Chapter 2

Room 8301 at Capitol Tower was Caleb's regular suite.

Every time the tabloids caught him on video, it was the same scene—him, with a different woman on his arm, walking into that same room.

Even after getting exposed, he never changed the suite.

It was as if he didn't care who saw.

He cheated so openly and confidently, that somehow I was the one who became the joke. I was always the one everyone laughed at.

Kayla Lewis opened the door.

One side of her robe slipped off her shoulder, revealing a wide stretch of pale skin marked with scattered red spots. The bold, unashamed signs of intimacy made her look especially seductive.

"Wow, Mrs. Spencer. You actually came."

Her smile was bright, almost innocent, like she'd practiced it in the mirror.

"But you're really late," she added, holding up the box I brought. "Boss couldn't wait. You can take this back."

Her smile was sweet, her expression soft and innocent. It held just the right amount of naïveté to hide the desire and greed underneath. It was like she'd studied a reference, trained herself to mimic every glance and smile. Everything about her felt eerily familiar.

I'd heard she was a junior from my department, just graduated last year.

I looked away and nodded, already turning to leave.

But her voice rang out behind me. "Oh, one more thing, Mrs. Spencer—if he doesn't love you, why keep throwing yourself at him? It's pathetic."

She tilted her head and gave me a pitying look.

"As a woman, here's some advice. Just divorce him already. I mean, look at your skin. It's dark and rough. How are you supposed to compete with someone like me?"

I glanced down at the back of my hand.

Faint lines had already started to show—rough, aging faster than they should. But I was only 29 years old.

"You're shamlessly clinging to the title of being Mr. Spencer's wife," she said. "Don't you think that's a little sad?"

I let out a soft laugh and ignored her. A tight, aching pressure rose in my chest, and all I wanted was to get out of there.

That was when Caleb rushed out of the room. His shirt wasn't even wrinkled.

He grabbed my arm.

"You really don't have anything to say?"

There it was again. That same question.

I shook my head and held up the plastic bag.

"You said you didn't need it. So what's left to say?"

I paused, then decided to say one more thing.

"Oh, right…"

Something flickered in Caleb's eyes. Hope, maybe. Even in the dim hallway, I could see it light up for a second.

"What is it?"

I turned to Kayla and smiled.

"I've seen a few of the recent headlines. Seems like Ms. Lewis is always in them. You must really like her. If that's the case, why let people call her the homewrecker? Before there's a baby involved, maybe you should put a ring on it."

Caleb's expression changed instantly.

"Oh, I see. Now you're telling me what to do? Put a ring on it? And what about you? What, are you asking for a divorce?" He stepped closer, voice rising. "Let me make this clear, Lily. That'll only happen over my dead body."

Doors started opening along the hallway. Neighbors poked their heads out, curious about the noise.

Someone recognized him. I could hear the whispers and feel the stares, but I didn't react.

I just tilted my head thoughtfully, then looked back at Kayla.

"You heard him. There's nothing I can do. It's not that I won't divorce him."