Chapter two

Damian’s POV

I stood by the window of our bedroom, well now just a room with her scent fading out of it watching as she climbed into the back of a sleek black Maybach. My jaw clenched so hard I thought I’d break a tooth. The convoy that followed was no less impressive, a Rolls Royce Ghost, a Bentley, and two matte black SUVs that looked like they were made to carry world leaders.

Who the hell was she going to meet?

The baby bump she was so careful to hide under that expensive looking coat made everything worse. My wife, my pregnant wife was climbing into a car that costs more than everything I’ve ever owned combined.

She didn’t even look back.

My hands curled into fists at my sides. What did she mean by leaving like that? Who even sent those cars for her? It sure as hell wasn’t me.

I felt a burning flush rise up my neck as my mind raced.

Had she found someone else? Was she cheating on me even while pregnant?

The image of her delicate hand resting on another man’s arm, of her smiling that quiet smile that used to be just for me... I lost it.

With a yell, I grabbed the nearest object, a crystal vase from our wedding gift collection, and dashed it at the wall. It exploded into glass and water, soaking the rug and sending flower petals flying.

“Damian!” a voice cried behind me.

It was Tasha, my girlfriend.

I wasn’t thinking straight. She ran into the room, barefoot and dressed in my shirt.

“Baby, what are you doing? Stop!”

I turned on her. “Did you see those cars? Who the hell is she with?!”

Tasha stepped back. “I don’t know, Damian, but you need to calm down.”

“Calm down?” I barked, knocking over a lamp. “She’s supposed to be some low class housewife who can barely afford groceries. And now she’s riding in a damn Maybach like some celebrity?”

“She’s pregnant, Damian,” Tasha said carefully, looking at the shattered glass. “Maybe someone’s just looking out for her.”

I gave a cold laugh. “You think people just randomly look out for women like her? No. Someone wants her. Someone with money. And she let them.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Don’t I?”

The rage grew louder in my head and I swiped everything off the dresser, perfume bottles, picture frames, her favourite hairbrush all crashing to the ground in a mess.

Tasha flinched and reached out to grab my arm. “Please, you’re scaring me.”

I shook her off, but too hard.

She stumbled back and fell against the doorframe, clutching her arm.

Fuck.

“Tasha...”

“Don’t,” she said, her voice trembling, eyes wide. “Just don’t.”

I looked at her for the first time since she’d come in. She was scared of me.

Without another word, I walked past her, heart pounding like war drums in my chest. I needed air. I needed space. I needed to know who the hell was behind this because no matter how guilty I was for cheating first, no matter how cold our marriage had gotten, seeing her leave like that, seeing her choose someone else cut deeper than I thought possible.

I walked through the house like a ghost. Every room still smelled faintly of her vanilla lotion. Every photograph of us smiling, pretending we were in love mocked me.

She had said she didn’t want anything. No drama. Just to take a few of her things and go.

And now this?

I pulled out my phone and tried to call her but it went straight to voicemail. Again and again.

My fingers shook as I called a private investigator I hadn’t spoken to in months.

“I want a full report,” I said. “On Emmah Carter. Where she’s staying. Who sent for her. Everything.”

“Understood.”

I ended the call and stood in the middle of the hall, staring at nothing.

Who the hell would want my wife?

She was from nothing. Just a quiet girl I agreed to marry because my grandfather chose her for me. I figured she’d stay obedient and grateful but I didn’t expect her to become... this independent and secretive.

My stomach twisted. Was I jealous? Was I losing control?

Tasha stood in the doorway again, arms crossed. She’d changed into her own clothes, and her expression was unreadable.

“You really loved her, didn’t you?”

I didn’t answer then she walked away before I could.

And I stood there, alone, watching the ghost of a woman who no longer belonged to me fade into the trails of wealth I could never trace.

But I would. I’d find out who she was with and I’d get her back.

No matter what it cost.

Because if she was going to cheat on me, even if I was the first to betray, then I wanted to know who she thought was better than me.

And I’d make sure he regretted it.