Chapter 2

A familiar sense of suffocation rose from deep within me, tightening in my chest and lodging in my throat.

I couldn’t get a word out.

"Mr. Sinclair!"

A soft, melodic voice spoke up beside him.

"I think I can guess what Mrs. Sinclair is worried about."

It was Anne.

Hector didn’t say anything, and his silence meant he wasn’t rejecting the idea.

Anne let out a light, pleasant laugh before continuing smoothly.

"After all, this is a divorce reality show. Mrs. Sinclair has to stand in front of a national audience and say she wants a divorce.

“She loves you, so of course, she’s worried. If this turns into something real, she won’t be able to take it back.

"So really, Mr. Sinclair, this is on you. You didn’t consider her feelings. You handled things too bluntly. It’s understandable that she’s upset."

I froze for a moment.

Setting aside the fact that she was making assumptions about me—flat-out deciding I was throwing a tantrum—she was actually saying Hector was wrong.

She was calling out Hector, a man who was always in control and one step ahead.

I couldn’t help but wonder how he’d react.

For a brief moment, there was silence on the line. Then, his deep voice came through.

"Anne makes a good point. Suzy, I should’ve thought this through better."

A quiet, humorless smile crossed my lips.

Outside, the autumn wind carried the last few leaves from the sycamore tree, letting them drift silently to the ground.

"But beyond being husband and wife, we’re also business partners with intertwined stakes in multiple companies.

“A divorce would be nothing but a lose-lose situation. If you gave it even a little thought, you’d realize your worries are completely unnecessary.

“Suzy, you’ve been with me for five years. I thought by now, you’d have learned to analyze things rationally. You need to take this seriously and learn from Anne."

Anne and I were the same age—twenty-seven this year.

We met Hector in the same year.

The difference was, she came from an academic family, graduated from a prestigious university, quick-witted, eloquent, the perfect blend of intelligence and elegance.

I, on the other hand, was a reality show contestant turned actress, never even finished college, and built my reputation on my looks.

The public had one prevailing opinion of me—stunning, but superficial.

Back then, I actually thought Hector would choose Anne…

Now, he fell silent, waiting, just like always, for me to admit I was wrong and reflect on my mistakes.

He would cut straight through my so-called shallow mindset and immaturity.

I would listen, acknowledge, and either correct myself or strive to do better.

But this time, I said nothing.

Only the background music continued playing, endlessly, without exhaustion.

After a long pause, I asked, "Have you had me on speaker this whole time?"

In four years of marriage, one of the few arguments we ever had was over this.

Once, I called him just to hear his voice, teasing him sweetly, only to hear Anne’s sudden laughter on the other end.

Later, I found out he had me on speaker.

I was humiliated.

Furious, I cried for hours and made him swear never to do it again.

Back then, we were still in love, and he made a promise.

"Suzy."

Hector clearly remembered.

"Anne had a few drinks at a dinner event earlier. I was driving and using the GPS, so—"

"It’s fine, I was just asking."

I let out a casual laugh as my gaze fell on the last page of the contract, tracing the bold, sweeping strokes of his signature—confident, unrestrained, both familiar and strangely distant.

"I’ve signed the contract. I’ll hand it to my agent tomorrow."

Hector was pleased that I didn’t push the issue with Anne.