Chapter 2

"So not only have you learned to lie, you've learned to Photoshop too?" Valerie sneered. "Dragging this out for so long over one little thing wasn't enough? Now you're faking wedding pictures just to get under my skin?"

"Give it back!" I snatched my phone back. "You're not important enough for me to waste time on something this pointless!"

She pressed her lips into a thin line. "Patrick is my secretary. Thanks to his help, the company landed a huge project. I rewarded him with a vacation. What's wrong with that?"

She was dredging up what had happened a year ago, still in that same tone, as if she couldn't fathom why I was upset.

"I missed your call because he suddenly had stomach pains and ended up in the hospital. I didn't check my phone. It's that simple.

"How many times do I have to tell you? Why won't you believe me?"

I gripped my phone so hard it hurt, just to stop myself from punching her in the face.

Simple? She made it sound so easy.

In three years of marriage, we'd fought countless times over Patrick.

The worst was when my mother was seriously ill in the hospital. I rushed to Valerie's company to figure out what to do with her, only for Patrick to block me at the door, stone-faced. "Ms. Pelt is working. No one is allowed to disturb her."

Everyone at the company knew I was Valerie's husband. They all turned to stare in shock.

I was humiliated, but I still forced a smile to save Valerie's face. "It's just a work matter. I'm here on behalf of my company. Let me go up first. This project is urgent."

As I headed for the stairs, Patrick grabbed my wrist. "Even work matters need an appointment two days in advance. Don't you know Ms. Pelt's rules?"

I couldn't hold back anymore, and my face darkened. People around us began to whisper.

"Told you something was going on between Ms. Pelt and Patrick. A male secretary keeping the boss's husband out at the door? That's a first for me."

"Looks like Ms. Pelt doesn't care much for her husband. Otherwise, how would Patrick dare?"

"Obviously. Just the day before yesterday, she bought Patrick a watch worth over fifteen thousand dollars. Look at the one her husband's wearing. Seventy bucks, maybe?"

The whispers went on and on.

Shaking with rage, I pulled my hand free and started up the stairs again.

"You're not going up!" Patrick came after me and gave me a hard shove.

The steps were wet and slippery. I tumbled all the way down and blacked out on the spot.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in the hospital.

With no one to look after her, my mother's condition had worsened, and she had passed away.

I sobbed my heart out while Valerie frowned beside me.

"Patrick did the right thing. You broke the rules by coming to see me without an appointment. Matt, your mother's death isn't our fault. You shouldn't be so impulsive."

I couldn't believe what I had heard. I screamed and raged hysterically. In the middle of my breakdown, I asked her for a divorce for the first time.

Her expression didn't even change. She was quiet for a while, then stood up. "I'll give you some time to think it over properly."

After she left, we didn't see each other for about two weeks.

During those two weeks, she had Patrick contact my company and claim I'd botched the partnership, demanding they assign someone else.

My company docked my bonus and demoted me.

My father was still alive back then. When he heard we were divorcing, the shock triggered a heart attack. To calm him down, I went back and begged Valerie.

From then on, she believed she had me wrapped around her finger.

So when I asked for a divorce again a year ago, she thought I was just angry, just making a scene. After all, I'd swallowed my pride and come back even after my mother died. Why would a mere phone call be any different?

But she'd forgotten that my father had since passed away.

A man with no weak spot left, nothing but grievance and hatred in his heart, had nothing left to fear.

Besides, if she'd used her head at all, she would have realized that night was never as simple as whether she picked up the phone.

But she never did.

"Matt, I've waited a whole year for you. Not everyone gets that kind of treatment."

Valerie's chilly voice pulled me back to the present. She pressed her lips together and looked at me.

"I'll find out whether you're really married. If you're lying to me, you know what happens next."