Chapter 1

Jasmine’s POV

My fingers trembled so badly against my dress that I only made it more wrinkled.

“Stop fidgeting,” I heard Caleb snap as I nervously smoothed out my dress. At his words, I tried to relax, but he wasn’t done. "Even though we both know you don’t belong here, try to pretend.”

He did not look at me as he adjusted his tie. His eyes were fixed on the mansion ahead, glowing with a hunger for the networking opportunities inside. "I have investors to impress. Don't embarrass me again like the last time.”

‘Last time and the time before that. He always said I was dressed too revealing or too old-fashioned. He always had something to complain about and somehow, every time, it always ended with ‘Emily is better than you.’

I didn’t want to argue about how he never even told me it was a party. I didn’t want to argue about how revealing some shoulder in a formal dress was completely normal. He wouldn’t listen. He always had an excuse.

The only thing that really bothered me was Emily. I wanted to ask if there was something going on between them, but that couldn’t be it. He talked about her so openly. I had to be overthinking it.

"I am sorry, Caleb. I will do my best," I whispered. My heart hammered against my ribs in a familiar pattern of anxiety that had defined my last four years.

As we stepped onto the red carpet of the gala, I nervously reached for Caleb’s arm for comfort, but he stepped away before my fingers could touch him. He did not want to be seen stuck with me.

Just like I feared, the ballroom was filled to the brim with countless business owners and within minutes, Caleb abandoned me near the drink fountain to join a circle of CEOs.

I stood there motionless as I watched him. He was professional, powerful, and cruel. He looked like a man who had everything, yet he spent every day making sure I felt like shit. With a sigh, I pushed away my thoughts and went to join him, hoping the night would go smoothly.

“Caleb, you made it.” I knew the voice before I could even turn. The voice belonged to Emily Johnson, and she appeared beside Caleb as if it were her rightful place.

Over the past few months, I had gotten far too familiar with her. Her voice came through Caleb’s phone calls. Her photos showed on his phone, and sometimes, I would even find her things in his car.

And there were the compliments.

Caleb praised her so openly, in the exact same way I had always wished he would praise me.

She wore a dress that barely covered her, and I could see how men stared hungrily at her, including Caleb.

He did not push her away. Instead, he slid a hand firmly around her waist, drawing her into the circle of businessmen while I stood behind him like an outcast.

I felt a familiar pang in my chest. Would an assistant really stand this close to her boss? Or maybe Emily wasn’t his assistant at all. Maybe she was his business partner?

I didn’t know if I should say anything. What if I caused trouble for him? Maybe I should talk to him in private. Everyone around us wore knowing smiles, and it only made me uncomfortable.

As I watched Emily take her place right by my husband, I decided to make a difference today. I decided to pull him to me instead of watching silently. So, I spoke up.

“Caleb, how about we go get a drink?” I suggested in a small voice.

Caleb turned, with his brown eyes narrowing with immediate irritation, but he did not let go of Emily. "I am busy, Jasmine. Can you not see that?"

Emily giggled and leaned her head on Caleb’s shoulder as her eyes assessed me coldly.

"Oh, Caleb, don't be so mean, she probably just doesn't know what to do with herself when she isn't scrubbing your floors."

A few of the men in the circle chuckled, and Caleb’s lips curled into a smirk.

"Scrubbing floors is the only thing she is actually qualified for. I married a housewife, Emily, not a socialite. There’s nothing exciting about her."

She giggled as if he’d just said a cute little joke, instead of making a cruel remark about his own wife.

My face burned with humiliation. I felt so alone, so wronged, but yet, I forced myself to hold it together. I wanted to cry, but I refused to give them the satisfaction. The last bit of pride I had left was the only thing keeping my tears from falling.

"Caleb, please," I managed to say, with my voice trembling. "That is enough."

"Is it?" Caleb stepped closer and leaned down, with his voice a low hiss that only Emily and I could hear. "What are you going to do about it, Jasmine? Cry? Go home and wait for me in the dark like a good little dog? You are boring and a drag on my reputation. Look at Emily, then look at yourself. It is no wonder I have to look elsewhere for a spark."

Emily leaned in, her lips twisting. "You really should get a hobby, honey. Being a pathetic wife isn't a good look for a woman your age."

She let out a cold chuckle, leaned even closer to Caleb, slipped her hand under his tie, and tugged on it slightly. My eyes widened as Caleb let out a careless laugh and smacked her butt, before wrapping an arm around her.

“It’s a fine evening gentlemen, isn't it?” Caleb said in a loud tone, and a few men nodded with chuckles. It felt like life was sucked out of me.

Emily’s eyes glowed with glee when she saw my pained expression.

My gaze blurred with pain as realization washed over me. I had given so many excuses for him because I had been scared to accept the truth, but now, the truth was staring right back at me.

My little world was collapsing, and in the center of it all, was the man I had given my entire life for. Even worse now, I could feel the gazes of people on me. Some were of pity, some of mockery, and others were just enjoying the little drama.

When I couldn’t take it anymore, I spun around to flee, but just as I made my escape, I collided with a very tall man. Mortified, I tried to pull away, but the sharp sapphire cufflinks on his sleeve tore into my dress.

With a gasp, I took a step back, only to watch in horror as my dress tore from my chest, straight to my back.

Most of my chest was exposed in a moment.

Once again, all eyes were on me. Some of those eyes were so blatant, it felt like they could bore holes through me.

I should have been embarrassed and offended, but with everything going on, I couldn’t worry about this anymore. It felt like a fire was burning in my chest yet, a layer of ice had frozen over my heart.

When the man's cold fingers brushed against my hot skin and rested on my arm, I couldn’t react. I wanted to sink into the ground and disappear but I couldn’t get away from there fast enough.

I could only numbly accept his apology as he took off his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders.

I couldn’t get a good look at his face as hot tears blurred my vision and everything around me.

My heart skipped, knowing Caleb would blame me for making a scene, but then, I remembered he was too busy feeding grapes to an eager Emily. He didn't care about me, and why should I bother about what he thought of me?

I walked to a secluded corner away from everyone else, but each passing minute was torture as I kept glancing at Caleb, who was showering so much attention and care on Emily, it felt unreal.

With a hard swallow, I made my way back to them.

"Caleb, I would like to go home now," I said, with my voice controlled.

At the sound of my voice, I watched as his once cheerful face grew cold.

“You shouldn’t have come here in the first place,” he snapped. “I didn’t notice it before, but what the hell are you wearing? A suit with a dress that revealing?”

I could only stare at him because he wouldn’t listen to anything I said.

“Please, let’s go,” I muttered.

"You want to go?" he barked, loud enough to draw stares from nearby guests. He reached into his pocket and took out a set of keys, and then threw them at my feet. "Fine, go. Get out of my sight."

"Go on, sweetie," Emily added, waving her hand my way. "The grownups are busy."

“Goodbye,” I said as calmly as I could, so they wouldn’t hear the tremble in my voice. While they were still busy feeding each other mouth to mouth, I grabbed a champagne glass from a server and threw its contents over them.

Emily let out a shriek of horror, and Caleb was frozen in shock. I didn’t waste any more time.

“Enjoy,” I said, before hurrying for the exit.

The moment I stepped outside, the tears I had been holding finally spilled over. I kicked off my delicate heels, they had been hurting me all night. Caleb hurt me too, but could I kick him off just as easily?

I wiped away my tears and walked towards the cars waiting at the end of the street but just then, a pair of hands grabbed me.

“Wait!”