Chapter 3

03

When I walked in, Lexington pushed Faye away.

"Misha, she's just an innocent girl," he said.

"She was just brainwashed by those online interview tutorials. Don't you think she looks a bit like you did back in the day?"

He watched Faye through the glass as she delivered drinks to clients.

"This office is full of sharks. She's the only one who's like a blank sheet of paper. She gives me room to breathe."

I thought he was just overworked.

I didn't realize that his eyes would never leave her again.

He started mentioning her name more and more.

He spent less and less time with me.

Eventually, he stopped coming home for a week.

I went to the office, and his assistant hesitated before speaking.

"The boss... he took Faye to the snow park."

"Faye said the heat was making her stressed, so he built something for her there..."

I looked up sharply. "He built what?"

"He built a castle for her."

It felt like a knife to my heart.

Lexington had once told me I was his only princess.

He promised to build me the best castle so I could live in a fairy tale forever.

A text from Lexington popped up.

"Going on a business trip. Not sure when I'll be back. Take care of yourself, Misha. Get some sleep."

I typed a simple "Okay" and then stormed into the snow park with my own security.

The castle was magnificent, but the sounds coming from inside made me sick.

I kicked the door open and saw lace underwear scattered on the floor.

The designer coat I had bought for Lexington was crumpled under Faye's body.

They were caught in the act on the table.

Lexington looked panicked for a split second.

"Misha? What are you doing here?"

But his first instinct was to shield Faye.

The woman hid behind him, her eyes full of triumph.

I don't remember how I left that night.

I just remember waiting outside the park until the sun came up.

Lexington never came out to find me.

That was the start of our cold war.

Until now.

I thought that after five years of marriage, he would at least care about justice for my mother.

But for Faye, he didn't hesitate to push me and my mom into hell.

I wiped my tears and prepared to sell my properties to pay for a lawyer and my mom's bills.

Then, the hospital called. The voice on the other end was frantic.

"Misha, get here now! Your mother isn't going to make it!"

I drove like a maniac and pushed past the doctors.

"Mom!" I screamed, throwing myself at her.

There was blood everywhere. She was already gone, her brow furrowed in pain.

"Please, save her!" I begged, banging my head on the floor.

The doctor looked at me with pity.

"I'm sorry, Miss Vance. Your mother has passed away."

"I don't believe you! She was getting better! She told me she'd make me lemonade when she got out!"

"Who did this to her?!"

I looked like a ghost, covered in my mother's blood.

A nurse stepped forward, trembling.

"I saw a pretty young woman visit her earlier."

"Not long after she left, your mother... she took a knife to her own throat."