Alex’s eyes flicker with that same worry from earlier, but he instantly masks it, leaning back in his chair like he’s completely unfazed.
“Come on, Kylie,” he says, his voice both smooth and condescending. “Are you really that surprised?”
I stare at him, slack-jawed. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
He sighs, sounding bored. “You knew what you were signing up for. Guys like me…we don’t do exclusive. Not really, anyway.”
Is he for real?! “What are you talking about?! We’re engaged! Being exclusive is kind of the rule of getting married!”
“You know I don’t really play by the rules, Kylie.”
All the air sucks out of my lungs and the room starts to spin. Who is this man?!
I feel Eliza’s eyes on me, watching with that superior smirk. She’s enjoying this. Savoring every moment.
Anger burns through me. It scorches every nerve. But beneath that is pain like I’ve never felt before.
Raw, crushing heartbreak.
“No, I didn’t know that,” I say, my voice shaking. “And apparently, I don’t know who you are either. Because I thought you loved me. God Alex, I gave up everything for you! My career, my house, my friends—”
He cuts me off with a wave of his hand, like he’s swatting away a fly. “You’re making a scene, Kylie,” he says, his tone flat. “Don’t embarrass yourself.”
My hands ball into fists at my sides. “I just caught you cheating on me in front of everyone. I think I’m allowed to be upset!”
The area around us falls silent and all eyes snap to us.
Who cares.
Let them look.
Let them hear every word.
Alex, on the other hand, looks like he’s swallowing glass. His confident smirk fades, replaced by a flicker of panic as his gaze darts nervously around the room. He hates making a scene. Hates losing control in front of an audience.
He leans in closer, his voice low and sharp. “Go home, Kylie. Now. Before you embarrass yourself even more.”
I let out a bitter laugh, raising my voice just enough for everyone to hear. “Embarrass myself? You already did that for me, Alex.”
His face burns red. The crowd watches hungrily, loving the drama. Vultures circling their prey.
I watch as Alex’s expression changes into something else. Something reckless and impulsive. It’s a look I know all too well—the one he gets right before he does something stupid. Like the time he bought a restaurant just to impress one of his clients.
“I guess I don’t know you either, Kylie. But I can see now…you’re not cut out to be my wife.”
I stare at him, unable to breath.
I know he’s lashing out, trying to hurt me because he’s embarrassed. But his words strike at something raw inside me. A deep, fear that I was never enough. Never rich enough. Never smart enough. Never worthy enough for someone like him.
I open my mouth to speak, but words refuse to come.
“We’re over. Done,” he says, his tone final. “You’re fired too, effective immediately.”
He turns away from me, dismissing me like I’m nothing, and takes another drag from his cigar.
I finally find my voice. “Wait…what?”
Eliza sneers at me. “You heard what he said.”
For a moment, I’m sure I’m going to collapse right there on the floor. Because I can’t lose my job. There too much on the line.
Before I can catch my breath, he delivers a final blow.
“And I want you out of my place by morning.”
“But…where will I go?” I ask, my voice barely more than a whisper. It’s a desperate, pathetic question, but I’m too stunned to care.
I’ve given him everything. Our lives are completely intertwined. I moved across the country into his house. I stepped into his social circles. And I work for his family’s company—Worthington Enterprises.
Alex and I met when I was a broke flight attendant, struggling to make ends meet. He swept into my life like a hurricane and whisked me into a world of luxury like I never dreamed of. But outside of a few gifts, he’s never shared his wealth with me.
And that’s fine, because I never expected or wanted that. I’ve always been happy just to be with him, content to earn my own money and contribute in my own way.
But because of my mom’s health, I don’t have any savings. I’m barely scraping by. And I won’t be able to afford a place to start over.
He knows this. He knows how much I’ve been struggling, and still, he’s throwing me out like yesterday’s trash.
When he looks at me his eyes are cold and completely detached. “You’re a smart girl,” he says, almost mocking. “You’ll figure it out.”
I swallow hard, trying to hold back the tears burning behind my eyes. “But…my mom…I thought you were going to help me—”
He doesn’t even flinch. “I was going to help when we were married. She’s not my problem anymore.”
My stomach spins, and I struggle to breathe. I open my mouth, searching for something, anything to say, but I can’t find the words.
“I told you, stop making a scene,” Alex says, looking around. “LEAVE.”
Someone taps me from behind.
It’s Eliza, her lip curled with disgust.
“And stop spreading your germs,” she says, her voice dripping with disdain.
She shoves me—hard. Enough to send me stumbling back. My foot catches, and before I can steady myself, I fall and my head slams against the marble floor.
Pain explodes through my skull and humiliation claws at my chest.
Alex hesitates for a moment, and moves as if he’s about to stand. But then he just turns away, taking a slow drag from his cigar like he doesn’t even care.
Eliza leans down, her voice a cruel whisper. “Aww, poor you. But honestly, you should be thanking me. I’ve been keeping your man satisfied while you couldn’t.”
The words crush me like a final blow.
I get up and stumble out of the mansion, no idea what I’m going to do next.