Chapter 3

3

Thorne Enterprises was usually a hectic place.

Every time I dropped off lunch, employees were running around.

But today, everyone seemed relaxed.

They were huddled together, whispering gossip.

"Did you hear? Mila posted a photo with the boss last night. Are they back together?"

"Duh! That's why we have so little work today. The boss is in a great mood because of her. We should thank her!"

"But what about his wife? They just got married."

"Please, he never loved her. Have you ever seen him this happy for her? Besides, she's not even on his level."

They were so deep in conversation they didn't notice me standing right behind them.

When they finally saw me, their faces went pale.

They looked down, stuttering and trying to find an excuse.

I just took the bottle of water the secretary handed me.

I walked toward Cade's office and dropped a single sentence.

"Whether I'm on his level or not, your boss spent two years on his knees begging me to marry him."

I realized then that my marriage was a joke to the whole world.

Cade didn't even have the decency to hide his affair.

If this scandal broke, it wouldn't just hurt me; it would hurt the company.

I started to feel a strange pity for the man I loved.

I pushed open the office door.

Mila Jenson was scurrying out, looking disheveled.

Her clothes were buttoned wrong, and her face was flushed.

She looked at me with a smirk.

"Oh, Elara, I'm so sorry! It was just so hot in there, I had to take my jacket off. Please don't misunderstand!"

I nodded calmly.

"You must have a very strange medical condition, Mila. It's below freezing outside, yet you're burning up. If it were spring, would you be standing there naked?"

She knew I was calling her a slut.

Her face twisted in anger, and she looked at Cade for help.

Seeing his little first love upset, Cade immediately frowned at me.

"Elara, why are you being so mean? Mila didn't mean anything by it."

My husband was defending another woman in front of his employees.

This was the marriage I had fought for.

In the past, I would have screamed and caused a scene.

Now, I just stood there, cold and silent.

A woman who isn't loved has no right to make a scene.

Cade noticed I wasn't fighting back and seemed to realize he'd gone too far.

He rubbed his nose awkwardly.

"I'm just stressed. You have to think about the company's reputation. If Mila leaves here upset, it won't look good."

I finally forced a small, tight smile.

"You're right. You care about her so much, why don't you just divorce me and marry her?"

I said it like a joke, but my eyes were dead serious.