Chapter 3

3

Since the company retreat was the next day, I temporarily put the divorce on hold.

Landry said he needed to head out early to check the reservations. I didn't leave until the evening.

But when I reached the venue, I hesitated. I didn't know if I could pretend everything was fine in front of everyone.

Just as I was about to turn back, I saw Cynthia Rivers rushing toward the entrance.

Even though it was autumn, she was wearing a tiny, revealing dress.

"Oh, Boss? Why are you standing out here? Isn't Landry hosting a cocktail party inside?"

She approached me with her head held high. Her tone was mocking, nothing like the shy assistant she pretended to be at the office.

"Something came up. Have fun."

Even then, I was trying to keep some shred of dignity for the sake of our history.

Suddenly, her phone rang.

"Cynthia, why aren't you here yet? I haven't seen you all day. Do you want me to come down and get you?"

Landry's voice was crystal clear. He sounded more affectionate than I had ever heard him.

"I want you to come get me!" she chirped into the phone.

I just wanted to leave. But as I turned, Cynthia deliberately bumped into me, dropping her purse.

"Watch where you're going!" she snapped, kneeling to pick it up.

That's when I saw it. Her bag was the limited-edition designer piece I had looked at with Landry last month.

I had loved it, but I decided the company needed the money more. I put it back.

Landry had hugged me then, promising he'd buy it for me once he made it big.

I guess he made it big for someone else.

My heart grew colder. Cynthia suddenly stood up and ran past me.

"You took forever! I'm freezing!"

I turned around. Cynthia was jumping into Landry's arms.

Landry didn't notice me standing a few yards away. He took off his jacket―the bespoke blazer I had spent thousands on for him―and draped it over her shoulders.

"I told you not to dress so provocatively. From now on, you only wear things like this for my eyes."

He pinched her nose playfully and led her into the building.

He protected her like a fragile treasure, yet he always encouraged me to wear revealing outfits to "impress" potential clients.

My body swayed. I felt like the air had been sucked out of my lungs.

That man was my husband, yet I didn't even have the courage to confront him.

I looked down and saw a small box that had fallen out of Cynthia's bag.

They were already at that stage? I suppressed the stabbing pain in my chest and hailed a cab home.