anniversary, my love."

Suddenly, the sky outside exploded in a shower of brilliant colors. A massive fireworks display, just for us. The crowd gasped and applauded.

"Ten years," Damon murmured, his eyes on the fireworks. "It feels like yesterday."

I stared at the bursting lights. Ten years. It felt like a lifetime.

A completely different lifetime. The man beside me wasn't the man I married. That man had been ambitious but kind. This one was arrogant and hollow.

He turned to me, his face illuminated by the flashing colors. He leaned in to kiss me.

Just as his lips were about to touch mine, his phone buzzed.

He pulled back, a flash of annoyance on his face.

"Who the hell is bothering me now?" he muttered, pulling out his phone.

He glanced at the screen. The annoyance vanished, replaced by a complex mix of emotions. I saw it clearly, even in the dim light. Desire. Complication.

I caught a glimpse of the screen. A message from "K." A single heart emoji.

He quickly angled the phone away, but it was too late. I had seen it.

His eyes flickered with a raw, hungry look. A look he hadn't given me in years.

He cleared his throat, slipping the phone back into his pocket.

"It's work," he lied, his voice smooth as silk. "An emergency with one of the overseas servers. I have to go handle it."

"Damon, it's our anniversary," I said softly, my voice holding just the right amount of disappointment.

"I know, baby, I'm so sorry," he said, his face a mask of regret. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"It's fine," I said, cutting him off before he could spin more lies. "Go. Work is important."

He looked relieved. So easy. He thought I was so easy to fool.

"You're the best, Alana. I'll be back as soon as I can."

He gave me a quick, distracted kiss on the cheek and hurried away.

I watched him go, a cold certainty settling in my heart. He wasn't going to fix a server. He was going to her.

And I was going to follow him.