Chapter 2

2.

This wasn't the first time something like this had happened.

Ever since Grant hired Mindy as his personal secretary, his loyalty had shifted entirely to this girl in her early twenties.

Every time I called them out for being too close, he would side with her. It always ended with me having to apologize to her.

Two weeks ago, I went to his office to discuss a contract.

I walked in and saw them stumbling out of his private lounge, their clothes completely disheveled.

Through the open door, I saw the unmade bed. It was obvious what had just happened.

That lounge was supposed to be a private space―he wouldn't even let me, his wife, take a nap in there.

I stood there frozen, my heart hammered against my ribs. I wanted to scream, but the words wouldn't come.

Mindy just smiled at me. "Don't worry, Joanna. Grant's back was acting up from all the stress. I was just giving him a deep-tissue massage."

I wanted to believe her, but a man and a woman behind a locked door with a messy bed?

Anyone with eyes knew better.

Later that night, I tried to talk to him about boundaries.

I told him that as a married man, he needed to keep a professional distance from other women.

Grant exploded.

"What are you implying? I work my ass off for this company, and Mindy is just being helpful. Why do you have to make everything sound so dirty?"

"Is your head filled with nothing but smut, Joanna?"

I couldn't stay quiet.

"What am I implying? A man and a woman in a bedroom together―how do you think that looks?"

Grant started throwing things, accusing me of not trusting him. We had a massive, screaming match.

The way he reacted made me certain he was guilty.

If he weren't, he wouldn't have been so defensive.

But I had no hard proof, and part of me still loved him.

Days passed, and I pretended nothing was wrong.

Then came the office party to celebrate our latest deal.

Mindy got wasted. Instead of taking care of me, his wife, Grant spent the whole night by her side, blocking drinks for her.

The rest of the staff watched us. I could see the pity in their eyes, and some were even snickering.

I ignored it all and kept playing the part of the happy hostess.

Maybe it was my silence that gave him permission to be even bolder. When the party ended, Grant insisted on driving Mindy home.

He didn't come back until the next morning.

He told me he had just watched over her because she was too drunk, and nothing happened.

But I saw the faint lipstick mark on his collar and the fresh scratches on his back.

The battle from the night before was written all over his skin.

Still, I chose to look away.

I told myself maybe they were just bug bites.

But tonight changed everything. I realized I had been a total idiot.

I kept believing him, kept forgiving him, and in return, he just pushed the boundaries further.

He brought her into our home.

The home we worked so hard to buy when we first got married.

Our sanctuary. Our love nest.

And he let another woman sleep in it.

I wasn't a fool anymore. I couldn't convince myself they were innocent.

From the day we started dating to the day we said "I do," I was always the one making compromises.

Every marriage has friction. Someone has to step back.

He wouldn't, so I did.

But my patience only made him more arrogant.

If he won't respect me, I won't stay.

I'm done stepping back. I'm stepping out.