Betrayal

“I can handle this.” I took the food box from my guard as he closed the car door behind me. 

I was not exactly surprised to see there were still quite a number of people at the company even though it was past 10 pm now.

Everyone within sight hurried forward and bowed as I walked down the extremely bright lobby. 

Two company directors, and mine and Kan's office assistants fell beside me as I nodded at the other company staff.

“Chairwoman. Do you hope to work with the chairman?” Kan’s assistant said beside me. I turned to him, and he seemed quite anxious.

“I brought food for my hardworking husband.” I raised the box a little with a smile. 

Everyone around me haphazardly said that was a good thing, and I was their role model, and all the other things that us Asians say and never mean.

I smiled quietly and listened to them.

“Would you like to maybe markoff some of the completed projects that need your signature?” The senior director said, clutching his computer tablet tightly in his underarms.

“Did the chairman not do that?” I turned to the man in surprise. Kan had said he was coming to work, and those were the most urgent tasks we had to attend to.

I noticed Kan’s assistant making eyes at the director, who was way too pure-spirited and non-scheming to even pick up on it. 

This was the exact reason I had picked him over the other candidates to replace Ophelia. 

This one would never steal the company blind, and leave bankruptcy for my son to inherit.

“Did something get in your eyes Mr Abe?” I smiled at Kan's assistant as we neared the executive elevator. He was clearly trying to protect his boss.

I would completely understand it if Kan actually came here to rest and not to work at all. 

We have all been under a lot of stress in the last few days. From our exhausting altercations with the Tuckers, to my father’s kidnap, and then Oliver’s near-death experience.

That was a lot for even someone like Kan who should be used to fighting, since the Sullivans had fought with the Tuckers for three generations now.

My phone chimed, and I looked down at it, as most of the people who had been surrounding me dispersed. 

I could hear the elevator door slide open, and feel the assistants and bodyguards waiting as I stared at my phone screen in disbelief.

It took everything in me to continue gripping the satin bow in my hand tightly, somehow managing to hold the box steady even as the muscles within my hand shook.

I felt a riot of emotions as my chest began to ache.

The last time I had felt like this was when I found out Blaine actually had a fiancée the whole time, but did not mention it even once all those days we spent together.

I could not take my eyes away from the pictures on my phone now.

This was Kan. This was definitely Kan with another woman. The woman’s face was concealed, but his was bright and clear for me to see.

I had no idea how long my assistant had been calling me for when I finally looked up. But even then, I could barely hear him.

“Chairwoman.” 

I gripped the shawl wrapped around the food box more tightly, and his face finally came into focus. 

“The elevator.” he stretched his hand out and my eyes followed it to the elevator, and then scanned the faces of all the other people who were waiting, and now staring at me.

“My son would not stop crying.” I said, my voice sounding strange even in my own ears. “I have to go back.” 

I did not stretch the food box out and ask them to take it up to Kan, like I should and would have done under normal circumstances.

The woman was there. If I sent this food up to his office, someone would see them and then the rumor would spread like wildfire and then my humiliation would be complete.

I nodded and turned on my heel as they bowed again. 

I smiled bitterly. I was not superior to anyone. 

I was just somehow lucky to get knocked up by the heir to one of the most powerful families in the country. 

I could see my mother in my mind threatening to wash my mouth out with soap for thinking about myself in such a derogatory manner.

My mother. Ruby Balian had still not gotten justice, and her body lay preserved in a private mortuary till I got her justice. 

That had been the promise I made to her.

I would only bury her the day I was sure Ophelia would end up in jail, or join her in a cold grave. 

So why the hell was I worried over man-troubles?

Why would I care whether Kan slept with one random woman, or even had a sex orgy at his office? 

This was not a real marriage after all, and we both knew it.

As I climbed into the backseat of the car again, I decided to embrace what I was feeling. 

What Kan did felt like a betrayal. And I felt betrayed because he had somehow gotten my hopes up with the way he had acted around me the last few months.

Sweet, protective, longing for me. He made me think he wanted me. His eyes were always sad every time I turned away from his advances.

Only to do this? 

And the note that followed the images, I winced at the memory. 

I tapped my phone screen and scrolled back to the message.

~Don’t you think it’s time you got your own man?~ 

It did not sting me less even though I was reading it for the second time. It stung me badly because this was true. Neither Kan nor Blaine were truly mine.

And except I brought Ophelia down quickly and put Oliver in his rightful position, honoring his great-grandfather’s wishes, I was merely living on borrowed time. 

“I would like to get something at the minister’s house.” I sighed in exhaustion as I turned my eyes to the chauffeur in front.

“Yes, chairwoman.”

“And you can have this.” I leaned forward to place the food box on the passenger seat.

The chauffeur’s eyes widened in surprise, then he bowed silently. 

My mind felt fatigued. But this was only the beginning. 

I could not feel tired yet.

Since I could not bear the thought of going home just yet, I might as well spend my time hastening the process, so I can leave Kan for good with my son. 

It was stupid to think anything could have blossomed between us.