Chapter 1

On the day my wife's company survived its financial meltdown, she told me she had a huge announcement to make.

We had been in a hidden marriage for three years. I honestly thought she was finally ready to go public with our relationship.

"The Vance Group was only able to weather this storm thanks to the unwavering support of Quincy Pierce," she declared to the cameras.

"And today, I have decided that I will be marrying him."

I sat in front of the TV, watching my own wife cling to a famous actor's arm. She looked like a blushing schoolgirl.

The news was trending instantly. The headline about their upcoming wedding dominated the top of every social media feed.

The tension in my chest suddenly snapped. Strangely, I felt a wave of pure relief wash over me.

Perhaps this marriage was nothing more than a soap opera to her.

And for me, it was finally time for the curtain to fall.

1.

I turned off the TV and opened my phone. I tapped on a profile picture and silently sent a single message.

A few minutes later, my phone rang.

"I'm glad you finally came to your senses," the voice on the other end said. "Our firm can offer you far better opportunities than that place."

My heart felt like a block of ice. Seraphina's announcement had frozen whatever warmth I had left for her.

At least there were still people who actually valued my talent. That realization gave me a small shred of comfort.

"Give me a little more time. I'll be out of here very soon."

Just then, I heard the sharp click of Seraphina's high heels outside the door.

"Cade? Where are you going?" she asked as she walked in.

"I have a business trip in a few days. My assistant called to remind me," I lied, keeping my voice flat.

I gave her a half-hearted excuse, and she didn't even bother to look me in the eye.

She brushed past me into the bedroom, leaving a thick cloud of heavy perfume in her wake.

Seraphina never used to wear perfume. She always complained about having chronic sinus issues, saying scents made her sneeze and miserable.

The smell of cheap synthetic floral notes hit me like a physical punch. I couldn't help but frown.

"Why are you wearing that stuff?" I asked.

She glanced back at me with a smirk.

"What? Is there a problem with it?"

"It smells terrible," I said bluntly.

"You have no taste. This is an exclusive import, literally priceless," she scoffed. "Quincy brought it back specifically for me. Of course a commoner like you wouldn't understand high-end luxury."

She followed her boast with a violent sneeze.

In her eyes, anything Quincy gave her was gold, even if it made her sick.

I remembered the first time I bought her perfume.

It was her birthday, and I had nervously handed her a bottle that cost me eight thousand dollars. She had screamed at me.

"You're my boyfriend! Don't you know I have allergies? Giving me this is like asking me to die!"

She had shoved the box away with total disgust back then.

Now, she was more than willing to suffer for Quincy's sake.

She didn't care about her health as long as it was a gift from him.

"Oh, by the way, why weren't you there tonight to support me?" she asked, changing the subject.

"You weren't there when we were securing the final investors. Who was supposed to pitch our specs?"

I let out a cold laugh. "I saw Quincy helping you. I figured you didn't need me anymore, so I left."

"Cade Lennox, why are you so full of yourself?"

"You think just because you feel unneeded, you can just walk away from everyone and abandon the team?"

She threw her heels across the room in a fit of rage. Her white dress shifted, revealing a glimpse of her pale leg.

There were dark, messy bruises on her thigh―love bites.

She instinctively pulled her skirt down, trying to hide the evidence of her afternoon.

"What was I supposed to do there? Watch you announce your engagement to another man?"

Seraphina looked momentarily uncomfortable.

"The company just barely escaped bankruptcy. This marriage with Quincy is just a PR stunt."

"People beg for his help and get nothing. We're lucky he's willing to play along for the cameras."

She looked at me with pure disdain. "Everyone says you're so brilliant, but I think you're an idiot. You can't even grasp a simple business strategy."

To Seraphina, I was worthless. I wasn't even a shadow compared to Quincy Pierce.

No matter how much I sacrificed for the company or for her, it didn't mean a thing compared to Quincy snapping his fingers.

"You're right. I'm just an idiot. Sorry to disappoint you."

I fought the urge to let my emotions spiral out of control.

I turned and walked away, leaving Seraphina standing alone in the living room.

"Cade! What is wrong with you?" she screamed.

"You're acting like a spoiled brat!"

I didn't say another word. My cold silence made her feel like she was punching a cloud.