2.

LYSSANDRA

I scrubbed my fingers over my eyes, blinking, hoping I'd open my eyes and the sight had disappeared, maybe like a mirage.

I could hear Cade, and the man, but I kept my eyes closed.

“Lys?” I heard Cade, and my jaw clenched. He chose to call me Lys now? When a man was fucking him in our living room?

I opened my eyes and Cade was naked.

“What on earth are you doing here? I assumed you'd be at Riley's?” His voice was shaking. I took a look at his partner, and my lips fell open. “Arch? I can't believe this!” I yelled at him, my throat rough with the tears I was holding back.

“We can talk this out calmly. Give me a moment to dress up, and I'll be with you.” Cade turned to Arch and sighed sadly. “I'm sorry, Arch. You'll need to leave now.”

His voice was apologetic, almost pleading as he spoke to Arch. Arch was a member on my company’s board. Actually, he owned the largest shares in my company. He was the first person who invested in me, and almost twenty years older than Cade.

Arch pressed a kiss on Cade’s forehead as though I'm not even standing at the door. Arch walked around him and stopped beside me.

“Lyssandra?” He murmured. “It's rather unfortunate you had to see that, but I am…” he trailed off, shook his head and walked away.

I flung my gold clutch at Cade. He caught it effortlessly and I felt even more useless.

A cold smile curled my lips. “I guess it's obvious what you were doing during those meetings that ran late, huh?”

And to think I had given him accolades in my speech just this evening, calling him the best husband ever.

“Don't be dramatic, Lyssandra. You're so sickly you'll faint if you strain your heart.” He turned and walked out of the room. “Come into the bedroom when you're calm, and we'll talk.”

I heard our bedroom door slam shut, and that buzzing sound in my skull finally ceased.

I wanted to be strong, really I did, but instead, I walked to the couch, and slumped into it, and I cried. The tears were salty, and again, the breeze blew the smell of citrus into my nose.

That smell had filled the house the night my father died too. Or more accurately, the night my father murdered my mother and my sister.

Or at least, that's what my uncle would have me believe. Cade was supposed to help me dig into the truth, that was of course until I got sick, and all of it was swept away.

And now, he was what, fucking a man?

Cade was gay?

My head pounded as I tried standing, but I stopped my knees from buckling, the taste of blood filling my mouth as I bit down on my lips to stop myself from screaming.

I headed to our room, flung the door open, and turned the lights on.

Cade looked up from his laptop, his glasses perched on his aristocratic nose.

He slid the glasses up his nose like a professor looking over a student he didn't approve of. “Lyssandra? I told you…”

“Get out. I want you to pack your bags, your stupid books, your fucking life and get out of mine.” I snapped at him, my self-control slipping away.

Cade’s lips flattened into a thin line. “That's a very degrading language for a woman, Lyssandra.”

What right did he have to chastise me? I'm not the cheating scum bag, am I?

“Cade, I caught you cheating on me! With Arch. A man!” I shouted.

I knew my voice was pitched high, but I couldn't stop. I couldn't believe I had considered killing myself, stepping off a balcony because of this man, and all along, he'd been making love to Arch.

His eyes were icy. “I knew you were small minded, Lyssandra. Don't tell me you're homophobic too?”

He closed the laptop and climbed out of the bed. I'm dizzy as I watched him stalk closer to me.

His body stopped a few steps from mine and I could smell his cologne, feel the heat of his body, and the anger emanating off him.

The headache started in the center of my forehead, and spread to the nape of my neck.

“I want you to leave, Cade. I wouldn't care if you fucked a dog, but you're my husband. I expect to be respected, and you obviously don't respect me.”

I turned and walked around him to my closet.

I could feel my skin burning, and it became worse when his fingers closed around my arm, digging into my skin.

“I'll go tonight. But we'll have to talk soon,” he said. Then he pushed me away. “Go take a shower, Lys. You reek of sweat.”

Then he was gone. I listened for the sound of his car leaving my driveway, and I knew this was the last straw.

The pain felt worse than all the times I thought I would die. All the times I had to sleep in the bathroom because my stomach wouldn't hold down the food I ate. This pain was worse.

I headed to the bathroom and showered, then I climbed into bed, and closed my eyes.

Sleep didn't come easy, but when it did, I was swept away completely.

A cool breeze flowed across my face, and woke me up the next morning.

I showered, resolving to not think of Cade until I had to. I headed to the gym, ate breakfast, then I headed to work with a bottle of coconut water. The water helped regulate my system.

But when I stepped into my office, standing beside Cade, was my uncle, Nathan, and sitting behind my desk, in my chair was Arch.

I stopped at the door and let out a chuckle.

“I didn't expect the entire calvary had been called up for my sake.”