Ashes in Hand, Divorce in Tow

After I had the baby, I threw myself back into work—anything to dodge the mess of juggling a career and a newborn.Grinding paid off. I snagged the top sales spot this year.My boss threw a party to celebrate. Peggy, who'd only been with us a year, came in second, so naturally, the drinks kept coming for the two of us.She tossed back the first like a champ, but when round two came, she hesitated. People egged her on, but she held her ground, smiling like she was half-embarrassed, half-thrilled."It's not that I don't wanna drink—my boyfriend's strict about that. I'm already pushing it with this one," she said, all bashful but glowing.Cue the groans and playful teasing."Peggy, we're not buying it unless you call him. We wanna meet this mysterious guy!""Yeah! Danielle, if you're trying to skip drinks too, call your hubby. You two are always talking about your men, but they're like ghosts—we've never seen them!"Eyes swung to me.Before I could react, Peggy was already on her

I gripped my phone but didn't move.Just raised my glass—and drank.The whispers weren't even subtle."Calling him her husband? Please. Probably just moans that in bed. Why else wouldn't she make the call?""She's got a kid, and this mystery husband won't even show? She's totally some rich guy's secret fling.""Right? No real family would marry someone like her. Dressed like that? She's a toy. Use her, toss her, done. I even heard she sleeps with clients to close deals. Disgusting."I kept drinking like I didn't hear a word.Glass after glass, like that might drown it all out.This was supposed to be my win. My celebration.Instead, it was the most humiliating night of my life.***Any time I had a work dinner, Gerard made sure the butler, Raphael, left the lights on and waited—so he could barge in and start lecturing the second he got home.Tonight was no different.He rolled in around 3 a.m., after the lights had been burning for six hours.He checked every room before

No going out at night.That rule? Only for me.Gerard could sneak off to Peggy at 2 a.m. and no one blinked.I bit down hard, tears streaming."Raphael, look at her—she's having a real reaction. She needs a hospital. Please, just take us. We'll come right back, I swear."I was about to drop to my knees.But Raphael? Cold as stone.He blocked the door like a robot and told me to ask Gerard.I called. Again. And again.Each one declined.When someone finally picked up, it wasn't Gerard."Danielle, do you even know what time it is? Can you not? If it's so important, wait till Gerard wakes up."Peggy.Already hanging up.I screamed and begged, lowering my voice as much as I could. "Peggy, please. Wake him up. My daughter's having a severe allergic reaction. Just ask him to let Raphael drive us to the hospital.""Hospital?" she snorted. "Danielle, don't think playing the pitiful mom card is gonna win Gerard over. He loves me."I was begging now. "Peggy, I know. I'm not tryin

Gerard blinked. "What?"The left side of his face was already swelling.His eyes stayed glued to the ashes on the floor—no sadness, just straight-up contempt. "Danielle, you've really gone all out trying to get me to leave Peggy. She just found out she's pregnant, and now you're claiming Nadine is dead?"You even put some dust in a little jar to put on a show. Do you really think you and some kid matter in my family? What a joke."If it weren't for my parents pressuring me back then, I wouldn't have even looked at you."He wasn't wrong.We only got married because of my family's name—and the favor they did for his.Back when my dad and Christopher were finalizing a deal, Christopher collapsed from high blood pressure.Everyone panicked. Tried to move him.I was still a med student. Took one look and called it—a hemorrhage.Told them to stop, called 911, and kept him stable till help came.I saved his life.After he recovered, he thanked me in person—and pulled every string

After Nadine died, I went home.My parents looked at me like they were scared to breathe wrong.I locked myself in my room.Didn't eat. Didn't drink. Just curled up with Nadine's ashes, hoping the pain would dull even a little.But life doesn't pause for grief.I turned in my resignation.Had to show up to wrap things up.The second I stepped into Busch Corp, the air shifted.Cold stares. Whispers everywhere.When I reached the sales floor to pack, it got worse—people didn't even bother hiding it.The same coworkers who once toasted me at the company dinner were now spitting venom."No wonder you didn't call your 'husband'—you were busy stealing Peggy's guy.""Is there any man you haven't slept with? You couldn't even pull off being a decent side chick. Working with you makes me sick."Peggy kept stirring the pot, and the rumors exploded.Before long, everyone at Busch Corp believed I slept my way into deals and stole Peggy's boyfriend.They said I envied everything she