1 The Winston Group's grand anniversary gala was crawling with the city's elite. The charismatic emcee enthusiastically invited Dominic, the CEO, and his quote-unquote "most vital partner" to pour the ceremonial champagne tower. I stood right beside him, watching his gaze soften as he turned to the woman in the pristine white gown. Under the blinding spotlight, he extended his hand to Jasmine. "Jasmine, you have worked relentlessly these past few months. This honor belongs to you." In my past life, this was the exact moment I played my desperate trump card. I used the tiny, newly discovered life growing in my womb and the guarantee of securing the massive Henderson account to pathetically claw back my place at his side. I thought I had won. Right up until the eve of my delivery, when Dominic paraded a heavily pregnant Jasmine into the Winston family estate and threw a divorce settlement in my face. That was when the delusion shattered. I was never a wife to him. I was a stepping stone, a tool to solidify his corporate empire, meant to be discarded the second my usefulness expired. But I had been given a second chance. And this time, I refused to play their twisted game. ... I watched with dead eyes as Jasmine linked her arm through Dominic's. Together, they walked toward the shimmering champagne tower that symbolized the Winston Group's crowning glory. Under the brilliant lights, they looked like the perfect power couple. I quietly took a step back into the shadows. Pulling out my phone, I deleted the ultrasound report I had queued up to send him. The ceremony concluded to thunderous applause. Jasmine approached me with a crystal flute of champagne in hand. Her tone dripped with fake apology, but her eyes were gleaming with triumph. "Mrs. Winston, I am so sorry. By all rights, it should have been you up there with the CEO." Dominic strolled over, his expression utterly indifferent. "Valerie, tonight is a critical night for the corporation. Focus on the bigger picture and stop throwing a tantrum. Jasmine has sacrificed a lot for this company. Bringing her on stage shows the employees that leadership values their hard work." I looked at him, a faint, icy smile touching my lips. "Am I throwing a tantrum? Miss Jasmine, did I demand an apology from you? You are awfully eager to paint me as the villain. It feels a bit like moral kidnapping, don't you think?" The smug smile on Jasmine's face instantly froze. Dominic's brow furrowed into a sharp V. "Valerie, watch your tone. Jasmine was just trying to be polite." "Then I thank Miss Jasmine for her overwhelming politeness." I cut him off, my voice dropping to a freezing temperature. "Dominic, Mr. Henderson just arrived." Jasmine chimed in with her sickeningly sweet voice, smoothly wrapping her hands around Dominic's arm again. "Shall I accompany you to greet him?" Dominic nodded, not even looking at me. "Valerie, come with us. It is a good opportunity for you to socialize with Mrs. Henderson." Looking at the two of them made my stomach churn with physical revulsion. "No thanks. I am not feeling well. I am going home." Dominic's voice turned incredibly harsh. "Valerie, do not make a scene at an event like this." Jasmine's face scrunched into a mask of exaggerated concern. "Mrs. Winston, tonight is so important. If you leave now and force Dominic to handle the investors all alone, it will look terrible to the board." I looked at her and let out a genuine laugh. "With such a capable partner by his side, I am sure the CEO will succeed in whatever he attempts tonight." Dominic's face turned livid. He let out a cold scoff, refused to look at me a second longer, and turned on his heel, taking Jasmine with him. Watching their retreating figures, the very last agonizing thread of my lingering attachment from my past life dissolved into nothing. "Valerie, it has been years, but you certainly have changed." A deep, teasing voice drifted from the shadows beside me. I turned around, momentarily stunned. The man leaning against the marble pillar wore an impeccably tailored dark suit. He had forgone a tie, and the top button of his dress shirt was casually undone. There was a lazy, predatory grace about him. I had no idea how long he had been watching. "What? Forgotten me already?" "Gabriel." I breathed his name. Gabriel chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Becoming Mrs. Winston has certainly transformed you. You are so incredibly... tolerant." I suppressed a wave of nausea from my early pregnancy and frowned slightly. "Since when do you enjoy eavesdropping, Gabriel?" A spark of interest flashed in his eyes. He raised an eyebrow and took a slow step forward, closing the distance between us. "Eavesdropping is never quite as thrilling as... stealing someone away. Wouldn't you agree, Mrs. Winston?" 2 A small, genuine smile bloomed on my face. "You always did have a twisted sense of humor." Gabriel laughed softly. "Maybe. But the fiery little girl who used to drop caterpillars down my shirt would never have swallowed an insult like that." I froze. The memories came rushing back in a tidal wave. When we were kids, Gabriel and I were neighbors. He was the quintessential heir to a massive dynasty, always perfectly groomed and aloof. I was the neighborhood terror. None of the other kids wanted to play with me. Only Gabriel. He never got mad at my endless pranks. Even when I pushed him into the mud, he would just sit there, looking up at me with that same easy, indulgent smile. That all ended in high school when his family's empire collapsed. They moved out of the estate in the dead of night, and I never saw Gabriel again. I couldn't help but tease him back. "You have a surprisingly good memory." Gabriel smiled, his gaze softening as he studied my pale face. "You look terrible. Do you want me to give you a ride home?" Before I could answer, Dominic's voice sliced through the air like a whip. "Valerie, what the hell are you doing?" I turned to look at my husband, my expression completely blank. Dominic's face was clouded with dark, stormy anger. "Aren't you going to explain yourself?" "Explain what?" I asked, my tone flat. Gabriel took his time smoothing out his immaculate cuffs. "Valerie isn't feeling well. I was just offering her a ride home. Don't overthink it, Dominic. Valerie and I go way back. We were close long before she even knew your name." Dominic's jaw clenched. He fought to keep his rage in check as he issued an order. "Go wait for me in the VIP lounge. We will leave together when the gala ends." The old me would have instantly submitted. But now... "There is no need. Focus on the bigger picture. Go entertain your guests, Dominic." Minutes later, I was standing outside the hotel. A heavy suit jacket, still retaining a man's body heat, settled over my shoulders. Gabriel stood behind me, wearing only his dress shirt in the cool night air. "My car is right here." I pulled the lapels of the jacket tighter around myself. I didn't refuse. "Thank you, Gabriel." "You were never this polite when we were kids." I made it back to the empty mansion. The second I stepped through the grand double doors, my best friend Sienna called. "Valerie, have you seen the trending topics? Are you okay?" I pulled up the social media app. [Winston Group CEO Dominic Caught on Midnight Rendezvous with Innocent Beauty. Intimate Hotel Lobby Photos Inside.] [Dominic's New Flame Revealed. Billionaire Protects Mystery Woman from Paparazzi.] [High Society Fairy Tale Shattered? Divorce Rumors Swirl Around Valerie.] Beneath the glaring, sensationalized headlines were high-definition photos of Dominic and Jasmine. The angles were undeniably intimate. The relaxed, genuinely affectionate smile on his face was blindingly painful to look at. I used to think he was just naturally cold. I spent years agonizing, wondering if I just wasn't good enough, warm enough, or perfect enough to melt his icy exterior. Now I knew the truth. His coldness was reserved exclusively for me. Sienna's voice shifted from frantic worry to absolute fury. "Valerie, I am losing my mind! What kind of sick marriage is this? I don't understand why you put up with it. What are you even getting out of this?" "Sienna." I cut her off softly. My voice was eerily calm. "Don't worry. I am done putting up with it." There was dead silence on the other end of the line. She clearly hadn't expected me to sound so detached. "Are you serious?" Once upon a time, I was naive enough to believe I had struck gold. I thought I had actually married for love within the ruthless world of corporate matchmaking. I abandoned my own career aspirations. I chipped away at my own personality to mold myself into the perfect accessory he required. He didn't want me interfering with the company's daily operations. Instead, he needed me to navigate the treacherous, venomous social circles of the city's elite wives, spinning a massive, unbreakable web of connections for his benefit. For three years. I sat through agonizingly boring symphonies with Mrs. Kensington, just so she would whisper sweet things about the Winston Group into her husband's ear. I swallowed my pride and catered to Mrs. Henderson's volatile temper, securing her husband's crucial vote during the board's most vicious proxy war. I memorized the exact birth dates, allergies, and obscure hobbies of every single socialite and heiress in the city. I delivered flawless gifts and defused countless potential PR disasters before they even sparked. I conquered high society. Everyone praised Valerie as the most elegant, capable wife a billionaire could ask for. 3 Every time I saw Dominic on the financial news, celebrating a newly acquired monopoly and watching his net worth skyrocket, I convinced myself my sacrifices were worth it. I loved him. I was willing to be the invisible woman pulling the strings in the dark. But now... I was utterly repulsed by the thought. A heavy thud echoed from the foyer downstairs. I reassured Sienna and hung up the phone. Dominic was home. Reeking of expensive scotch, he stumbled into the living room, his brow furrowed. He didn't even notice I wasn't waiting at the door to take his coat. He violently yanked his silk tie loose, collapsed into the imported leather sofa, and let his head fall back, rubbing his temples with his eyes squeezed shut. I stood at the top of the sweeping staircase, staring down at him with arctic indifference. "Valerie, get me some water." He gave the order out of sheer, arrogant habit. I didn't move a muscle. When no glass of water magically appeared, he opened his bloodshot eyes and glared up at me. The crease between his eyebrows deepened. "Valerie, did you not hear me?" I remained perfectly still. Dominic sighed, as if my very existence was a monumental burden. The accusations started spilling out of his mouth. "What was that little stunt you pulled tonight? Leaving the gala without a word? Mrs. Henderson finally graced us with her presence, and instead of acting like a proper hostess, you vanish. Do you have any idea how hard I had to work to do damage control? If the Henderson project falls through because of your petty jealousy, do you know how many millions the company will lose?" Listening to his self-righteous, arrogant rambling, I suddenly wanted to laugh. He knew exactly what I was worth. He knew exactly how much power my social maneuvering gave him. But in his eyes, my blood, sweat, and humiliation were nothing but my basic marital duty. Looking at his flushed, intoxicated face, the horrific memories of my past life flashed before my eyes. The image of him kicking me out into the freezing rain while Jasmine leaned against his chest, rubbing her swollen belly with a victorious smirk. A dark, chilling laugh escaped my throat. Dominic's ranting ground to a halt. He stared at me in genuine shock. "What the hell is so funny?" I stopped laughing. I slowly descended the stairs until I was standing directly in front of him. My eyes were stripped of the blind devotion and the suffocating tolerance of the past. There wasn't even any disappointment left. Just an icy, hollow void. "Dominic, you are terrified the project will fail? Terrified the company will lose money?" I leaned down, forcing him to meet my gaze. "But did you ever stop to worry about how your wife... how I... would feel seeing my husband plastered all over the internet with another woman? Did you ever wonder if it would break my heart? If it would completely shatter my faith in you?" Dominic froze. A flicker of guilt flashed in his eyes, but it was instantly swallowed by defensive rage. "The media is just making things up to get clicks. Since when have you been so incredibly irrational? You are actually taking cheap tabloid gossip seriously?" "Making things up?" A bitter sneer twisted my lips. "A CEO and his secretary. Even if you are closely aligned, it is just a working relationship. Does work require you to hold her like she is the most precious thing in the world? You have played me for a fool for three years, Dominic. Don't insult my intelligence." "For three years, I have debased myself, playing court jester to those arrogant wives. Without me, there is no Henderson project. Without me, you never would have gotten the Kensington board votes. Without me, Commissioner Davis would have shut down your zoning permits." "You sit on your throne, reaping all the rewards, and then you stand on stage and give all the glory and respect to your little secretary." I took a deep, steadying breath, suppressing the violent urge to scream. "Dominic, the free ride is officially over." He was stunned into silence. It took him a long moment to clumsily rise to his feet. His voice was laced with dark warning. "Valerie, tonight was messy. I admit that. The PR department will scrub the internet by morning. Once the Henderson contract is signed, I will buy you whatever you want. Just drop it." 'Whatever you want.' That empty promise had kept me leashed to him for years. I didn't need it anymore. From now on, whatever I wanted, I would take with my own two hands. "Keep your money, Dominic. I want a divorce."
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