Chapter 2

2.

This was the first time I had ever brought up divorce. Usually, it was his favorite threat to use against me.

Lucas seemed to sober up instantly. He looked around and realized the house felt empty.

When he saw the look in my eyes, he realized I wasn't joking.

He rushed to the door to block my path.

"Where do you think you're going?" he demanded.

"I've had a long day, Sienna. Stop being so dramatic. We aren't getting a divorce."

"Fine, I'll promise to keep my distance from Chloe if that makes you happy."

I had heard those empty promises a hundred times before. He never kept them.

I tried to push past him, but his phone started buzzing in his pocket.

He glanced at the screen and looked guilty, trying to hide it from my sight.

I didn't need to see the screen to know it was Chloe.

He gave me an awkward smile. "It's late. If she's calling now, it might be an emergency at the office."

To prove he had nothing to hide, he put the call on speakerphone.

Immediately, Chloe's whimpering voice filled the room.

It was so high-pitched it made my skin crawl.

"Mr. Lexton, the elevator in my building is broken and the lights are out. I'm all alone and I'm so scared."

I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. What kind of secretary calls her boss after midnight for a broken elevator?

Her intentions were as clear as day.

"Are you okay? Just stay where you are, I'm―" Lucas started, his face full of genuine concern.

He had never looked that worried about me, even when I was sick.

He caught my expression and realized he had messed up.

"Maybe you should call the building security? I'm busy with something right now," he corrected himself.

Chloe began to cry even harder, sounding like a wounded puppy.

"I'm a girl living alone. I don't feel safe with a random security guard I don't know."

"Is Sienna there? Is she making you stay? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you."

"Forget it. I'll just sit in the dark lobby until morning. I'll be fine, I guess."

Every word she said was designed to pull at his heartstrings.

She knew exactly how to play him, and Lucas was an easy target.

"I'm coming over right now," he blurted out.

He hung up and shoved my suitcase to the side.

"You heard her. It's dangerous for a young woman to be out there alone. She's my responsibility."

Before I could say a word, he had already called an Uber and vanished through the door.

I stood in the silent hallway and let out a bitter laugh.

This was the marriage I had protected for four years.

His company only became successful because my family provided the initial funding and connections.

Thinking about it made the tears finally spill over.

I clenched my fists and shut the door behind me.

When a woman is hurt, her first instinct is to go home to her parents.

But it was the middle of the night, and I didn't want to worry them.

I went to a small studio apartment I had bought with my own savings before the wedding.

The place was dark and covered in a thin layer of dust.

Suddenly, the crushing weight of loneliness hit me from every corner.

I collapsed onto the floor and sobbed until my throat was raw.

But life goes on.

When I had no strength left to cry, I got up and started cleaning.

I decided I wouldn't sleep tonight.

I would scrub away the dust and prepare to start my new life.