Chapter 2

The captain followed Eddie and Luke out. "Ms. Freeman, we just received updated instructions from air traffic control," he said. "They've changed the flight route. We're cleared to fly to Nataria."

Ashley took a second to process that, and then her whole face lit up. "Victor, did you close the merger deal?" she asked.

Before I could answer, she'd already turned to Eddie, her voice going soft and patient. "Eddie, an important deal just came up, so we need to make a quick stop in Nataria. Once the papers are signed, we'll fly straight from there so Luke can see the snow, okay?"

With that, she adjusted her hold on Luke and headed for the shuttle bus. It wasn't until she was at the door that she looked back and called out to us with a bright smile.

"Victor, Eddie, come on! Hurry up!"

Her tone was so casual, as if it were only natural that I'd be the one cleaning up after her.

Eddie smiled at her before lowering his voice as he turned to me. "You see it too, don't you, Victor? Ashley is exhausted when she's with you. She always has to act like a calm and strong business partner, terrified of making a single mistake. But with me and Luke, she gets to just be herself."

I chuckled softly. It turned out that being by my side was nothing but exhausting to Ashley.

Years ago, she had tearfully told me about her ambitions and the future she wanted to build. Without a shred of ambition, I handed her everything I had to give.

For her sake, I knelt outside Dad's study for three days and three nights, just to beg him to transfer Wright Group's capital and connections to her.

Dad had been furious. His finger trembled as he pointed at my face.

"Victor Wright! Have you thrown basic business sense out the window for a single woman? Fine. If you insist on being this stubborn, someone else will inherit Wright Group!

In the end, I traded my position as heir to secure Ashley the sufficient resources she needed.

She'd thrown her arms around me that day and sobbed. "I'll prove myself, Victor. I'll show every last Wright that you made the right choice!"

And now here was Eddie, telling me that being by my side was too exhausting for her.

I had boarded the plane by the time I came back to myself. Luke caught sight of my expression and immediately shrank back into Ashley's embrace.

"That man looks so scary, Mommy," he said. "I don't like him."

Keeping a straight face, I turned and headed for the restroom. Eddie followed me in.

"How much longer are you going to lie to yourself, Victor? Deep down, Ashley has only ever loved me. You were nothing more than a stepping stone to her.

"Do you honestly think she stayed with you all these years because she loved you? That night, she got drunk and called me to her hotel room—"

That was when I finally snapped and spun around. "Shut up!"

Ashley rushed over at once, throwing herself protectively in front of Eddie.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Victor? Eddie is going through a rough time right now, and you're picking a fight over some petty jealousy. Don't you have any sympathy?"

Looking at her, I was suddenly overwhelmed with exhaustion.

I nodded. When I spoke, my voice sounded so cold it felt foreign even to my own ears. "You're right. I don't have sympathy. I'm the bad guy here."

Then, I turned around and entered the restroom before pulling out my satellite phone.

"Are the documents ready?"

"Everything has been compiled and finalized, Mr. Wright."

"Good. Effective immediately, pull every financial, legal, and asset authorization under my name that's tied to Ashley and her law firm."