Four

“You have no right to question where I go or who helps me.”

Alexander followed me into the apartment, shutting the door harder than necessary. I leaned against the hallway wall, careful not to put too much weight on my injured ankle.

“You made me look like a fool tonight,” he said.

I stared at him. “You managed that without my assistance.”

His eyes narrowed. “You were practically hanging on that man.”

“He helped me after your friends spilled wine on me.”

“Then you should have called me.”

I almost laughed. “You were holding Chloe’s hand and asking whether she was hurt. I would have hated to interrupt such a touching family moment.”

“Do not twist everything into something dirty.”

“Then stop giving me reasons to see it clearly.”

Alexander dragged a hand over his face. He looked exhausted, but I knew better than to mistake exhaustion for regret.

“Who is Nathaniel Blackwood?”

“You heard him introduce himself.”

“Why was he so interested in you?”

“Perhaps he has manners.”

Alexander’s expression darkened. “You know what? I think you enjoyed making me jealous.”

I looked at him for a long moment. “You really believe this is about jealousy?”

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You have been acting strangely for weeks. You barely speak to me, and now you are entertaining another man.”

I thought about the yacht photographs, the recording, and the lipstick mark. “You are right. Something has changed.”

“Then tell me what it is.”

“I have stopped trying to convince myself that you love me.”

His face went still. For a moment, I thought he might ask what I meant. Instead, he scoffed and walked toward the bedroom.

“Get some sleep. We will discuss this when you calm down.”

I remained in the hallway until his door closed. Then I removed my shoes and sat carefully on the sofa, feeling the ache in my ankle and the deeper ache beneath my ribs.

The next morning, I submitted my resignation from Sterling Designs. I had worked there for years, long before Alexander’s family became involved in my career. I had built a reputation through late nights, difficult clients, and projects that had once made me proud. I would not keep working under a husband who could hand my office to his mistress.

My resignation email was short. I requested that my notice period begin immediately and promised to complete the necessary handover.

Before I could close my laptop, Eleanor called.

“Come to the family house this afternoon,” she ordered. “We need to discuss your behaviour.”

“I have nothing to discuss.”

“Do not be childish, Victoria. Chloe is upset because of the way you treated her.”

I nearly asked whether Chloe had also been upset when she kissed my husband on a yacht. Instead, I said I would not be coming.

Eleanor arrived at the design office an hour later, accompanied by Chloe. The younger woman wore a cream dress and the sapphire necklace Alexander had supposedly bought for me.

“Victoria,” Eleanor said, looking around my office. “You have made this place uncomfortable for everyone.”

Chloe lowered her eyes. “Please don’t be angry with me. I never wanted to come between you and Alexander.”

I returned to my computer. “Then you should have stayed away from my husband.”

Her eyes filled with tears so quickly that I almost admired the performance.

Eleanor stepped forward. “You are the one creating trouble. Alexander has been generous enough to tolerate your insecurity.”

“I am not asking him to tolerate anything.”

Chloe moved toward my desk with a takeaway coffee in her hand. As she leaned over, the cup tipped. Dark liquid splashed across a folder of designs and soaked several printed drawings.

“Oh!” she cried, jumping back. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

I stared at the ruined pages. “You spilled that deliberately.”

Her expression crumpled. “Why would you say that?”

Eleanor immediately turned on me. “Apologize to her.”

I looked at the coffee spreading across my work. “No.”

Chloe began crying in earnest, and Eleanor reached for her shoulder. Then the office door opened.

Alexander stood there, taking in the scene. His gaze settled on Chloe’s tears, then on the ruined designs.

“What happened?”

Chloe shook her head. “Nothing. Please don’t make this worse.”

Eleanor pointed at me. “Your wife has frightened the poor girl.”

Alexander looked at me with cold disappointment. “Victoria, what did you do now?”

I slowly closed my laptop. He had not even asked me what happened.

And that was when I understood that the next battle would not be about saving my marriage. It would be about leaving it with my dignity intact.