Chapter 2

JADE

Julian didn't call me that night.

I spent the evening in bed, still wearing the clothes I'd planned to wear to my sister's wedding dinner. Olivia called twice, but I couldn't bring myself to answer. I knew she'd hear something wrong in my voice, and I wasn't ready to explain what had happened.

I didn't sleep much.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Julian in bed with Vanessa.

By morning, I had managed to convince myself that I needed to hear his side of the story before making any decisions.

Seven years couldn't end like that. After so much time, effort and sacrifices.

He finally called around ten.

I watched his name flash across my screen before answering.

"Jade?"

"What do you want?" I asked angrily

"I want to see you."

I almost laughed. "You can see Vanessa. You seemed very comfortable with her yesterday."

He was quiet for a moment.

"Please. Let me explain."

I should have refused, but instead, I told him to come over.

He arrived half an hour later with breakfast. He bought my favorite pastry and the coffee I always ordered with extra milk.

It was such a normal thing, but I hated how much it affected me.

He knew me so well. We knew each other's habits, favorite foods, and little annoyances. We'd spent years building a life together.

How could he know all those things about me and still betray me like that?

He placed the food on the kitchen counter.

"I know you're angry."

I folded my arms and glared at him. "You think?"

"I'm sorry about yesterday."

"Are you sorry you did it, or are you sorry I found out?"

He looked down.

"I made a mistake."

"How long has it been going on?" I asked even if I was afraid of hearing his answer.

He hesitated.

“It just happened Jade, you have to believe me. Please.”

I felt sick.

He'd been kissing me, sleeping beside me, and telling me he loved me while seeing Vanessa behind my back.

"Why?" I asked.

He sighed as he covered his eyes in shame.

"I don't have a good answer. Things have been difficult with the company, and she was there a lot. It happened, and I should have stopped it. I'm so stupid."

I stared at him.

"You make it sound like you tripped and fell into her bed."

He stepped closer, but I moved away.

"I love you, Jade. I know I've hurt you, but I love you. You're the only person I have, you're my world. You know that."

I did know.

That was the problem.

I knew the man who used to sit beside me at our tiny kitchen table, eating noodles because we couldn't afford anything better. I remembered how happy he'd been when our first major investor agreed to meet him.

I remembered the night we celebrated his first big contract. He had held me so tightly that I'd laughed and told him I couldn't breathe.

"This company wouldn't exist without you," he'd told me.

I'd believed every word.

"I don't know if I can forgive you," I whispered.

He nodded. "I understand."

He stayed for breakfast. We barely spoke, but before he left, he asked if he could call me later.

I said yes.

I didn't forgive him that day. I wasn't even sure I wanted to.

But over the next few days, I began letting him back into my life.

He called every morning. He came over after work and brought dinner. Sometimes we'd sit on the sofa and talk about ordinary things. Other times, the silence between us became so uncomfortable that one of us would find an excuse to leave the room.

He told me he'd ended things with Vanessa and I believed him.

I was afraid of what would happen if I didn't. If I walked away, I'd have to accept that the future I'd planned for most of my life was gone.

I wasn't ready for that.

A week later, Julian called to tell me about the company's upcoming expansion announcement.

"It's going to be a big night," he said. "The investors will be there, and the press has already confirmed."

I was sitting at my desk, reviewing some documents for the company.

"Do you need me there?"

"You really don't have to. You have a lot on your plate already. I'll attend myself, then come back and share every detail with you before we go to bed."

I smiled despite myself.

There it was. The reassurance I'd been waiting for.

He still saw me as part of his life. He still knew how much I'd contributed. Whatever had happened with Vanessa, we could get past it.

"Okay. I'm not sure then, but we'll see." I said.

"Goodnight, love."

After the call, I returned to my work.

I spent the next few days helping prepare for the event. I checked the presentation, confirmed details with the team, and made sure the guest list was correct.

I had helped plan so many events for Julian that I could almost do the work with my eyes closed.

I planned on surprising him with my presence at the event, but he had a bigger surprise for me.