Before leaving, I had to attend the night of the merger celebration, otherwise, they’re going to think something was wrong. I had to pretend to be a good wife for the last time.
I smiled until my cheeks ached. I shook hands with investors, accepted condolences about the "miscarriage" with a graceful nod, and played the part of the supportive partner perfectly.
“You look stunning, darling,” Nathan murmured, his hand resting possessively on the small of my back. He looked dashing in his tuxedo, the picture of the successful young CEO.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice smooth. “You’ve done well, Nathan. Everyone is impressed.”
“We’ve done well,” he corrected, clinking his champagne glass against mine. “I couldn’t have done it without you by my side.”
It was almost laughable. He actually believed it. He believed that after everything, we were back to normal. That the trip to Italy he thought we were taking tomorrow had fixed everything.
“Excuse me,” I said, spotting a waiter. “I need some water.”
I slipped away from him, weaving through the crowd. I needed a moment to breathe. I needed to escape the suffocating weight of his lies.
I found a quiet corner near the terrace doors and took a sip of water. From my vantage point, I could see the entire room.
And I saw her.
Danica was there, of course. She was wearing a dress that was a little too short, a little too red, and a little too loud for a corporate event. She was standing by the bar, laughing uproariously with one of the junior partners from the acquiring firm.
She touched his arm. She leaned in close, whispering something in his ear. The man laughed and placed a hand on her waist.
Then, right there in the middle of the room, she kissed him.
It was sloppy and brazen.
I watched, not with jealousy, but with a detached curiosity.
Then I saw Nathan.
He was across the room, talking to his grandfather. But his eyes were glued to the bar. I saw his jaw clench. I saw the vein in his neck throb. He excused himself abruptly, leaving Arthur mid-sentence.
He marched across the room, his stride long and angry. He didn't make a scene—he was too careful for that—but the way he grabbed Danica’s elbow was anything but gentle.
He whispered something in her ear, his face dark. Danica pulled away, looking annoyed. He grabbed her again and steered her toward the side exit that led to the gardens.
I waited a beat, then set my glass down.
I followed them.
The garden was dark, illuminated only by the fairy lights strung in the trees. I stayed in the shadows of the hedges, moving silently on the grass.
I heard their voices before I saw them. They were near the fountain, hidden from the main terrace.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Nathan hissed. His voice was shaking with rage. “In front of everyone? Are you insane?”
“I’m having fun, Nathan!” Danica’s voice was slurred. She was drunk. Again. “It’s a party. Or am I not allowed to have fun anymore?”
“You were kissing him!” Nathan shouted, though he kept his voice low. “You were practically eating his face! Do you have any idea how that looks? You’re my assistant!”
“I’m your mistress, Nathan!” she spat back. “Let’s call it what it is. And I’m tired of waiting. I’m tired of being the dirty little secret while she gets to play the grieving wife and the perfect hostess!”
“Keep your voice down!” Nathan looked around frantically.
“No!” Danica shoved him. “I gave you an ultimatum. You either divorce her, or you give me a child. A real heir. Not like that… mistake she lost.”
My breath hitched. Mistake. She called my son a mistake.
“Danica, stop,” Nathan pleaded, reaching for her.
“No!” She slapped his hand away. “If you won’t give me what I want, then I’ll find someone who will. Maybe that guy at the bar. He seemed interested. Maybe I’ll let him take me home tonight.”
“You will not,” Nathan growled.
“Watch me.” She turned to leave.
Nathan lunged. He grabbed her by the waist and spun her around, pinning her against the stone rim of the fountain.
“You aren’t going anywhere with him,” he snarled. “You’re mine. Do you hear me? You’re mine.”
“Then prove it,” she challenged, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. “Prove I’m the only one you want.”
“Fine,” he groaned. “Fine. I’ll divorce her. I’ll figure it out. Just… don’t look at another man. I’ll give you a child now.”
He crashed his lips onto hers. It wasn’t a gentle kiss. It was hungry, desperate, and possessive.
I stood there in the shadows, my phone raised in my trembling hand. The red recording light blinked steadily in the darkness.
I stopped the recording and saved it to the cloud. Then, I turned and walked away. I went back into the ballroom, retrieved my clutch, and walked out the front door. I didn’t say goodbye to Arthur. I didn’t say goodbye to anyone.
I hailed a taxi. We stopped at the house first. I grabbed the suitcase I had hidden in the back of my closet. I walked into our bedroom.
On the pillow, right where he would see it, I placed a large, velvet-wrapped gift box. Beside it, I placed an envelope.
Inside the envelope were two tickets to Italy—a fake itinerary I had printed out.
Inside the box were the divorce papers, wedding ring, and also the proof of his affair.
Two hours later, I was standing at the gate, clutching my passport. The boarding announcement for the flight to Zurich echoed through the terminal.
My phone rang.
It was Nathan.
I stared at the screen for a moment. Then, I answered.
“Karylle?” His voice was breathless, panicked. “Where are you? I’ve been looking everywhere. You just vanished from the party.”
“I’m leaving now, Nathan,” I said, my voice calm.
“Leaving? What do you mean? Leaving the party?”
“No,” I said. “I’m leaving for our vacation. I couldn’t wait. I took an earlier flight.”
“What?” He sounded confused. “Without me? But… we were supposed to go tomorrow. I haven’t even packed.”
“I know,” I said, injecting a note of sweetness into my voice. “But I wanted to surprise you. I left your ticket and a gift on the bed. It’s all arranged. Just go home, get your things, and follow me. I’ll be waiting.”
“Oh,” he exhaled, the relief palpable. “Oh, okay. You crazy girl. You scared me again. Grandpa thought we fought, so tell him we didn't, so he would also talk about the inheritance.” He laughed. “I’m leaving the party now. I’ll head straight home, grab the ticket, and catch the next flight out. I’ll see you soon, baby.”
“Sure,” I said. “Goodbye, Nathan.”
“I love you,” he said.
I didn’t respond. I pulled the phone away from my ear.
I walked over to the nearest trash bin.
I looked at the device one last time—the connection to my old life, to his lies, to the pain. I dropped it in. It landed with a dull thud among the coffee cups and wrappers.
I turned around, straightened my spine, and handed my boarding pass to the attendant.
