Chapter 2

*Amber, I'm so sorry, but I have a major emergency at work. I can't leave right now.*

He replied instantly. He had always been like that over the last seven years.

*I need to see you right now.*

After I sent that, there was no reply. For the first time in our relationship, he just vanished mid-conversation.

About five minutes later, another message popped up: *Okay. Wait for me at home.*

I figured he only had free time now because his son had been found.

I took an Uber home. Not long after I arrived, William walked through the door.

He was wearing his usual black designer suit, but his tie was slightly crooked. He must have rushed back in a panic.

"Amber, what's wrong? Why the rush?"

He had a warm smile on his face as he walked toward me, leaning down to press a tender kiss on my forehead.

In our seven years together, kissing me was always the very first thing he did when he came home.

But the thought that he had been doing the exact same thing to another woman for ten years made my stomach turn. It felt like a rusty blade was carving up my chest, leaving me bleeding and raw.

It was all an act.

Every single bit of it was a lie.

"William, let's end this. I want a divorce."

As soon as the words left my mouth, we both froze.

During the few minutes I had waited for him, I had searched every drawer and cabinet in the house. I couldn't find our marriage certificate.

Only then did it hit me. We had been together for seven years.

But I had never met his parents. We never had a legal, registered marriage license.

I used to think that a relationship was just between two people. As long as he loved me, a piece of paper didn't matter.

How incredibly naive. How pathetic. I had been a mistress for seven years without even knowing it!

"What are you talking about, Amber? It's not April Fool's Day. Don't make jokes like that."

"If you're upset about something, we can talk about it. I told you when we first met, I am never letting you go."

I shoved him away with all my strength.

"The 'emergency' you had earlier... it was because your son went missing, wasn't it? You hadn't found him yet when I texted you."

"Do you want to guess how he got back to you?"

I felt William's body go completely rigid.

He was always so calm, so in control of his business empire. This was the first time I had ever seen him look utterly terrified.

I quickly wiped the tears from my face, trying my best to salvage whatever dignity I had left. "I brought him back."

"He asked me to take him to you. And he showed me a picture of his happy little family."

"He also told me... that you've been married for ten years!"

"Amber, it’s not what you think. Let me explain."

William lunged forward and wrapped his arms around me. No matter how much I thrashed and screamed, he wouldn't let go.

"I don't love her. There's no affection between us."

"It's really not what you think."

"No affection?" I scoffed, tears streaming down my face. "You legally married her! So what am I? Your side piece? Your kept woman? You made me an unwitting mistress for seven whole years!"

It was sickening. The man I had loved with all my soul for seven years had just driven a knife through my heart. And now, he was telling me it was fine, that the wound would heal.

"If you don't want to see her, I can send her away. I can move her to another country tomorrow. She won't affect us."

"Amber, we've been so happy these past seven years. Her existence changes nothing."

*Slap!*

My hand flew across his face. I was shaking so hard I could barely breathe. I couldn't believe those words had actually come out of his mouth.

He wanted me to stay? He wanted me to willingly remain his dirty little secret?

Was this how he loved me?

"We are done, William. I'm taking our son, and I'm leaving."

"No!" His eyes turned a furious, bloodshot red, and his grip tightened on my shoulders. "If you ever want to see Leo again, you will stay right here. Be a good girl and stay by my side."

My feet felt like they were glued to the floor.

I had almost forgotten. A year ago, he told me that in order to give Leo the best education, he was sending him to an elite boarding school in Switzerland.

William said we had to groom him from a young age.

Thinking about our son's future, I had agreed.

I never realized it was actually a trap to keep me on a leash.

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