Chapter 1: The Betrayal

"Hi, babe." Petra Hemsworth was excited as she dialed Brian’s number. "I just closed a $5 million deal with Briggs Corporation, so, you wanna celebrate?"

Petra could barely contain the excitement bubbling inside her. She stepped out of Briggs Corporation with a bright smile on her face, her heels clicking against the pavement as she walked toward her car.

Months of negotiations, presentations, and sleepless nights had finally paid off.

She had done it.

She had secured Brooks Construction a five-million-dollar contract.

As the company's Marketing Director, Petra had become known for bringing in the biggest clients. She loved her job, but moments like this were even sweeter when she had someone to celebrate with.

Or at least, that was what she believed.

The first person she thought of was her husband.

Brian Brooks.

Founder of Brooks Construction.

"Yeah, we'll see." Brian responded with irritation in his voice. "I'm busy."

He ended the call immediately.

Petra froze, the excitement on her face instantly vanished.

"Is -" she started saying, but halted, her head tilted in confusion.

****************

The drive home felt unusually long.

Brian had barely let her finish talking before hanging up.

Petra tried convincing herself he was genuinely occupied with work.

After all, things had been hectic at Brooks Construction lately. Still, something about his tone didn't sit right with her.

By the time she arrived home, the joy she'd carried all evening had faded into uneasiness.

She entered the house and headed upstairs toward their bedroom.

Maybe he was already home.

Maybe he'd apologize for cutting the call short.

She reached the bedroom door and wrapped her fingers around the doorknob.

Just as she was about to turn it, she halted, frozen at the voices that followed.

"Ah... Ah... Baby, you're sweet." A strange female voice said, her moaning filled the entire building.

Petra froze.

Her heartbeat stopped for a second. She stared blankly at the door.

"Yeah?" Came Brian's unmistaken voice. "And you're sweet as hell, baby. Not like Petra, that uptight workaholic."

Petra's eyebrows furrowed, her heartbeat pounding.

She couldn't take it anymore as she fiercely pulled the door opened.

There, on their matrimonial bed, was another woman, on top of her husband, both naked, having sex.

Petra flew the door back shut with anger, they all jumped as their widened eyes rested on her.

"You motherfucker!" Petra cursed, approaching them fiercely.

The woman — Emma Darius, jumped up from Brian instinctively, falling off the other side of the bed.

Petra fling her handbag at Brian's face with anger.

"Aw, what the fuck?" Brian cursed, holding his cheek in pain.

He jumped up from the bed, breathing fast.

"How dare you bring another woman into our house while I'm out there making deals for you?" Petra snapped.

She could feel her blood boiling beneath her skin.

"You know, you should take a good at yourself, Petra." Brian said with irritation. "You're too obsessed with work. I have needs."

He shrugged.

"We agreed that I'd handle the finances if you took care of our home." Petra pressed on.

"Yeah, but you're a woman, Petra." Brian retorted. "You refuse to have kids, all for the sake of your work."

Petra shook her head and gave a sad smile.

"What did you expect?" Brian added with a shrug.

"I busted my ass for us, for your company." Petra snapped. "What more do you want, Brian?"

Petra and Brian had been happily married for four years.

Well, not until a year ago when Emma started visiting the house often, first in the name of business with Brian.

Petra had suspected the frequent visits and the way Emma looked at her husband, but each time Petra raised the matter, Brian had brushed it off, accusing her of overreacting.

She had believed him.

Now she regretted every single time she chose trust over instinct.

Emma ignored the commotion as she walked closer to Brian, closing any gap between them. She buried her head into his naked chest, rubbing his chest with one hand, while smirking at Petra.

Brian stared at Petra, shaking his head. "Every time you talk of work, you're just so damn aggressive." His voice rose louder and angrier. "You leave me no dignity as a fucking man."

Over ninety percent of Brooks Construction's investors and top clients had come through Petra.

She worked late nights, traveled constantly, and sacrificed weekends just to keep the company ahead of its competitors.

Every success Brian proudly claimed had Petra's fingerprints all over it.

Yet none of those sacrifices were ever acknowledged.

Emma continued rubbing his chest, looking seductively into his eyes. He turned to her, his hands wrapping possessively round her waist as he drew her closer.

"But Emma," he said, looking down into the lady's eyes. "Emma's gentle. Beautiful. She makes me feel like a man."

Emma smiled, then lifted up her lips towards his as they kissed.

She released, turned and gave Petra a smirk, rolling her eyes.

"Exactly." She said. "I'm better than this old workaholic."

Petra gave a sad chuckle.

"So everything I did meant nothing." She said.

She shook her head, then walked closer, grab Brian by the shoulder and kicked him in the belly.

"Ah!" Brian gasped, bending as his hands flew to his belly.

"How about that?" She said, furious. "You pathetic excuse for a man."

She turned sharply, walking out.

****************

Petra drove without knowing where she was headed.

Tears blurred her vision, but she refused to let them fall.

Everything she had built over the last four years had collapsed in a single evening.

The man she loved.

The marriage she fought to protect.

The home she believed was safe.

All of it had been a lie.

She eventually pulled over outside a luxury bar.

Without thinking, she walked inside and took a seat at the counter.

"Whiskey." She said, looking lost in thoughts.

The bartender served her a glass.

She emptied it in one gulp.

Then another.

The burning sensation in her throat was nothing compared to the ache crushing her heart.

Petra lay her head tirelessly on the table of the bar. She'd just consumed two full glasses of whiskey.

A man walked in, his eyebrows furrowed at the sight of Petra lying her head on the bar like someone who’d lost it all.

That was Oscar Briggs, heir to Briggs Corporation.

"Petra?" He called, staring shockingly at her. "What the hell are you doing?"