Chapter 2

Brooklyn's POV 

My jaw dropped to the ground. 

I flipped a frightful look at Justeen. The popular business socialite who dined and wined with top CEOs and investors here in New York and beyond. 

They trailed back to Cooper. "What's her role in this deal?" 

He flinched his head away. Hiding the "Once she talks to the Wil-X President, the deal is settled." He breathed easily, as if this was not wrong at all. 

My eyes pressed on him with tears which he even took his fingers to wipe. 

"It's just for the deal. After everything is set, I'll divorce her. We will be back together. With such a massive deal, we'd have the biggest wedding of the century." 

He came closer, grabbing my hands. "Just agree to this, let's divorce and we will start all over, better than before." 

His lips spread into a soft grin, as if he was expecting me to accept this. 

I slammed my hands off his grip. 

I fisted my balls, breathing with difficulty. My chest heaved in and out, I felt like it would just burst any moment from now. 

I stared at my husband of three years over and over again. 

I shook my head, sighing. If someone had told me this, I wouldn't have believed it. 

This was the man I'd sacrificed my life for. My status. My everything. 

My entire ecstasy, my plan, my hard work. All were down in the drain and instead of the radiant smile I was supposed to carry as a bride, I was carrying hot tears and rage in my heart. 

"What's going on over there? I thought you guys already discussed everything?" The real bride spoke up, furious. 

"If she's not gonna agree to the divorce ceremony, then we marry. She has no kids for you, she can serve as our nanny while we go to work." 

"Are you okay?" I barked at her, shaking my head. People sprang up. Justeen dropped her bouquet, attempting to rush up here. 

It was at once Cooper left me to go to soothe her. "I don't want any further trouble, since she refuses to grant the divorce, then let's proceed." 

I attempted to storm after them but the bouncers formed a barricade. Their deadly eyes rolled on me. 

I caught the MC walking up here from his stand. Still with the mic in hand. 

"Please ma'am, can you kindly cooperate?" 

"Tell me, if this is a joke." My pitch went high in reprimand but he calmly pulled it down off his collar while shaking his head. 

"No, it's not a joke. Your husband chose to divorce you today in an open ceremony and marry Justeen, his bride who just came back from abroad."

Urine trickled down my urethra. 

"Look!" He said. "Mr. Cooper has already spoken to you and we'd been waiting for you. You better go down there so we finish up the divorce session, let the wedding commence." 

He spoke as if he was speaking to a child. 

Cooper lifted his head over to me, lingering with pity. I blinked off, biting my lip. 

"Today is your divorce ceremony, that's why you're in black?" 

My shoulders flipped up. I was a big fool. 

Reality rushed in through me and that foolishness in my brain faded. 

When Cooper told me to choose a black wedding, I was so excited and readily accepted because I loved something different and mysterious. 

So it was definitely for my divorce? 

I spun around, about to storm off when the MC grabbed my wrist.

"You can't leave now, we'd already planned a splendid divorce ceremony for you." But I smelled both mockery and curiosity. 

Leaving now probably made him suspect I was up to something. 

He was anxious about what I was going to do. 

But the more I waited and watched them here, fire erupted in my stomach. I could do what no one would expect, something that could make the cops come for me. 

I was gonna deal with them, but in another manner. 

My last sight was Ayla clinging to Justeen and Justeen looking up to Cooper like he was her whole world. 

I nodded and left. 

"They will see me," I said across my chest. 

Mabel stood here, speechless and watching but it was something I couldn't help. 

As I picked my phone, the first person that came to mind was my grandpa. My only surviving immediate relative, a man I loved so much, yet the very person I'd been forced to quit relating with because of Cooper. 

He couldn't afford to know who I was. 

Now, I'd seen his true nature, I was back. 

Suddenly, I stopped, thinking about his words three years ago as a fresh graduate whom he had expected to take over. 

"If I tell you not to marry this guy, you wouldn't listen. You will say it's because of the company and your status as heiress." 

Those words hit harder now. I lured in a deep breath, releasing all. 

I dug deeper. He'd stated his reasons. 

"Cooper is already so invested in this best friend of his, you can't tell when things would change." 

"Change, as how?" I had asked but now the answer dropped merely a second after. 

Tears began to rain. 

Random memories involuntarily swept in. 

A sweet college crush. 

A supportive partner. 

He never for once changed his character towards me, not even after I stayed for three years and couldn't conceive. He never for once shamed me. Even when his family tried to talk him into bringing home a second wife. 

"I will never hurt my baby." He would say. 

I sighed, shaking my head. 

All these made me hesitant, not wanting to tap my grandpa's number because what will I tell him. Despite the fact we hadn't spoken in years, he'd know. 

Someone was right there to inform him. 

But getting to the waiting car I came in, I summoned all of the courage in me and dialed my grandpa's line.

It rang. First round, no pick. Second. None. I puffed out a breath and tried again. 

"Hello, Mrs Reid." A male voice came up from the other end. Familiar yet formal. Because, that's how we'd agreed it to be, so Cooper wouldn't know the truth. 

But my forehead twisted into lines. My grandfather didn't have an assistant for his phone, he always answered me himself. 

"Why are you with my grandpa's phone?"

No answer. The atmosphere went tight with the heavy feeling something could be wrong. 

My pulse went up. 

The man eventually replied. 

"It's Brandon, Brandon Matthews, you know? Congratulations on your wedding today." 

My heart tightened. 

"Sir Wilder sends his hearty congratulations and invites you both over. I'll send the location soon."

My legs quivered, I stayed still, thinking of how to even break the news. The courage was gone. 

My lips clipped tight. 

"Mrs. Reid? Are you there?" He asked prior to my silence. 

"My grandfather wants to see us?" I stuttered. "Where is he? What if I didn't call?" 

"I was about to call you." Brandon said softly. "I'd told him of today's date, he never forgot." 

I inhaled heavily. 

I'd told Brandon all of my plans being my grandpa's Chief Operating Officer. I'd told Cooper he was my dad's boss. My godfather. Brandon knew everything from all I told him. But now..... 

What do I tell him now? There was no wedding? How will he feel? What about my grandpa, most especially?

"But wait.....my status was meant to be a secret, even after marriage, why did grandpa suddenly change his mind?" 

So far as grandpa is strong and healthy, there was no need worrying about when I'll take over and reveal my status. 

"He's sick and would like you to take over as soon as possible." 

"What?" 

"Yes," he said sadly. "Your husband will be by your side to guide you. He's got the experience from WellSpring." He said. 

I still said nothing. He continued. 

"The will is already prepared, listing you both as benefactors to Wil-X Conglomerate." He said as a matter of fact. 

Those words rumbled deep in my chest. My mind zoned out, whatever was happening around me fell on deaf ears. 

I was finished.