Chapter 2

2

I dropped Shana off in a cab and went home alone.

I sat on the velvet sofa and looked around our beautiful house.

This was our new home. I had hand-picked every piece of furniture and every decoration.

Our wedding was scheduled for next month. Now, there was no point in getting married.

My phone buzzed twice. It was a text from Grant.

"I was stuck in a meeting," it read. "Does my beautiful wife need anything?"

That nickname used to make my heart flutter. Now, it felt like a slap in the face.

I didn't call him out yet. "I'm craving those dumplings from the spot downtown. Can you bring some home?"

"Of course. Wait for me, babe."

Half an hour later, Grant walked in with a steaming container. He leaned in to kiss me immediately.

He smelled like heavy whiskey mixed with a girl's sickly sweet perfume.

Nausea hit me instantly. I reacted without thinking.

*Slap.* The sound echoed through the room.

We both froze. He never expected me to hit him.

"Maya, that hurt," he said, acting like a wounded puppy.

I looked away, trying to hide my agitation. "You smell like a brewery. Go take a shower."

Grant didn't argue. He opened the container for me instead.

"Eat them while they're hot," he nagged gently. "They won't taste good once they're cold."

The familiar scent made my eyes sting. I remembered when we first started the company.

We were broke and lived in a tiny studio. We ate nothing but ramen and cheap takeout for months.

I developed a chronic stomach issue because of it. Grant used to feel so guilty.

He'd buy me these specific dumplings to cheer me up.

He once held my hand and cried, swearing he'd never let me down.

He promised he'd give me the life I deserved.

The irony was sharp. My stomach hadn't even healed, but he had already broken his oath.

While he showered, I picked up his phone. I unlocked it with my birthday.

Messages, photos, and call logs were all clean. I frowned and opened his social media app.

I scrolled through his feed. Grant rarely posted.

Then, a profile picture of a black rose caught my eye.

He had her saved as: Lexie Young, Procurement Intern.

My gut told me something was wrong. Why would a new intern have the CEO's personal cell?

I clicked on her profile. I saw her face.

It was the girl from the bar. I noted her number and added her on my main account.

She accepted the request almost instantly.

"This is Maya Vance," I messaged her directly.

Grant and I built this company from nothing. Everyone knew who I was.

Even though I took a medical leave last year, she had to know he wasn't single.

She replied quickly. "I know who you are. The CEO's girlfriend."

Her tone was brazen. She didn't sound guilty at all.

I suppressed my rage and looked at her private posts.

As I suspected, she had blocked Grant from seeing certain updates.

"Ran into my crush in the elevator today. He said he liked my new dress."

"Ugh, my period cramps are killing me. He sent someone to bring me ginger tea. I want to stay with him forever."

I gripped the phone, scrolling further into the nightmare.

"He's so sweet. He dropped everything to stay at the hospital with me and my mom all night."

There was a photo attached. A man was sitting by a hospital bed, peeling an apple.

His face was blurred, but I knew those hands. I knew that posture.

Several employees had commented on the post.

"Lexie, stop rubbing it in! We're dying of jealousy over here!"

"Looks like a wedding might be in the works soon, huh?"

I checked the date of that post. My breath hitched.