Chapter 2

2.

My father owns hundreds of companies. He's a regular on the Forbes list.

I'm the definition of a billionaire heiress.

When I first met Gavin, he was dirt poor. He couldn't even afford tuition.

He wore the same yellowed shirts every day.

But he was brilliant, always top of the class.

He'd worked his way into my elite school on a full scholarship.

He juggled jobs and classes.

Because he said he hated spoiled rich kids, I hid my identity.

I gave up my luxury life for love. I ate cheap, greasy food with him.

I worked jobs for wages I would've tipped a waiter.

I'd even cut ties with my father over him.

My dad wanted me to be his right hand, but I refused. I chose a two-thousand-dollar-a-month salary instead.

I was insane. Madly in love.

I thought he would be my everything.

When we started the company, I thought I'd finally proven myself.

I thought I could go back to my dad and show him I'd found a great man.

What a joke.

I was a naive idiot.

After hanging up, I went back to the apartment I shared with Gavin.

It was cozy, filled with things I'd bought over the years.

On the nightstand sat a deed to a luxury villa.

It was supposed to be my surprise for him after he announced our relationship.

I'd imagined his face a thousand times. I never saw Linda coming.

I packed everything.

I booked a flight for noon the next day.

I just needed the morning to hand over my remaining files.

My phone buzzed. It was a video from Linda.

It showed Gavin carrying her bridal-style. Linda was blushing, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

They looked like a perfect couple.

In the background, colleagues were cheering for them to kiss.

The video was quickly unsent. Then came a text.

"Sorry, wrong person."

I didn't believe her for a second.

She'd been doing this for years.

Normally, I'd blow up his phone, demand an explanation, and he'd gaslight me.

"Why are you so sensitive? Focus on work," he'd say.

I used to think I was the problem. Then I heard him mumble her name in his sleep.

My heart was empty. I blocked her number and deleted her contact.

Minutes later, Gavin called.

"Shana, did you delete Linda?"

He sounded furious.

He didn't care about what she'd sent me.

"Yeah," I said flatly.

"Why? She's your colleague! How is she supposed to work with you now?"

"She thinks she did something wrong. She's crying her eyes out! Add her back and apologize. Now."

I laughed. "Do you even know what she sent me?"

There was a pause. He was probably checking with her.

"It was just a photo sent by mistake. What's the big deal?"

Typical. If it was Linda, it was never a big deal.

I sneered.

"Gavin, Shana must still be mad about today," Linda's voice whimpered in the background.

"Let me just apologize to her."

Gavin's voice softened. "No, honey. It's not your fault. Let her cool her head."

He hung up.

He always used my "need to cool down" as an excuse to go back to her.

I didn't even feel angry.

I just typed out a formal resignation letter and sent it to HR.

I wanted everything to be official.

I fell asleep feeling lighter than I had in years.

At 3 AM, my phone woke me. It was Gavin.

"Pick me up. I'm still at the office."

The background was loud.

Usually, I'd be dressed and out the door in seconds.

Now, I just rolled over.

"Call an Uber. There are plenty around."

Gavin's tone shifted.

"Are you asleep?"

"Yep."

I used to stay up worrying about him.

Now, I just wanted peace.

"Bye."

I silenced my phone and went back to sleep. I didn't even hear him come home.

The next morning, I was heading to the bathroom when I saw Gavin sitting in the living room.

He looked like he'd been waiting for me.

"Shana, did you submit a resignation letter last night?"

His tone was aggressive, like I'd committed a crime.

I nodded, not wanting to waste my breath.

"Shana, stop being dramatic. I made Linda a shareholder because she's a wealthy heiress! We need her money."

"I did it for the company. I had to show her my sincerity."

"We can't just let the company we built rot, can we?"

Those words might have fooled a child, but I wasn't that naive anymore.

"Stop the BS. If you're done, I'm going to the office to finish the paperwork."

I cut him off.

Gavin's face twisted in rage.

"Shana Collins, don't you dare! You better actually quit and not just use this as some pathetic jealousy stunt."

"Your background doesn't compare to hers. You need to learn to bow your head. You think talent is everything? You think too much of yourself!"

I kept packing my things while he ranted.

I even had the heart to nod along.

"Sure, sure. Whatever you say."

"You'll regret this!" he screamed.