Five years and a divorce paper in my hand before I realized that I invested my time, effort and devotion to the wrong man. Trapped in a corner with nothing left to my name, I was willing to bargain with my ex-husband for my daughter’s sake. But then, a savior, my husband’s new boss came to rescue me from the financial quagmire I was in. He helped me recover what I lost: my dignity, pride and most importantly, he gave me hope. I thought he was the perfect man. But the illusion shattered when his motives came to bite me in the face. He was in this for revenge, and his target was me.
View MoreKatherine POV
I arrived outside of my husband’s office apprehensively. Greg Combs, my husband of five years, had been avoiding my calls since last week. “Katherine, what are you doing here?” My husband’s secretary asked strangely. Her gaze shifted to Greg's closed door. “Is Greg around? Can I see him?” I asked tiredly. “He’s in a meeting. I don’t think he can see you right now.” Her tone sounded weird. I looked around us. Everyone’s busy but I knew that they were listening. It was common knowledge that my husband Greg forbids me from coming to the office especially since they were busy with the ongoing merger with SF conglomerate, a business giant in robotics owned by self-made billionaire Lucas Sanders. On ordinary days, I wouldn’t defy Greg’s orders, but not today. The hospital informed me that Greg failed to pay for our daughter’s operation which was due today. I tried appealing to Lorrie, his secretary. “I need to talk to him. He was not answering my call.” I said, feeling desperate. Lorrie looked regretfully at me before shaking her head. “I am sorry, Katherine.” Her voice trailed off, cluing me in. She's not going to give me some slack, I realized. But I can't let her words deter me. I need to see Greg. I skipped past Lorrie to slip through Greg's door. I was relieved to find out it was not locked and I was able to get in. My hands made quick work of the lock so Lorrie can’t follow me. I breathed a sigh of relief when I successfully shut her out, but the moment I turned around, I instantly regretted my decision because right then, my world began to crumble. A trail of clothes belonging to a man and a woman greeted me. Then, I heard moans. Without thinking, I followed the sound until it brought me outside of Greg’s private quarters. He maintains this room for when work piled up. The door was slightly ajar, allowing me a partial view of a woman’s bare back while she was bouncing on my husband’s lap. I winced when I heard a familiar voice shout. “That’s it, Greg. F*ster!” My chest tightened when I realized what was happening. I stood there frozen, trying to digest what I had been trying to ignore this whole time. Greg, the man who promised to be a good husband to me, had changed. It was a gradual change, but since I was busy with our daughter Erin’s hospitalization, I never suspected that he would be having an affair. But here is my proof. The answer to his long office hours, going out of the house in the middle of the night, endless hours on the phone. It’s all right before my eyes. I bit my lip as I choked back a sob, feeling like my world collapsed. I could not breathe while I stared at them doing the deed. I don’t know how long I stood there, watching them, but as their moans, groans, and d*rty talks filled the air, I could not help feeling like I was dying inside. I had given up everything for Greg. I had been a dutiful wife. I supported him with his work, and this is what I get - his betrayal. My world spun at the circumstance facing me and felt like I was going to keel over any moment at the realization that I had been betrayed by the only man I trusted the most. When they finished, there was silence, and then I heard footsteps. I was so caught up in pain that I was not able to react quickly. Greg’s stunned face greeted me when he saw me standing outside the door to his private room, my hand covering my mouth. “What are you doing here, Katherine?” He asked impatiently. I looked at his naked frame and felt anger welled up inside me, knowing what he had been doing on the other side of the door. “Why Greg?” I asked, choking back a sob. Greg looked down but before he did that, I saw a trace of guilt and regret crossed over his feature, but it was gone fast. “Greg, darling.” A woman’s familiar voice carried its weight to our senses that we were both jarred into attention. I looked at her, my husband’s mistress, and my heart squeezed painfully in my chest. My eyes darted from her to Greg and back to her. “How could you, Noreen? I trusted you, and believed you were my friend. How can you betray my trust?” Tears flowed freely down my cheek at this blatant betrayal by the two people I trusted most. Greg, my husband of five years, and Noreen, my friend, confidante and godmother to my daughter, Erin. “Don’t blame Noreen. She has not done anything wrong.” Greg cut in. He was defending her. As if it was not enough, Greg protectively snaked his around her waist, pulling her body to him in comfort. Greg’s action only showed me that he places Noreen in high regard. Even when we were together, Greg was never protective of my feelings. I smiled bitterly when it all became clear to me now. Greg never comforted me when he knew that he made me cry. He even acted like nothing happened the next day. The comparison made the ache even more painful that I had to raise my head like a drowning man to take a huge gulp of air. “I am sorry, Katherine. The last five years had been a mistake.” Greg told me with a sincerity that cut through my soul. I bit my lip, unsure where this is heading. “What do you mean?” Greg rustled his hair and sighed. “I don’t love you anymore.” he told me, looking at me straight in the eye. “Such perfect timing, Greg. Just when I needed strength for our daughter’s operation today.” This time, Greg did not even flinch when he told me. “About her operation. I can’t carry the weight of her hospital bills anymore. We both know that she is not my daughter and I have to stop helping her. If you want, find her father. Find the man who knocked you up five years ago and make him be responsible for his own daughter.” Greg told me, shattering my hopes and my heart even further.Lucas POVI watched Oliver slouching on my office couch. His legs dangled on the couch’s armrest while his head was on the opposite armrest.In his stomach was his half-eaten sandwich. “Oliver, you are not listening.” I frustratedly called out his name when I thought that he was already sleeping. I nearly marched up to him to pull him up and throw him out of my office, but I couldn’t do that. I needed to talk to someone. Since this morning, when she learned that we were leaving for Disney after Erin’s school ended, she was not too happy with me. When we left the hotel and up until the ride to Erin’s school, she acted okay, but when Erin disappeared into her building, that’s when the cold treatment started. “Are you mad at me?” I asked when we stopped at a red light.I can’t stand her silence anymore. Katherine snorted. “What do you think?” She asked frostily. I sighed when the traffic light turned green, and I had to concentrate on driving, but from time to time, I would steal
Lucas POVThe day started bright and sunny when I opened my eyes to the realization that I was lying in bed, flanked on each side by my two favorite girls. I smiled when I remembered my argument with our daughter last night. After we got inside our hotel room, Erin was surprisingly awake and excitedly wanted to be put down. When her feet landed on the carpeted floor, she began to explore every corner of the room. She was like a ball of energy, unlike earlier when drowsiness had overtaken her completely. Erin dashed from one corner of the room to the other until the view outside caught her attention. She stood in front of the half-silvered glass windows, mouth agape as she stared at the city lights from neighboring high-rise buildings and other establishments below that formed the nighttime cityscape.“It’s like the view in our apartment!” She exclaimed in undisguised awe. Katherine persuaded her to sit down on the bed, but she was so hyper. I stood next to her, allowing myself t
Lucas POVThe merriment continued. My friends were having a good time. I watched Duke when he borrowed the microphone from the head singer before talking to the band to play his favorite rock song. Then, the four of them sang and jammed to the delight of my PR crew. Duke relished in the response he got, and he requested another song to be played. “Stop! You are taking the singer’s job!” Jacob commented. Duke snorted, and the microphone picked it up.“You are just jealous because you don’t know anything about singing.” Duke’s retort and the way he made a jab at Jacob’s atrocious singing turned all of us laughing our hearts out. Tears pooled in Katherine’s eyes, which made Erin worry.“Mommy, why are you crying? Does it hurt anymore?” She asked. Concern and alarm mingled in Erin's eyes. A distinct feeling of tenderness assailed me, seeing how our daughter reacted when she thought her mom was hurting. Their mother-and-daughter bond was amazing to watch. Erin jumped from my l
Lucas POVThe remaining part of the interview was such a huge success that I decided to celebrate with the whole team after we wrapped up.We went to the Smith Hotel for the celebration. Coincidentally, my friends were also there. I invited them, too. The tables were filled with good food and wine. There was a smile on everyone’s faces.Erin sat on the table with us, looking prim and proper like her mother. The impish child earlier was a mere fraction of the refined girl she was now, dressed in a pink princess dress. She looked at us, mimicking the way her mother and I interacted with our guests. Then, her eyes lit up when she saw her third favorite person on the planet. “Uncle Ollie!” The refined act was abandoned, replaced by an excited child who pushed herself up to her seat and raised her arms to give her Uncle Oliver a hug. Oliver’s eyes lit up when he saw. He bent down to scoop her up in his arms and whirled her around.Erin’s giggles shattered the chatter mingled with t
Lucas POV I watched Katherine when she invited the crew to a buffet-style lunch that she prepared all morning. She was in the outdoor kitchen preparing and cooking while the crew filmed her. At first, I thought she would not be comfortable in the area, but surprisingly, Katherine moved effortlessly and did most of the cooking, which amazed me. Initially, she had no idea how many people were coming in. Despite that, she was able to rustle-up a good meal plan in a short period of time and started working. Of course, she had help, but the recipe was all hers.I wondered how she learned all this.Katherine must have sensed my confusion, and was quick to explain. “Greg’s mom used to visit with a bevy of friends. Sometimes, they get to party in our large pool area.”It was just an offhand remark, but it made me resent Greg’s mother for making the last five years hard for Katherine. She may not say it, but I could guess how Greg’s mother treated her and my daughter in the past. I wonde
Katherine POVI stared at him in disbelief, unable to process what he meant.“Lucas..” I called out his name in my confusion. He looked away, unable to meet my gaze. “What do you mean?” To me, Lucas is the epitome of invincibility. He was the perfect man, husband, and father. In my eyes, he can never do wrong. Well, if we won’t count how he treated me earlier in our relationship. He was a full-pledged a*sh*le at that time, but I get it.I understand perfectly. He was only acting that way because Lucas was hurting. He thought I betrayed him. “Shall we go in?” Lucas broke the mood between us. His head turned to the house, but I was not sure what he was looking at.“Our daughter must be awake and might be looking for us.”“Not so fast.” I tried to use the same words he used earlier when I was having cold feet about the interview. Lucas frowned, but he stopped when he heard me. “What?” “You can’t just say cryptic words and not explain,” I told him. He looked evasive and I can
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