Chapter 0002

Charlotte’s POV

I didn’t know what I expected to happen when I told her that I was his wife, but this wasn’t it.

She told up, completely detaching herself from Drake. “His wife, huh?”

She stood taller than I remembered. Or maybe I’d just never felt this small before.

“I’m Mrs. Charlotte Watson, Drake’s wife,” I stated again, my voice colder than I intended. The title tasted bitter on my tongue, six years of marriage and yet it felt like a nameplate on a door I was never allowed to enter.

Mia’s lips curled. “True,” she said, surprising me as she took a step forward. “But that title,” she said softly, “has expired.”

She turned to Drake with a slow, feline smile. “I was his first love. And I’ll be his wife now.”

The words were like daggers to my heart, merciless.

I glanced at Drake, expecting, silently begging for him to say something. A denial. A lie. Anything at all.

He leaned back in his chair, perfectly at ease as he glanced through the file. Not a word. Not even a flicker of guilt.

That silence told me everything. I had been abandoned. I had been useful to him, and now, I wasn’t anymore.

The world around me seemed to still. I could hear the faint ticking of the antique clock on the wall. Even the air felt suspended, like it too was waiting for me to shatter.

She extended a manicured hand toward me, glancing down her nose. “No handshake? That’s alright. I wouldn’t either if I were you.”

I didn’t move.

“Pity,” she continued, her voice laced with mock regret. “I thought we might find common ground. After all, we’ve both held a special place in Drake’s life… though clearly, I held it first.”

I could barely breathe.

“You must be exhausted, Charlotte,” she went on, her voice soft. “Six years of being in a loveless marriage, No real partnership. Just a title. You held the seat warm, and I applaud you for that.”

I dug my nails into my palm, the pain a small feeling to my reality.

“I won’t take up more of your time,” she said with false sweetness. “I just wanted to offer you my gratitude. I’ve heard so much about your competence. Drake’s empire owes so much to your… assistance.”

The venom in that last word made my vision blur.

“I’m sure you won’t hold a grudge, Charlotte, I heard about how much you had to go through in this marriage. It’s time to take that burden away from you now.”

Drake still said nothing.

I turned to him one last time. “Drake?”

He barely glanced at me. “If you’re done here,” he said, waving me off. “Bring me my coffee.”

The command landed like a slap.

Without another word, I turned and walked out of the room. I had no idea how I got to the executive kitchen, but I remember my hands shaking as I measured the beans, steamed the milk, stirring it precisely. This had once been a quiet ritual, an intimate gesture I prided myself on, one of the few connections we still shared. Now, it was just another form of servitude.

I returned with a silver tray balanced between my trembling hands. Drake stood by the window, his phone at his ear. Mia lounged in the executive chair like a queen on her throne, her legs crossed, eyes gleaming.

I said nothing as I passed her.

Everything happened in a blur. I remember Mia shifting in her chair and the tray jolting backward.

I gasped as the hot liquid spilled all over my body and before I could react, Mia shrieked loudly and stood up from the chair.

“Oh my God! My hand! My dress! Charlotte, what have you done!”

Drake spun around, dropping the phone.

“What happened?” His eyes were filled with concern, but it wasn’t directed at me.

Mia held out her arm and gasped, displaying droplets of coffee that barely touched her. “You’re so clumsy!” She glanced at Drake. “She tripped and it went all over my body. It hurts! Gosh!”

He rushed to her side. “Let me see. Are you alright?”

My lips parted, but no words came out. I couldn’t understand what was going on. I was the victim and here she was, acting like she was the one affected.

I had never been so shocked as I was with all the events of the past hour.

“Drake, she…” I finally found my voice

“Not now,” he snapped, his eyes scanning Mia’s arm.

I stood soaked in steaming coffee, my blouse clinging to my skin, but Drake didn’t spare me a glance.

His entire focus was on Mia, patting her arm dry with his handkerchief and murmuring soft reassurances.

My voice cracked. “She did it on purpose..”

“Enough!” His gaze finally flicked to me, hard and unyielding. “Do you even hear yourself? You’ve become so unstable, Charlotte. You can’t even carry a tray without causing a disaster? What can you do right? ”

I swallowed the rising scream in my throat. He had suddenly forgotten all I did for him…all my sacrifices…

Mia whimpered. “I really think she’s lost it, Drake. You have to find another secretary.”

His jaw tightened. “Charlotte,” he said flatly, “apologize, now.”

I blinked. “What?”

“You heard me.”

I shook my head slowly. “You believe her over me?”

“She’s not the one acting irrational,” he muttered, rubbing his temple like I was a bad headache.

“I’m your wife! You should listen to me,” I felt the tears stung the corners of my eyes. “I’m your wife,” I repeated again

“No,” he said coldly and turned to face me. It was the first time he was looking at me in a long time, but what I saw in his eyes ... .if looks could kill, I’d have been six feet under. “Charlotte, you and I both know that this arrangement…this marriage, was for your sake!”

The room spun. My knees felt like jelly. “You said you loved me,” the first tear dropped. “You said…you…”

“Enough!” He barked. “I am so disappointed in you Charlotte, I thought you were mature enough to understand, but you,” he flung his arms. “You’ve become nothing more than an inconvenience.”

I stood rooted in place, every breath was like ice. A hundred arguments clawed at my throat, but I knew that none would matter.

I wanted to remind him that it was his idea that we get married because he could only get the Brahms deal if he was married.

I blinked rapidly and sniffed, wiping my tears away. I nodded and was just about to walk away when he spoke again.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

I turned around slowly. “Giving you and your future wife the space you need,” I forced my voice to remain steady, despite the turmoil in my head.

“It's fine, I know she doesn't like me but please Charlotte try not to bully me.”

Did she just call me a bully before Drake?