Chapter 3

Alyssa York POV:

The "good show" Dayton demanded gnawed at me. Every public smile, every feigned touch was a performance, draining my soul. But I had a goal now: freedom. And to achieve it quietly, I first needed to secure my family' s blessing, especially my grandfather's, the patriarch whose influence rivaled Jerald Cole's. He would understand the delicate balance of duty and personal happiness. Or so I hoped. This separation, even a quiet one, would be a blow to his carefully constructed social standing.

The next day, I drove to my family estate, a sprawling Tudor home nestled in a quiet, affluent suburb. The familiar scent of jasmine and old wood filled the air as I stepped inside. My grandparents greeted me with their usual warmth, their faces creased with genuine affection. It was a stark contrast to the glacial atmosphere of the Cole mansion.

"Alyssa, darling, what a pleasant surprise!" my grandmother exclaimed, pulling me into a hug. "We rarely see you these days. How's Dayton? Is everything alright after those awful rumors?" Her eyes, usually sparkling, held a hint of worry.

My heart ached. They knew nothing of the cold void my marriage had become. "Grandma, Grandpa," I began, my voice soft but firm, "there's something important I need to tell you." I swallowed hard, preparing for the inevitable shock. "Dayton and I... we've decided to separate."

My grandfather, a man of few words, put down his newspaper, his gaze steady and intense. My grandmother gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Separate? Oh, Alyssa, dear, is it... is it because of that actress, Kristin?"

"Partly," I admitted, choosing my words carefully. "But it's more than that. Our marriage hasn't been... what either of us hoped for. We've been separated in all but name for three years, living our own lives." I paused, then added, "Kristin's return has just accelerated things. Dayton feels a strong sense of obligation towards her, and... I can't compete with that. I don't want to."

A silence descended, thick with unspoken disappointment. My grandfather sighed, a deep, weary sound. "I see. I had hoped... for better. But a marriage without love is a cage, child. If this is truly what you want, then we will support you." His voice was low, but resolute.

My grandmother, ever the pragmatist, immediately began to fret. "But the merger! And the family's reputation! What will people say?"

"We've agreed to keep it quiet for now," I explained, "until the merger with Cole Industries is fully secured. We' ll present a united front for a few more weeks. After that, we' ll announce a private separation, citing irreconcilable differences, and carefully manage the narrative. It will still be dignified, Grandfather."

He nodded slowly. "Dignity is paramount, Alyssa. And your happiness, ultimately. If a clean break is what you need, then so be it. But there is one condition." He looked at me, a shrewd glint in his eyes. "You're a brilliant architect, child. You' ve let your talent languish in this marriage. When this is over, you will open your own firm. A York firm. We will back you fully."

My eyes widened. I hadn't expected such a swift, almost eager acceptance. I had steeled myself for argument, for pleas to reconsider. Instead, they offered me a lifeline, a path not just to personal freedom, but professional fulfillment. The weight on my shoulders lightened considerably. My family, for all their traditional values, truly wanted my happiness.

"Thank you," I whispered, tears prickling at my eyes. "Thank you both."

Just then, the front door creaked open, and my cousin, Donavon Benson, walked in, a stack of papers tucked under his arm. He was always one to make an entrance, and his eyes, usually calculating, lit up when he saw me. "Alyssa! Perfect timing! Grandpa, Grandma, I just finished the updated projections for the new tech venture. This is it! This is the one that's going to put Benson Enterprises on the map!" He beamed, completely oblivious to the somber atmosphere.

My grandfather frowned. "Donavon, this is hardly the time."

"Nonsense, Grandpa!" Donavon waved a dismissive hand. "Alyssa is right here. She's Dayton Cole's wife! She's our greatest asset in this merger! Alyssa, you have to talk to Dayton again about those software licenses for the 'Project Phoenix' initiative. He's been dragging his feet. If we can get his backing, it's a done deal!" He leaned in, his voice dropping conspiratorially. "Think of the exposure! The capital! It' ll make my startup a household name!"

My grandmother shot him a disapproving look. "Donavon, your cousin has just shared very difficult news. This is not about your startup right now."

But Donavon was relentless. "But it is about the future, Grandma! Alyssa, please, just a word to Dayton. He listens to you, doesn't he? You're his wife!"

I felt a cold dread creep up my spine. Dayton listening to me? That was a cruel joke. And Donavon' s opportunistic badgering was exactly what Dayton detested. "Donavon, I'll see what I can do," I said, my voice deliberately neutral, trying to mollify him without making any false promises. "But I can't guarantee anything."

He clapped his hands together, his face alight. "That's all I ask! You're the best, Alyssa!"

I stayed for dinner, a quieter affair than usual, and then made my excuses. My temporary apartment, a small but elegant space I' d rented for work in the city, felt like a sanctuary. It was my space, unburdened by memories or expectations. I called my assistant first thing the next morning, laying out my plans for a new architectural firm. The thought of building something entirely my own, free from the shadow of the Cole name, filled me with a quiet resolve.

That evening, as I was unpacking books in my new, cozy living room, the doorbell rang. My heart pounded. Who could it be? I wasn' t expecting anyone. Through the peephole, I saw him – Dayton. He stood there, tall and imposing, a silent sentinel against the city lights.

I opened the door, my expression carefully blank. "Dayton. What are you doing here?"

He surveyed the modest apartment, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "Checking in on the devoted wife," he said, his voice laced with a familiar mockery. "And to finalize those pesky details about our 'private separation agenda.' I assumed you'd appreciate the... privacy of your new residence."

"It's temporary," I corrected, stepping back to let him in. "And practical. What details?"

He walked past me, his presence filling the small space. "The timeline you proposed. I need specifics. When exactly will you be making your grand exit?"

"After the merger is fully complete, and the foundation dinner has passed without incident," I stated, my voice firm. "I need about three months to establish my new firm, and then we can announce the separation. Discreetly. We can say it's a mutual decision, a natural progression after years apart."

He leaned against the doorframe, a mocking smile on his lips. "Three months? Such patience. And what about Kristin? Will she be expecting me to whisk her away to some secluded paradise immediately after our 'mutual decision' is announced?"

My blood ran cold. "That's none of my concern, Dayton," I said, my voice sharp. "My concern is fulfilling my obligations and then moving on with my life, with dignity."

He straightened, his eyes narrowing. "Fine. Three months. But during those three months, you will continue to play the devoted wife. No slip-ups. No whispers. And you will ensure your cousin, Donavon, doesn't try to leverage our 'reconciliation' for any of his half-baked schemes. Understand?" His tone was a warning, a cold, hard line in the sand.

"Understood," I replied, my jaw tight. The price of my freedom.

"Good," he said, turning to leave. He paused at the threshold, glancing back at me. "Are you staying here tonight?"

"Yes," I said, my voice clipped.

He gave a curt nod. "I'll be at the Cole mansion." The words were delivered with an almost deliberate indifference, but I couldn't shake the image of Kristin, her fragile form, her tear-filled eyes. Was he going to her? Always to her.

"Before you go," I interjected, stepping forward. "Donavon came by today. He's still pushing for the Project Phoenix software licenses. He clearly thinks our 'reconciliation' will magically open doors. I told him I'd speak to you. Any thoughts?"

He pulled out his phone, already typing, his face unreadable. "I'll consider it," he mumbled, his attention already elsewhere. Then, I heard it. A soft, almost tender tone in his voice, speaking into the phone, a stark contrast to his coldness towards me. "Kristin? Are you alright? I'm on my way."

My heart plummeted. He hadn't bothered to hide it. The truth hit me with the force of a physical blow. He wasn't even pretending anymore. I felt the familiar burn behind my eyes, but I refused to let the tears fall. I watched him go, the door clicking shut behind him, leaving me in the silence of my temporary apartment.

I sank onto the sofa, pulling out my own phone. A quick search. Kristin Goodwin's social media. The latest post, just an hour ago: a blurry photo of a wilting lily, with the caption, "Some days, even the strongest petals fall. Thank you for always being my strength."

The irony was not lost on me. He was her strength. And I was... nothing. I was the wife he brought out for public appearances, the architect he used for business. Nothing more. The fire of humiliation burned deep in my chest. Three months. Just three more months of this charade. Then, I would be free. Truly free.