Chapter 3

I opened the Find My app. Her location was pinned at the city's most exclusive VIP private club.

I heard the cover charge alone started at fifty thousand dollars.

Fifty thousand. Enough for a down payment on a house in this town.

"She really is... loaded," I muttered.

After thinking for a few seconds, I decided to go see her and demand the truth.

Of course, I couldn't even make it past the club's front doors.

It was strictly members-only.

Seeing the raw disgust in the bouncer's eyes, I stepped back silently.

I didn't go home. I stood across the street in the shadows, waiting.

Time ticked by. Just as the freezing wind made me start to shiver, Sienna walked out.

The man from earlier wasn't with her. Instead, she was flanked by several wealthy trust-fund kids, all dressed in designer brands.

"Hey Sienna, heading back to that dump tonight?" one of the guys teased.

"Yeah. Gotta go back," Sienna said with an indifferent chuckle.

"Wait, are you actually playing house for real? It's been two years, aren't you bored yet?" a younger woman asked, wide-eyed.

"Seriously, Sienna, you didn't actually fall for that broke loser Tyler, did you?" another woman chimed in.

Sienna shot her a contemptuous look. "Are you kidding me?"

"I just wanted to see how blindly pathetic and infatuated that idiot could get."

A roar of laughter erupted from the group.

Standing in the shadows not far away, I smiled too.

So to her, I was just a brainless, lovesick puppy.

A sharp, crushing pain radiated from my chest through every nerve in my body.

I felt like I was drowning, gasping for air.

She was right.

If I hadn't been an idiot blinded by love, why would I have cut ties with my family just to marry her?

Why would I have let myself be played like a complete fool?

In that moment, my heart completely died.

After a brief pause, I decided to toss Sienna out of my life, just like those cold, hard bagels.

Rotten food and deceitful relationships belonged in the exact same place: the trash.

I stepped out of the shadows and walked toward them.

One of the guys was still joking, "Sienna, where did you even find a guy who pays your debts without asking for a dime?"

Sienna smirked arrogantly. "I didn't find him. He threw himself at me."

Then, as if remembering something, she turned to the group with a serious look. "Listen up. Don't you dare let Julian know that I'm legally married to that idiot."

The group nodded in understanding. "Got it, Sienna!"

"Don't worry, everyone knows Julian has always been your one true love. Our lips are sealed."

"Speaking of which, now that Julian is back in the country, are you two getting back together?"

"Well..." Sienna started, then froze.

She saw me. Panic flickered across her face. "You... what are you doing here?"

"Surprised to see me?" I paused, drawing out my words coldly. "Ms. Vance."

Sienna's brow furrowed in immediate annoyance.

The people around her turned to stare at me, smirking and looking me up and down with blatant condescension.

The air went thick and awkward.

After a few tense seconds, Sienna looked at me with open disgust. "Fine. Since you know, the game's over."

"Name your price. What do you want as compensation?"

I looked at her, let out a soft sneer, and spoke four simple words:

"I want a divorce."

Dead silence fell over the sidewalk.