Chapter One

Emma's heart was pounding hard with nerves, as she adjusted the silk robe over the red lace lingerie beneath it, the fabric clinging to curves she usually kept hidden. It was reckless, dressing like this. But it was their anniversary, and she'd promised herself she'd try harder.

Fluffing her hair one last time she took a steadying breath and made her way towards her husband's bedroom on the other side of the mansion.

Stopping in front of his heavy oak door, she didn't allow herself to hesitate before she knocked sharply on the door. But there was no response. She knew he was in though. He came back from work about an hour ago, and had retreated inside with barely a word to her.

"Noah? Are you in there?" she called out, listening in for movement on the other end.

When silence met her again, she tried the handle and to her surprise, the knob turned smoothly, and the door swung open with a quiet sound.

The bedroom was dim, lit only by the faint glow of the city skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The large king-sized bed was empty.

Where was he?

Then, she heard the sound of running water accompanied by a low, heavy breath from the half open bathroom door.

Emma's breath hitched. She took a careful step forward into the room, her bare feet sinking into the plush rug. Drawing closer to the bathroom, the sound became clearer.

It was a deep, ragged groan, unmistakably from her husband, accompanied by a hurried wet squelching slapping noise.

Emma froze, the sound instantly registering in her mind. He was...touching himself.

Her face burned as she felt her own body begin to warm in response to him.

She couldn't help but begin to hope. Had he actually remembered their anniversary? Was he in there getting himself ready for her, building up the desire he had kept tightly locked away for years?

But as soon as the thought formed, Noah let out a rough, strained groan that sounded through the quiet bathroom. His rhythmic movement stopped for a second as he pushed himself over the edge, followed immediately by a low, breathless mutter.

"Veronica.." He whispered hoarsely, pleasure evident in his voice, and immediately Emma's heart shattered.

She took a step back as if struck, the pain almost physical as she collapsed onto the nearby chair at of the bed, her knees completely giving out beneath her.

Why was it that woman again? How long has it been? couldn't he see that she was right here? That she was the one that stayed? The one who had tried to love him despite everything?

Inside the bathroom, the running water finally stopped with a sharp click. The sound of Noah's breathing finally leveled out, followed by the rustle of a towel.

Then, the bathroom door swung open fully.

Noah walked out, carelessly running a smaller towel through his damp, dark hair, another was gripped loosely around his low hips, leaving his broad, muscular chest and sculpted torso completely bare and wet. He looked relaxed until his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the bedroom and locked onto her.

Noah froze instantly, his grip tightening on the towel around his waist. The lingering trace of satisfaction vanished from his features, replaced by a harsh, deeply irritated scowl.

"Emma?" he demanded, his dark eyes sweeping over her silk robe before narrowing into a hard glare. "What the hell are you doing in my room? Have you completely forgotten what boundaries are?"

"I—I just wanted to—" Emma started, her voice cracking as she tried to force the words past the massive, suffocating lump in her throat.

Noah let out a sharp, mocking breath at her stuttering, cutting her off as he ran a frustrated hand through his damp hair.

"Look, I don't have time for this right now," he snapped, his voice low and icy. "I have important business to deal with tonight. I'm going out, so don't wait up for me."

With a cold, dismissive sweep of his gaze, he turned on his heel and strode toward his massive walk-in closet. He didn't look back at her once. He stepped inside, slamming the door shut behind him with a resounding bang that she felt down to her bones. The rejection loud and clear.

She wasn't sure how she returned back to her room, but suddenly she was in front of her dresser again, looking at her reflection. At the $1000 dollar lingerie she took a whole day with Leah to decide on.

What the hell was she even doing? Why the hell should she even remain in this loveless marriage? Where her own husband would rather masturbate to fantasies about his old flame than even look at her.

The marriage might have been arranged by their families but she had genuinely believed she could move his heart over time. What a naive, pathetic fool she had been. 

A sharp ping sounded.

Emma flinched, her eyes dropping to her phone on the dresser. It was a text from Leah.

Leah: Hey babe! Just checking in. How is the anniversary surprise going?? Did he love the red lace set? Tell me everything! 

Staring at the screen, the first sob finally broke past Emma's lips. She grabbed the phone, her hands shaking so badly she could barely type.

Emma: He forgot. He didn't even care.

Emma: Are you free? I need to get out of this house right now. Let's go for drinks. 

Leah replied almost instantly, the typing bubbles popping up before Emma could even put the phone down.

Leah: Oh my god, Emma. Say no more. I'm already getting dressed. Meet me at Velvet Lounge in twenty minutes. We are getting you thoroughly drunk. 

Wiping her tears with the back of her trembling hand, Emma felt a sudden resolve wash over her. She stripped off the silk robe and the humiliatingly expensive lingerie, throwing them onto the floor uncaringly. She didn't want to look at them ever again. 

Ten minutes later, she was dressed in a short intricate black lace dress, her face wiped clean of the tear stains and replaced with a mask of complete numbness.

As she walked out of the mansion, she heard the distant purr of Noah's sports car exiting the driveway, leaving her behind without a second thought.

Whatever, she thought even as pain bloomed in her chest. She got into her car, her knuckles turning white against the steering wheel as she started the engine. She refused to let the tears fall again. Not tonight.

The drive to Velvet Lounge went by in a blur, and before she knew it, she was inside the dimly lit space and it didn't take long for her to spot Leah, who was already seated and waving her down frantically.

"Oh, sweetie," Leah gasped the moment Emma reached the table and she saw her face. "What happened? I thought tonight was supposed to be the night."

"He didn't even remember it was our anniversary," Emma said, her voice completely hollow as she sat on barstool next to her friend. She waved the bartender over immediately. "And I found out... he's still completely obsessed with his ex. He was in his room, touching himself, and he called out her name, Leah. Right before he walked out on me to go handle 'business.'" 

Leah's jaw dropped in, her expression twisting into a look of absolute fury. "That bastard! After everything you've done for him?"

"I'm done trying," Emma whispered, as the bartender placed two glasses in front of them. She grabbed her glass and downed a massive gulp. "I was a fool to think I could ever change a man who is still living in the past." 

"Drink up," Leah said, her tone softening with deep empathy as she raised her own glass. "Tonight, you forget about him. You deserve so much better than that asshole."

Leah covered Emma's hand with her own, comforting her as Emma spent the next hour venting all the suppressed pain of the last few years. They ordered round after round, the alcohol drowning out her pain, her thoughts and everything else.

Around midnight, Emma excused herself to go to the restroom. Her steps were a little unsteady from the drinks, but she managed to navigate her way through the crowd toward the back hallway where the private VIP rooms were located.

As she walked down the secluded corridor, she noticed the door to one of the private suites was left half-open. Emma wouldn't have cared, but a very familiar, deep baritone laugh echoed from inside the room.. a sound she hadn't heard in years, because Noah never laughed like that when he was at home with her. 

Her heart stopped, the alcohol-induced warmth

instantly draining from her body. Slowly, Emma stepped closer to the slightly open door and peered inside.

The room was filled with Noah's wealthy inner circle of friends, all laughing and clinking expensive crystal glasses together. But Emma's gaze locked directly onto the center couch. 

There sat Noah, looking incredibly handsome in a tailored dark suit. And sitting intimately right next to him, her elegant hand resting casually on his knee while she leaned into his side, was a stunning woman with long, wavy blonde and an effortless aura of sophistication.

She was whispering something to Noah, who gave her his undivided attention, an adoring smile on his face as he looked at her as if she hung the moon.

"Man, look at you two," one of Noah's longtime friends said loudly, raising his glass toward them with a chuckle. "Now that Veronica is finally back, the universe is finally aligning again. The two of them are truly perfect together."

Emma froze instantly. Veronica? The woman next to him was Veronica? His ex?!

A chorus of supportive cheers and laughter rippled through the room. The friend continued, "I mean we all knew that arranged marriage sham wouldn't last, but man did your grandmother really think a girl from that background could ever belong here?"

"Honestly, the most painful part was watching her mother at the charity galas. Remember? Parading around, practically sweating through her borrowed silk, bragging to the board members' wives about how her daughter 'secured the bag.' Hate to say it, but her whole family is a stain on your reputation."

Veronica let out a soft giggle, shifting closer into Noah's side as she smoothed down the lapel of his suit jacket. "Be nice, Liam. I'm sure she's trying her best. It's not easy to suddenly move up in standings you know. It would’ve been better if she got together with her match though.”

The room erupted into another wave of cruel amusement.

Emma stood outside in the dim hallway, staring through the half-open door. Her gaze locked onto her husband, waiting for him to snap, waiting for him to defend her honor as his legal wife. But Noah didn't say a single word. He just sat there, a relaxed, easy smile playing on his lips, completely unbothered by his friends mocking her.

A hot wave of pure, unadulterated fury snapped through Emma's numbed senses. The sadness, the tears, the pathetic longing she had carried for years burned away in a single second, replaced by a cold, dangerous resolve.

She was done hiding. She was done playing the quiet, obedient wife who stayed in her corner.

Emma didn't hesitate as she pushed the door open with a violent shove, letting it swing back until it hit the wall with a loud thud. 

She stepped boldly into the bright light of the private room, her eyes flashing with anger and resolve as she looked at the stunned crowd. 

"Really?" Emma asked, her voice dangerously calm, locked onto her husband, who was looking at her with absolute, stunned disbelief.