Chapter 2

Cecilia stood up and glanced at the house she shared with Damian in the distance. The light in his study was still on.

Her throat tightened, and her gaze darkened.

She didn't end the call until late that night.

The divorce papers she had asked a lawyer to prepare had arrived in her email. When she saw that the agreement entitled her to half of Damian's assets, her brow twitched.

It was a promise he had made to her years ago.

Back then, Damian probably had never expected her to be the one to ask for a divorce.

When Cecilia walked into the foyer, a figure rose from the living room couch. Before she could even bend down to take off her heels, Damian pulled her into his arms.

"Where did you go? The bodyguards said they couldn't find you, and every time I called, your line was busy. Did something happen?"

Damian let go of her and checked her from head to toe. Only when he was sure she wasn't hurt did he breathe a sigh of relief.

He scooped Cecilia up in his arms and carried her to the couch.

Then he crouched in front of her, took her hand, and gently rubbed his thumb across her palm.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I thought I'd had all the photos taken care of back then. I didn't know they'd kept copies. But I promise I'll take care of this as soon as possible."

Cecilia looked into his eyes. There wasn't a trace of guilt or shame in them.

How many times had he lied to her like this over the years?

Damian had expected her to break down and make a scene, but she remained unusually quiet. He leaned closer, moving toward her lips as if to comfort her with a kiss.

But the next thing he knew, Cecilia put a hand against his chest and turned her head away.

"I'm tired," she said. "I'm going to take a shower."

Damian watched her walk away, his hand frozen in midair.

His gaze darkened slightly. This was the first time Cecilia had ever rejected him.

But he recovered quickly, assuming the leaked photos had upset her too much and left her in a bad mood.

…

Early the next morning, Cecilia woke up to find Damian already gone.

She picked up her phone and opened the entertainment news. Her scandal was still at the very top of the headlines.

But the next few trending topics were all about Yvette.

The headlines read, "Rising Star Seen on Famous Director's Lap Before the Two Check Into Hotel. Woman Leaves Disheveled Late at Night."

"Rising Star May Be Actress With Surnamed Shaw."

"Yvette Shaw's Whereabouts Unknown Last Night."

Cecilia opened the photos. The woman in the mask was hard to make out, but Cecilia recognized her at once.

It was Yvette.

No wonder Damian had left so early. He had likely rushed back to the company to deal with the public backlash against Yvette.

At that moment, Cecilia couldn't help but wonder how he felt.

Was he upset? Or was he furious?

Would he keep covering for Yvette instead?

Cecilia locked her phone. She printed the divorce papers and slipped them into the stack of contracts waiting for Damian's signature on his desk.

She knew his habits. He wouldn't check the papers again. He'd just pick up each page by the corner and sign his name without a second glance.

Cecilia opened the walk-in closet and began packing, one item at a time.

It wasn't until she saw the wall full of gifts Damian had given her that she realized Yvette had every single one of them, too.

Yvette even had a ring similar to the wedding band on Cecilia's finger, which looked even more like a matching set with Damian's.

All these years, Cecilia had believed Damian treated her differently and gave her special attention. Now she realized that everything she had received was just a copy of what he had given Yvette.

She tossed her wedding ring into a drawer and slammed it shut.

By the time Camila called, Cecilia had finished packing.

"Cecilia, did you hear? Mr. Lane called an emergency press conference? Watch the livestream! He must be clearing things up about your photos!"

When Cecilia opened the link, the livestream had just begun.

Damian adjusted the microphone as camera flashes lit up his face.

Cecilia clasped her hands tightly, but when the camera pulled back, she saw Yvette standing beside him, crying her eyes out.

"Good afternoon, everyone. I feel it's necessary to address the recent online controversy surrounding one of the artists we represent."

Comments flooded the chat so fast that Cecilia could barely read them.

"He's totally whipped for his wife! He must've called this press conference for Cecilia."

"Honestly, even if the rumors are true, having a husband who stands by her like that makes it all worth it."

Cecilia smiled bitterly. She used to think so, too.

Damian continued, "It's been confirmed that an artist signed to my company had an affair with a director and won a role through improper means."

The room erupted in an uproar.

Cecilia gripped the couch cushion, frowning deeply.

Why would Damian admit it?

She glanced at Yvette and caught a brief smile on her lips as she lowered her head.

In an instant, Cecilia felt a chill run down her spine.

"But the woman in those photos wasn't Yvette. When they were taken last night, she was at the company discussing a script with me," Damian said.

The reporters stirred, and the livestream comments went wild.

"Then who was the woman in the photos?"

Damian slowly turned to face the camera. His voice was clear and firm.

"It was my wife, Cecilia Langston."