Chapter 2

I left the legal paperwork to Rachel. I had a career to run.

Men were just accessories; my business was what truly mattered.

After clearing out the backlog of work from my business trip, I looked up to realize it was already pitch-black outside.

Ethan had sent a text saying he had to work late and wouldn't be coming home.

I sent back a simple "Okay," hopped into my car, and drove straight to the courtyard outside Building 16.

This was usually the time Ethan went for his evening jog.

Sure enough, after just twenty minutes of waiting, he emerged. The girl was right beside him.

Dressed in matching sportswear, laughing and chatting, they held hands as they jogged along the path.

I tailed them on foot, keeping a safe distance. The darkness hid me well, and they were far too engrossed in each other to notice.

Suddenly, Ethan’s phone began to ring. Before he could pick up, the girl snatched it playfully and answered the FaceTime call.

The guy on the other end yelled through the speaker:

"Holy crap, bro, you two have balls! Aren't you terrified Natalie will find out?"

Ethan chuckled coldly. "She's working late at the office. Besides, I'm just out for a run. She won't suspect a thing."

"Keep your guard up, man. If she ever catches you, you know Natalie’s pride. She will cut you off completely."

Ethan scoffed dismissively. "I just needed some excitement. Besides, Natalie is getting old. Waking up to her crow's feet every morning... I swear it feels like sleeping next to my mother. It's horrifying."

The girl burst out laughing.

I froze in my tracks. I didn't follow them any further. Turning on my heels, I walked away and dialed my best friend, telling her to meet me for drinks.

My chest felt suffocated.

At the club, after hearing what Ethan said, Rachel slammed her glass onto the table.

"I thought getting yourself a younger guy would be different, but they're all the exact same trash!"

"Men can be eighty years old and still drool over twenty-year-olds! It’s in their damn DNA. Natalie, don't let him get into your head. A piece of shit like him isn't worth it!"

Under the influence of alcohol, I watched the male dancers on stage flexing their toned abs, a smirk tugging at my lips.

"I just find it pathetic. Five years ago, Ethan fought his own parents to marry me. They cursed him out, disowned him for a while, and even now, five years later, they still treat me like dirt whenever we visit."

Back then, I had asked Ethan if burning bridges with his family was truly worth it.

He had cupped my face, resting his forehead against mine.

"It is, Natalie. If I'm not brave enough to fight for you now, I’ll spend the rest of my life regretting it."

And now, he was the first one to regret it.

Rachel and I drank until we were tipsy, but I still had enough sense to call an Uber to take us to a hotel.

The next morning, I woke up to a blank phone screen. Not a single text from Ethan.

I had no time for heartbreak. Nursing a hangover, I took the day off from the company.

Rachel was terrifyingly efficient; she handed me a full dossier of evidence.

"I pulled a few strings. It started six months ago. Their first time was at the Grand Hyatt."

"After that, Ethan rented that apartment in your complex under his own name for her."

"During this time, Chloe’s lifestyle received a massive upgrade. Look at these luxury hauls on her Instagram. Definitely doesn't match a waitress's paycheck."

I flipped through the papers quickly, then drove straight to the bank to pull Ethan's financial records.

When I saw the recurring monthly transfer of three thousand dollars going directly to Chloe, a cold fury tightened in my chest.

Sitting in the lobby beside me, Rachel’s face was thunderous.

"He sure is generous with your money! Does he forget who built his company? Where does he think his biggest clients came from?!"