I wasn't surprised.
But a sharp, undeniable ache still pierced my chest.
Seeing my silence, Julian sighed.
"Alright, you should go now."
"If Blair even senses you've been here, she'll throw a fit."
As he spoke, he played a voice message on his phone.
Blair's petulant voice filled the office.
"I don't want to see her. That pathetic social-climbing slut."
"Everyone in New York knows you're my man. How dare she even touch you? Tell her to get the hell away from you."
She spoke as if she were his wife, and I was the shameless mistress.
Julian switched off his phone and patted my head condescendingly.
"There, there. You know her temper."
"Be a good girl and go buy yourself something nice."
"I'll be back once Blair gets bored and leaves."
I was escorted out of the office by Julian's assistant.
He had a young secretary drive me home.
In the car, the secretary kept trying to console me.
"Mrs. Thorne, please don't be angry."
"Mr. Thorne really does care about you."
I didn't say anything, just gazed out the window.
The secretary, thinking I didn't believe her, added anxiously, "If Miss Covington truly wanted to marry him, she would have done it eight years ago. You wouldn't have even had a chance."
"The fact that he chose to marry you after all these years proves you're special to him."
"Someone like Miss Covington is a flash in the pan. Mr. Thorne will come back to you, you'll see."
I could tell her intentions were good.
Just like everyone else around me.
They all advised me to cherish what I had.
They all said that for an orphan from the foster care system, marrying a tech mogul like Julian Thorne was the chance of a lifetime.
In their world, it was normal for high-society couples to have affairs.
Julian was only seeing Blair; it wasn't like he was keeping a string of mistresses.
I should be content.
I knew all this.
I knew Julian would come back.
But I was tired.
I just didn't want him anymore.
