Chapter 3

3

I didn't sleep a wink that night.

As the sun began to peek over the horizon, I stretched my stiff muscles. I took every framed photo of us and tossed them into the trash.

A divorce was non-negotiable.

The one thing I couldn't tolerate was betrayal. I wasn't going to die without him, but Gunnar was right about one thing―our lives were intertwined. I was going to make sure the math favored me.

My lawyer was efficient. By midday, I had a draft of the divorce agreement in my hands.

As I read the legal jargon, my chest tightened.

How did we end up here?

Gunnar and I were the same age. We had been in the same class since kindergarten.

At our high school graduation, he had snuck onto the football field to set off fireworks. While the security guards chased him, he screamed into a megaphone.

"Zia Vance, I love you! Spend your life with me! I'll cherish you forever!"

The whole school had cheered for him, chanting for me to say yes.

I had blushed furiously, but I grabbed the principal's microphone and shouted back.

"I will!"

We went to college in the same city. Even though we were on opposite ends of town, we saw each other every weekend.

We were the dream couple―high school sweethearts who actually made it. It turns out it was just a fever dream.

Years ago, when Gunnar's family business was on the brink of bankruptcy, I ignored my parents' warnings. I married him and used my entire inheritance to bail the Thornes out.

I worked myself to the bone to bring in clients, drinking until I developed a severe stomach ulcer.

Gunnar always said I was fragile and hated pain. He wasn't wrong. When my stomach flared up, I would break into a cold sweat, but I never complained. I didn't want him to worry.

The irony was sickening. While I thought we were building a beautiful life, he was out looking for a new soulmate.

Maybe the old saying was right―investing in a man is the quickest way to ruin your life.

I sat by the window all night, wondering why he did it.

Was it really like Cora said? Does love just evaporate? Was I really nothing more than a sister to him now?

Cora stumbled out of the guest room, rubbing her temples and looking for water. She sat down next to me, glancing around.

"Where's your hubby? Off to work already? Man, Gunnar is such a shark. No wonder he's the top of the social circle..."

"He's at his mistress's place."

I cut her off calmly, sliding a bowl of hangover soup toward her.

Cora froze, her mouth hanging open. I waved a hand in front of her face.

"Snap out of it. Drink the soup before your head explodes."

She grabbed my hand, her eyes wide.

"Zia, what did you just say? Gunnar is cheating?"

I nodded.

"An intern at his office. I don't even know her title. Oh, and she's pregnant."

"But Gunnar doesn't know that I know yet," I added.

Cora jumped up, her face turning red with rage. "That son of a bitch! How dare he? He's a total fraud! I'm going to kill him!"

I pulled her back down, giving her a tired smile.

"It's too early. He's probably still in her bed. We're going to go catch them in a bit."

"I'm not giving him a pass for this."

Cora looked at me with concern. "How are you so calm? Zia, don't let that trash bag drive you crazy. It's okay to cry."

I shook my head.

"I am hurting, but I did enough crying last night. I'm not losing my mind over Gunnar Thorne."

Once we were both dressed, we grabbed a high-end camera and headed to the address.

It was a condo I had bought years ago as an investment. I didn't even need a map to find it. I couldn't believe he had the nerve to stash his mistress in one of my properties.

When we reached the door, Cora didn't hold back. She hammered on it like a cop.

A few moments later, we heard footsteps. The door opened.

Yara stood there, looking confused.

When she saw me, her face went white. Gunnar appeared behind her, his body stiffening with panic.

"Zia? What are you doing here?"