Chapter 4. The Morning After Betrayal

Sebastian was still watching her. The woman in front of him lowered her head awkwardly, wearing an oversized men’s shirt. Her collar was undone, exposing pale skin marked by yesterday’s kisses.

Last night’s memories hit Sebastian again, and he turned away, his expression darkening just a bit.

“I’m giving you a week,” he said, rising to his feet. His voice was calm, but absolutely firm. “In a week, I want to see that divorce papers.”

No answer. Evelyn stayed silent, staring at the floor with empty eyes. She heard Sebastian’s footsteps fade away, then the bedroom door clicked shut softly.

Silence.

Evelyn slowly lifted her head and stared at her reflection in the bedroom mirror. Messy hair. Puffy eyes. Still wrapped in that borrowed shirt. The cold crept from her toes to her head.

She took a long breath, though her chest stayed tight. “Might as well go home,” she whispered to herself, and she grabbed her own clothes.

About half an hour later, Evelyn sat in the back seat of a car while the driver silently took her away. Her head ached from lingering booze. She gently rubbed her temples, remembering Sebastian’s words.

Divorce.

Her life had flipped upside down overnight. She’d caught Lucas cheating with Chloe, gotten wasted in a bar, and accidentally slept with Sebastian, her business partner. And now… Sebastian was demanding divorce papers as if it was all her fault?

Still, Evelyn’s face hardened. She already planned to leave Lucas. She would never stay in a marriage that only brought her pain. Lucas betrayed her. Out in the open. If she stayed silent—if she stayed at all—her dignity would be crushed. Divorce was the only answer. But she wasn’t walking away without making him and Chloe pay for the wounds they’d caused.

The car stopped in front of a big house in the north suburbs of Boston. The villa Lucas bought two years ago after Evelyn closed that massive million-dollar deal. They moved in right after, enjoying the fruits of her labor.

Evelyn paused outside the doorway for a few seconds, took a deep breath to steady herself, then pushed the door open and stepped inside.

“Thank goodness, Mrs. is finally home!” Nancy, the housekeeper, called out the moment the door opened. She sounded half-shouting, like she wanted everyone to hear. “We were all worried sick when you didn’t come back or answer last night!” she added dramatically.

Evelyn said nothing. Her face was calm—cold. She walked into the main living room.

“Evelyn, where were you last night?” Lucas hurried up as soon as he saw her. “I called all night. I was really worried.”

Evelyn looked pale, but stayed composed. She swallowed the nausea that came with recalling Lucas touching Chloe. “I’m fine. It was late, I didn’t see you, so I stopped by Delilah’s house,” she said softly, calmly—like nothing was wrong.

“But I think her I*******m says she was out of town last night,” Madison, Lucas’s sister, chimed in from the sofa, flashing a wide grin while popping a strawberry in her mouth as if she was watching a show.

Beatrice, Lucas’s mother, immediately shot a cold look. She interjected in a sharp tone: “Watch out, Lucas. Wives who can’t give you kids are easy to cheat on.”

The words cut deep. Evelyn’s jaw clenched, but she stayed silent. Beatrice never accepted her from the start. Her background was ordinary, and knowing Evelyn couldn’t have children, she never stopped throwing cruel remarks.

“Mom, come on!” Lucas said, wrapping his arm around Evelyn with a look of fake concern. “She was helping me with work guests at a company event. It makes sense she had a few drinks. She probably dozed off at a friend’s place. Let’s not make a big deal out of this.”

He lowered his head a bit, trying to comfort Evelyn with warm eyes. If none of last night’s had happened, maybe she’d soften. He looked like the perfect husband in that moment. But remembering how he’d kissed Chloe whenever they had the chance, nausea rose again in her throat.

Evelyn pulled away from him. “I’m dizzy. I’m going upstairs.”

“Oh, Evelyn’s outfit is so cool! When did you get that? I want one!” Madison teased again.

“Lucas, why are you still with that kind of wife? Maybe she already has another man!” Beatrice hissed again.

Lucas walked in front of the stairs, watching Evelyn climb. His face showed worry. Something was different about his wife this morning. Could it be… she knew?

Once she got upstairs, Evelyn went straight into her room and locked the door. She pressed against the wall, breathing hard, eyes red with suppressed anger. Three years… what had she been holding on to all this time?

In a family like his, she endured too much abuse—and for a man who didn’t deserve the title of husband. It felt like sinking into a pit. She closed her eyes, wiped her tears, then opened them with clear determination. “I’m gonna watch you all fall apart,” she mouthed to herself.

She let go of the pain, then quickly stepped into the bathroom to get ready.

“Evelyn.”

“Evelyn, why are you locked in there?”

Lucas, uneasy, followed her upstairs. Last night, Chloe seductively pulled him into her car, teasing nonstop until they ended up hooking up in the company’s underground parking. Now he was anxious, especially since Evelyn didn’t come home all night. Maybe she found out?

“Evelyn, Evelyn… can you open the door?”

Click. The door unlocked.

Lucas pushed it open and stepped in. “Evelyn, what’s wrong… Oh my god, Evelyn, you…”

The woman standing before him looked completely different. Gorgeous. She’d done her makeup and hair flawlessly. No sunglasses. Her hair fell softly over her shoulders. A red dress hugged her figure, giving off a rare seductive aura. Her face was stunning.

“Evelyn, you…” Lucas stammered. A hint of desire crept into his voice.

He always knew she was beautiful. But since they married, she rarely dressed up. He’d almost forgotten the woman he once married.

Evelyn stared at him coolly. A mocking smile flickered in her eyes, but her expression stayed poised.

“Something wrong, my dear husband? Don’t like me like this?”

“No, no,” Lucas took a slow step forward. “I just… wasn’t expecting it.”

“Aren’t I too old to dress like this?” she raised an eyebrow.

“God, no, never,” Lucas said, stepping closer. His gaze was full of feeling. “To me, you’re always the most beautiful woman, no matter what you wear.” He bent slightly, trying to kiss her.

Evelyn kept smiling, but her heart was stone cold. When his lips neared hers, she turned her head, pushing him away. “That’s a lie.”

“It’s not, I really mean it,” Lucas reached for her hand, eyes full of affection.

Evelyn squeezed her fingers but kept smiling. “Enough. I have to get to work. Lots to handle. I don’t have time for your morning drama.”

She pushed Lucas gently and walked out, leaving him stunned—still burning from desire unfulfilled.

She ignored her mother-in-law’s and sister-in-law’s insults, headed downstairs, got into her car, and drove to the office.

Once inside the building, all the employees turned to look at her. Since day one, Evelyn always dressed conservative, like a corporate wallflower. But today, she changed everything. The shock sparked whispers:

“Is that really Ms. Sinclair? Did I imagine that?”

“OMG she’s gorgeous! Not just smart, but totally stunning. I might be a lesbian now.”

“I always thought she wasn’t good enough for Mr. Callahan, even though she’s great at work. Now I see maybe he’s not good enough for her.”

“Who’s not good enough for who?” Chloe appeared in the hallway, coffee cup in hand. She was sure Evelyn found out about last night, curious how long the ‘boring old wife’ could keep playing this role.

“Chloe,” a receptionist called, friendly as ever. “You’ve got to see Ms. Sinclair! You’re gonna freak.”

Evelyn? Did she do something dumb after being shocked last night?

Chloe grinned, coffee in hand. “Okay, let me check.” Without knocking, she shoved the door open.

“Evelyn!”

But no one was behind the desk. Chloe frowned and turned around, when a calm voice came from behind the glass wall: “I’m here.”

“Evelyn, where were you last night? I…” Chloe stopped, breath catching.

Standing in front of her was a woman she barely recognized—the same woman she’d been mocking this whole time.