CHAPTER FIVE_ Claire’s POV

I woke up alone.

The other side of the bed was cold and untouched_ almost as if Lucian had never slept there.

I stayed still for a moment, staring at the ceiling, wondering if I had imagined everything that had happened last night.

Eva’s text… the way Lucian hadn't even pretended to hesitate.

He’d checked his phone, grabbed his jacket, and left the house, claiming he had work to take care of.

No explanation.

No reassurance.

Just the sound of the front door closing behind him.

I noticed my phone vibrating on the night stand.

Then I reached for it, almost dreadfully.

The screen lit up.

BREAKING NEWS: ACTRESS EVA STERLING SPOTTED IN INTIMATE MOMENT WITH BILLIONAIRE CEO LUCIAN DHARK.

It felt like my soul left my body.

The first image loaded slowly, as if the universe wanted me to suffer.

It was a picture of Lucian and Eva on the balcony of a luxury hotel suite. His hand was placed intimately on her waist, while her fingers curled into his hair.

Their mouths were joined in a passionate kiss.

I scrolled.

More pictures. More angles. More headlines.

“Lucian Dhark Rekindles Romance with Ex”

“CEO Cheats on Wife with Famous Actress”

I dropped the phone like it had burned me.

This wasn't speculation. It wasn't suspicion. This was my humiliation, broadcast to the world.

I called Lucian.

Once. Twice. Ten times.

My calls went straight to voicemail.

Hours passed.

Then a day, then another.

Lucian still didn't come home.

I called him everyday, but every ring went unanswered and every message I sent was ignored.

“Please come home.”

“We need to talk.”

“Lucian, I'm begging you.”

Three days passed.

Three nights of sleeping alone in a mansion that felt too empty.

The media only grew more vicious. My name trended while Eva smiled for the cameras. Lucian, who was the reason for the chaos, had vanished into thin air.

By the fourth day, something inside me snapped.

If he wouldn't come to me, I would go to him.

Dhark Holdings towered over the city, all glass, steel and power. Just like the man inside.

The receptionist recognized me immediately I walked in.

"He's in a meeting," she said, smiling stiffly.

"I'm his wife," I replied. My hands trembled, but my voice did not. “Tell him I'm here."

Minutes later, I was escorted into Lucian’s office.

He looked up from the computer when I walked in. For a second, something flickered in his eyes— surprise, maybe even guilt.

But it vanished just as quickly.

“Claire," he said cooly. "This isn't a good time."

I let out a sharp, broken laugh. "You think?"

He dismissed his assistant, then stood.

He looked exactly the same_ perfect suit, perfect composure. As if nothing had happened.

"Explain," I started. “Explain why the entire world has seen you kissing your ex."

He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. "It's not what it looks like.”

I stepped closer, my hands shaking by my side. “I saw the photos, Lucian. Was the balcony fake? Were the photos staged? Or am I imagining your mouth on hers too?”

Lucian remained silent.

“Say it," I whispered. "Say you didn't cheat on me."

He looked away.

That was when I felt something shatter inside me. Hot, humiliating tears spilled before I could stop them.

“Do you know what you’ve done to me?" I cried. "I can't leave the house without people staring! I can't open my phone without seeing my husband kissing another woman!”

“Lower your voice.” Lucian snapped.

That hurt more than the betrayal.

“No!” I shot back. "You don't get to humiliate me publicly and then ask me to be quiet!”

“I stood by you, I loved you, even when you pushed me away. And this… this is how you repay me?"

Again, Lucian didn’t say a word.

“So you admit it," I whispered. "You're not even denying it?”

Lucian sighed like I was exhausting him. “Claire, you're too emotional."

“I'm your wife! I trusted you, Lucian. And you-" My voice broke. “You chose her."

Lucian shook his head once. “I’m done discussing this.”

"Alright,” I said, trying to stop my hands from shaking. "Come home.”

Lucian stilled.

“Choose our marriage,” my voice cracked, “the way I’ve always chosen you.”

I hated myself in that moment. I hated the way love made me feel small.

Lucian didn’t answer. Instead, he grabbed his jacket.

“I need to clear my head.” He said, then walked out of the office without sparing me a second glance.

I knew exactly where he was going to ‘clear his head’. And who he was going to.

He left me standing alone in his office, just like he had left me in our bed.

I didn’t know how long I stood there before my phone vibrated again.

I picked it up absentmindedly.

The affair was trending, but it wasn’t the top story.

I was.

CEO’S WIFE UNABLE TO CONCEIVE — SOURCES CONFIRM.

My hands began to shake.

I scrolled.

My test results were attached to the article. My diagnosis.

Cruel comments poured in.

“Barren”

“Disposable”

I held onto a desk for balance, staring at the screen, as strangers debated whether a man like Lucian Dhark should stay married to a woman like me.

That was when it hit me.

Cheating had humiliated me.

This—

This would destroy me.