Kylian refused to look at the woman he called his wife. From the sound of her voice, he knew she was crying, and while a part of him wanted to go to her and hold her, he stayed put and pinned his eyes on the papers in front of him.
She's getting what she deserves, he told himself.
"Y-you don't mean this," she said, trying to assure herself.
"Chloe, what part of my wanting a divorce don't you understand?" Kylian asked. He knew he was being mean to her and had never spoken to her that way, but he didn't care.
She had lied to him! Made a fool of him!
"Why, Kylian? I've never done anything to deserve this."
His head whipped up at her statement, and his eyes held daggers. "You deserve much worse. You pretentious cheat!"
Chloe took a step back, her lips quivering as his cruel words hit her like bullets. "Don't talk to me like that. You know me, Ky. You love me."
"No. No. I don't." He pointed at her as he said each word. "I could never love someone so shallow and filthy... Marrying you, Chloe... was the biggest mistake of my life."
Fresh tears poured out of Chloe's eyes, and Kylian looked away. He couldn't stand it.
"Why?" Chloe's voice broke with her spirit.
Kylian scoffed. "Now you want to know why?" He paused, then said, "Fine. Who the fuck is Liam?"
"Liam?"
"Yes, Chloe, Liam. You couldn't get enough of him, huh?"
"What? I don't... I don't know anyone named Liam."
Kylian shook his head bitterly. His eyes had moistened, but his face was set in stone.
Chloe stepped forward but stopped, torn. "I don't know anyone named Liam. Kylian, you have to believe me."
"And Michael? You don't know him too?" Kylian ran a violent hand through his hair.
"What are you talking about, Ky? I don't-"
Kylian kicked his chair away in fury, and Chloe flinched. Her thoughts were unraveling.
She didn't know the man before her anymore. She didn't even want to believe he thought she cheated on him.
Their marriage vows replayed in her head as she watched him rummage in his desk drawers.
Kylian pulled out a large envelope and threw it at her. It stopped at her feet with a loud thud. "It's all in there. Pictures, phone call recordings, texts, dated back to the time we were dating!"
Rage shook Kylian as he watched her pick up the envelope. Her face was marred with confusion and pain, but he could see through her now.
He thought she was a good actress.
How had he been so blind?
Thankfully, someone had opened his eyes to the whore he married.
Chloe opened the envelope and froze. Her hand was moving mechanically, bringing out picture after picture of her and different men kissing in restaurants, holding hands on the beach, and standing naked in front of a window.
If she were someone else, she would've believed the woman in the pictures was her. The resemblance was uncanny—her hair, her eyes, her body.
"What's your excuse now?" Kylian asked her. "How will you deny it now?"
Chloe started shaking her head vigorously, but Kylian wasn't seeing it. "All those times I went on business trips. All those times you told me you were home, missing me, waiting for me... He trailed off, unable to relive those memories.
"Kylian, wait—this isn't me."
"Just get out, Chloe."
Chloe dropped the envelope, and more incriminating contents spilled out. She stooped and picked up a piece of paper that caught her eye. Wiping away tears blinded her. On the paper was a line of text messages sent from her to someone named James, talking about the good time she had and wanting to meet up again.
"What?" She was beginning to sound like a broken record.
Kylian clutched the edge of his desk in a death grip, willing himself to calm. The tears behind his eyes didn't fall, and he wanted nothing more than to kick Chloe out himself, but he would rather let her leave on her own. He would give her a chance to pack her bags and leave.
"Leave," he said quietly. Too quietly.
Chloe glanced up from the paper. Her face was ashen with shock and pain. How would she contest this?
How would she explain that she had never known or met a man after Kylian? It was always Kylian. She loved him with her whole being.
Whatever was left of her heart and her hopes were crushed into dust. Even with Kylian staring at her like shit he found under his shoe, she had never felt so alone as she did now. His eyes had darkened, and his demeanor was now detached and cold.
"I..." Her throat closed in grief. She couldn't breathe.
"I wish I had never met you, Chloe. I wish I had never fallen in love with a snake like you. I hope no one ever loves you and you die the whore that you are," Kylian hissed under his breath, loud enough for his words to deliver a crippling blow to Chloe's emotions.
It was there, standing in his study, sobbing and holding false evidence of her infidelity, that Chloe broke.
Her overwhelming pain drowned out her fragile heart, and she wanted to repay Kylian's hurt for hurt.
She inhaled shakily. "I've never cheated on you, but I wish I had. A monster such as yourself should never, ever feel love!"
Kylian stepped back like Chloe had slapped him across the face. He was speechless.
She tore up the paper in her hand, backed away while cleaning her tears, and took off, leaving Kylian feeling hollow and sinking under a crashing wave of loneliness.
Nothing felt right.
====
Chloe raced out of the house, unable to breathe; she slapped her pockets to get her phone but realized she'd forgotten it in her car. It felt as though there was no more air, sun, or anything in the world.
Her car pulled up, and she stumbled down the front steps, not even seeing the look of confusion on her driver's face that melted into concern.
"Give me the keys," Chloe said before her driver could open the door for her.
"Ma'am?" The man asked with apprehension.
"Give me the damn keys, Calvin!"
"But you can't drive in your..." Her driver trailed off at the look on Chloe's face and wearily handed her the keys.
Chloe snatched it and got behind the wheel, slamming the door. Tires squealed loudly as she peeled out of the compound with alarming speed.
She brought down the window as she sped up. The rushing wind helped her breathe but couldn't stop the words from dancing in her head on an endless loop.
She wanted it to stop. to scream at the top of her lungs and end everything.
She wheezed and wiped away the tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.
Why did love hurt so much?
She swerved right and got a lot of annoying honks and shouts that didn't seem to reach her.
Why was love never enough?
There was only one place Chloe could go. One place where she could deal with her emotions
====
Emma was selecting the sexy leggings she was thinking of wearing for her man when she heard a loud banging on her door.
"Who the fuck?"
She marched to her sitting room, her flimsy gown swishing in time with her flip-flops. The banging sounded even louder.
"I'm coming!" She shouted before she reached the front door. Looking through the peephole, she frowned and unlocked her door.
Chloe barged in, looking distraught and crying ugly tears.
Emma proceeded to lock the door behind her and focus on the obviously heartbroken woman.
"What happened?" She asked in concern before Chloe barreled into her, squeezing her in a rib-crushing hug and pouring tears and snot all over her.
Emma's face scrunched up, and she reluctantly hugged Chloe back, rubbing her hair and back in a soothing manner. "Sh, sh. It's alright. Everything's fine."
"But it's not." Chloe sobbed; her voice muffled by Emma's body.
"What did Kylian do this time?" Emma internally rolled her eyes. Always hearing of Chloe's failed marriage was beginning to annoy her. Chloe was stupid when it came to men, and now she was stuck playing the mom role.
"He... wants a divorce."
Well, isn't that splendid? Thought Emma. It's about damn time.
She held Chloe by the shoulders and gently urged her backward to properly look at her. Chloe was a sniffling mess. She looked like someone had run her over.
It was almost laughable...
"Well, him wanting a divorce is nothing to beat yourself up about. He can still change his mind.”
"He's already signed it, Em. He wants nothing to do with me. He said... He said I cheated on him.”
"Cheated on him?" Emma's eyes grew wide.
People like Chloe would never cheat, even if they pushed her down a metaphorical flight of stairs.
They were loyal till the end. That was why Chloe would never be able to see the brewing hatred Emma had in her heart for her.
Chloe crumpled to the floor, and Emma went with her, kneeling.
"There were horrible pictures and text messages—all lies." It was terrible, and Kylian didn't want to listen. He's convinced I
"Oh, Chloe." Emma sighed sympathetically.
Why do hurtful things always happen to good people?
"You know me, Em. You know I would never--"
"I know, Chloe."
"You know how much I love him, and I'd rather die than—"
"I know, Chloe. I know," Emma assured her cousin. "And I'm so sorry this is happening to you."
They fell into silence, broken only by Chloe's sobbing and wheezing.
Emma rubbed her back like a diligent friend and waited for her to calm down and stop crying. She then helped Chloe to her feet and carried her to the couch in the sitting room.
"Do you want ice cream or something stronger?" Emma asked once Chloe collapsed on the couch.
"Something stronger," Chloe said tiredly.
Emma left the sitting room and came back a minute later with a bottle of vodka. She plopped down beside her cousin, opened the bottle, drank a mouthful, and passed it to Chloe."You know," Emma started, "I think the divorce is for the best."Beside her, Chloe gulped down the vodka and asked gloomily. "What?""Your marriage was already an unhappy one. You cried every day," Emma said, taking the bottle from Chloe. "There was no way it could've lasted, and even if it did, you would never be happy, Chloe, and you deserve happiness." She took a long swig and passed it back to Chloe.Chloe miserably drank and hiccupped. "I called him a monster, Em.""And that's what he is," Emma agreed. "Don't go thinking you don't deserve happiness simply because you called him a monster."Chloe took another mouthful and passed it to her. "It hurts, Em.""I know, but it won't hurt forever. It'll pass. Get a divorce, take half of his net worth, and travel to someplace nice and...""I didn't sign for alimony
Chloe could see why the girl would think that. She had left her office in a hurry and hadn't returned her calls or texts.What could a seventeen-year-old possibly know about love and heartbreak?"Calm down, Ollie. I'm not in any kind of danger. I'm just dealing with some things right now.""Dealing with what?" Ollie gasped over the phone. "OMG! Are you pregnant?""No, I'm not--" But Ollie no longer heard her; the girl was on a roll."Because that would explain your absence, the way you looked unwell, and you're also ignoring me. Pregnant women tend to need their men to do everything for them.""Ollie, I'm not—" Chloe frowned."Oh my gosh, can I come to visit? You forgot your purse here last week, so I can use that as an excuse. The girls say you live in a mansion and have servants for everything. Oh, can I be the fun aunt? Because I know you wouldn't let me be the godmother while Emma is around. I'm great with kids, so...”"I’m not pregnant, Ollie. I'm going through a divorce!" Chloe
How did it come to this?The question had nagged in Chloe's head, snatching away her attention from all other thoughts as her long, shaky fingers deposited the signed divorce papers on the dark, polished table in Kylian's study—her ex-husband's study.Ex-husband. The finality of it left a bitter taste in her mouth, like charred bread.The scent of him lingered in the study, like he was sitting on his chair, poring over some important document. The stacks of books on high shelves testified to his touch in creases, and the urge to run her fingers along their hard spines filled her. But it was a jilted woman's folly.If I don't get out of here, I'll never leave, she warned herself. Then she turned to go, but as her hand felt the cold knob of the door, she looked over her shoulder, taking one last look at the place she'd frequented many times to bring coffee or call him to the warm confines of their matrimonial bed. She inhaled long and deeply, his scent hovering around her like a blank
CHAPTER 8Kylian had been too impatient to wait for his driver to return from wherever he had strolled out to; it was a matter he would deal with later. Kylian loathed incompetence, and it was an abomination to look away when he perceived it.Presently, his eyebrows remained furrowed, and his blue eyes stared intently at the road ahead as he accelerated, almost driving at a prohibited speed level.Maybe he could make things work. His mother had made a lot of sense, and her visit had got him reshuffling his priorities and recalling the vows he offhandedly declared on the glorified altar when Chloe was adorned so perfectly in her wedding dress, an envy to all spectators.If she was ready to make things work, then he perceived that they could feel the love that once dwelt in their midst.The tires of his Bentley scratched the tarred driveway, and he stopped abruptly in the compound. A quick inspection of the fleet of cars parked under an ornamental shade gave him a false assurance that C
The single unattached button at the top of the gray, sleek shirt exposed a great deal of muscular chest—Max's dedication at the gym was showing off. Not that he hated wearing his suit or loved showing off his muscular body all the time, but the plan before him made him sweat even though the air conditioner was below room temperature. Max loved to make a statement. And he wanted his work to do the same. He peered down at the design the company's architect had dropped on his desk a few minutes ago. There was something he had to do to add the West signature. All over New York, his work was known for its uniqueness and sleek touch. Most importantly, he knew the priority that particular construction carried. It was a proposal he had gotten from one of their biggest clients. Once again, he had beaten the "almighty" Kylian Kincaid in their little rivalry competition. And it had been the reason he dropped one of his credit cards the previous night, giving every worker at West Construction
A feeling of emptiness rose within her, and the house suddenly became distasteful. Emma had been generous enough to welcome her into her apartment, although she was now away. The gentle breeze cascading through the environment pulled the hem of her long evening dress in its direction while Chloe focused on the birds twittering happily on the tree a few yards away. She held the red wine in her hand with little regard for its fragile balance, lost in thought as her restless mind drifted to the unhappy circumstances that had taken over her once joyful and ideal life. She never thought she would be this woman, sitting on a lone bench, mourning her ripped-apart marriage. Nor had she devised the thought that Kylian would toss her out like a useless rag doll. The wine and the cool evening breeze weren't giving her the comfort she desired. If anything, the wind was trying to rob her of her garment. With straining breath, she lifted herself off the garden bench and dropped the wine glass
A beautiful melody wafted through the air, like a gentle mist that enveloped her, lifting her spirits and soothing her troubled soul. Chloe was tempted to stay in bed, her eyes shut, and simply let the music carry her away on its ethereal waves. As the sweet sounds of music filled the room, Chloe's curiosity was piqued. Where was the music coming from? She couldn't recall Emma ever being musically inclined.Suddenly, the question of her whereabouts hit her like a ton of bricks, forcing her to abandon her desire to stay in bed. She bolted upright, her eyes widening in wonder as she took in the unfamiliar surrounding, and the sight of the marble-tiled ceiling above her only added to her confusion.Slowly, the realization dawned on her - this wasn't Emma's house. Her gaze was drawn to the bed, and she jumped into a sitting position. It wasn't a bed she recognized, and neither were the clothes wrapping her body hers.Dread gripped Chloe's heart as she contemplated the worst possible sce
A surge of unanswered questions flooded Chloe's mind as she clutched the golden piece in her trembling hand. Her fingers slowly traced the rough texture of the surface as it sent shivers down her spine. It was almost as if the object was calling out that it belonged to her.But what was it doing in Emma's possession?No, she thought, dismissing the cloud of suspicion. Maybe she was delusional, and it wasn't hers.As Emma's playful voice announced the end of her shower, Chloe dropped the gold necklace and gathered the spilled contents into the purse.As soon as Emma laid eyes on Chloe clutching her purse, a frown etched itself onto her face, and she swiftly moved to snatch it out of her grasp. "Why would you go through the content of my purse like that, Chloe? You never do that." She pouted her lips in dissatisfaction.Chloe rose from the bed, taking a deep breath before addressing her cousin. "I'm sorry, something was about to fall out, and-" She turned to face her cousin with a fu