Chapter 3

3

It was pitch black by the time I arrived home.

I pushed the front door open. The house was brightly lit, yet unnervingly quiet.

A cloying, unfamiliar perfume hung heavy in the air.

A dusty vintage suitcase from the back of the walk-in closet had been dragged into the middle of the living room, its lid wide open.

Everything inside had been rummaged through.

Lying on top was our very first business proposal. The yellowed paper had been torn violently down the middle.

The tear ripped straight through our side-by-side signatures.

"Mrs. Holloway," the housekeeper said hesitantly, stepping into the foyer.

I didn't turn around. "Who did this?"

"Mr. Holloway came by this afternoon," she chose her words carefully. "He said… Ms. Croft needed vintage items for design inspiration, so he picked a few things and took them."

My fists clenched involuntarily, my nails digging deep into my palms.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

It was a text from Trevor, our lead engineer who had been with us since the startup days.

"Boss, take a look at this."

Attached was the draft poster for the company's upcoming Seventh Anniversary Gala.

At a glance, I saw the silhouettes of Garrett and Bianca standing shoulder to shoulder.

The lighting was soft, moody, and undeniably romantic.

Beneath it ran a line of elegant text:

"True to our roots, boundless in inspiration. Honoring where everything began."

I stared at the words, recalling how seven years ago, Garrett held our very first product prototype and told me with shining eyes:

"Rowan, you are where everything begins for me."

Trevor sent another message: "Marketing said Mr. Holloway approved this personally. A few of us felt it wasn't right… Just wanted to give you a heads-up."

I exhaled slowly. "Thank you, Trevor."

The sound of keys rattling came from the front door.

I stepped out into the hallway. Garrett walked in, followed closely by Bianca.

Her sickeningly sweet perfume mixed with the scent already lingering in the air.

Seeing me, Garrett didn't flinch, as if bringing another woman home late at night was completely normal.

"Bianca has some fresh ideas for the venue decor," he instructed the housekeeper casually. "Prepare the south guest room. It's easier for her to stay here than commute back and forth."

I stared at them without saying a word.

As if intimidated by my gaze, Bianca shrank behind Garrett, her hand unconsciously hovering over her lower abdomen.

Garrett caught the gesture instantly. He shifted to block her, his eyes flashing with irritation.

"Rowan, do you have to act like this? Bianca is in a delicate condition right now. Can't you be a little considerate instead of making a scene?"

Listening to him, a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over me.

For seven years, he had shielded me with that exact same protective stance. Now, someone else stood behind him.

I looked at him and let out a faint, dry laugh.

Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the woman's ring and walked toward Bianca.

Garrett frowned in disapproval. "Rowan, don't you dare―"

Ignoring him, I grabbed Bianca's retreating wrist with enough force to make her gasp.

I shoved the ring onto her ring finger, using the thick metal band as a fulcrum, and snapped her finger backward with brute force!

Crack.

A sickening snap echoed in the quiet room.

Bianca's gasp turned into a bloodcurdling scream. Her knees buckled, her face draining of all color as cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

She cradled her dislocated finger with one hand while clutching her stomach with the other, sobbing hysterically.

"It hurts… my baby…"

"Rowan! Are you out of your mind?!" Garrett lost his temper completely, shoving me aside and scooping Bianca into his arms.

As he rushed toward the door, he shot me a glare filled with venomous, unforgiving hatred.

I calmly closed the front door, shutting out the chaos and screams.