Chapter 3

"Divorce?" Caleb echoed, his voice dropping into an unsettling calm. "What are you talking about? Who were you on the phone with?"

A surge of panic shot through me.

Had he overheard enough? Did he catch me mentioning the money? The transfers?

I swallowed hard and forced myself to break down instead of freeze.

"You humiliated me," I cried, my voice cracking as fresh tears spilled down my cheeks. "At the hospital... in front of everyone. You acted like losing our baby was my fault. You called me incompetent. You told me I wasn't fit to be a mother."

His expression softened instantly as he moved closer.

"Natalie, sweetheart..." he murmured. "I wasn't thinking straight. I was grieving too."

"So your way of grieving was to blame me?"

"I'm sorry." Without hesitation, he lowered himself onto one knee in front of me. Those familiar blue eyes shimmered with carefully restrained tears, the same eyes that had convinced me for years that he loved me. Looking at him now, I recognized the performance for what it was. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I love you. I was devastated and I lashed out. Please don't leave me. Not after everything that's happened. We need each other now more than ever."

I stared down at him.

At first glance, he looked desperate.

But I knew better.

He wasn't afraid of losing me.

He was terrified of losing everything my name and fortune gave him.

"You broke my heart, Caleb," I said quietly.

"I know I did." He took both of my hands and pressed gentle kisses across my knuckles. "Let me make this right. I'll spend every day proving how sorry I am. Please don't throw away our marriage because of one horrible mistake. Let me take care of you."

I lowered my gaze, pretending to consider his plea.

"...All right."

Hope flashed across his face.

"I can't pretend everything is okay," I continued softly, "but I don't want to be by myself tonight."

"You won't be." Relief flooded his features as he stood and wrapped me tightly in his arms. His embrace felt less comforting than possessive. "I'll stay with you. Better yet, let's leave the house for a while. Just the two of us. We'll have dinner somewhere nice and talk through everything."

I rested my head against his chest and gave a small nod.

"...Okay."

He smiled.

"So you forgive me?"

"For now."

The tension visibly drained from his shoulders.

"That's my girl." He brushed a strand of hair away from my face before flashing the charming smile that had once made my heart race. "Go change. I'll book us a table at Le Jardin. I know it's your favorite."

Before turning away, I searched his face.

"Caleb..."

"Yes?"

"Do you really love me?"

He didn't hesitate for even a second.

"More than anyone or anything."

The lie rolled off his tongue effortlessly.

I forced myself to smile back.

"Then I'll get ready."

He kissed my forehead with practiced tenderness before leaving the bedroom.

The instant the door clicked shut, every trace of warmth disappeared from my face.

When I came downstairs a short while later, Chelsea was already waiting in the foyer.

The moment she spotted me, she hurried over and wrapped me in an embrace.

"Natalie!" she exclaimed. "Caleb told me what happened. I was so worried about you. Are you holding up okay?"

My body went rigid.

Her perfume surrounded me.

It was the exact fragrance I'd been smelling on Caleb's clothes for months, though I'd never questioned it before.

"I'm managing," I replied, gently easing out of her embrace. "Just exhausted."

She dabbed theatrically at the corner of one eye.

"Try not to be too hard on Caleb," she said softly. "He's devastated too. He loves you so much. Men don't always know how to express grief the right way."

Every instinct inside me screamed to slap her.

Instead, I nodded.

"I know."

"We're going out to dinner to talk."

Then an idea struck me.

A cruel one.

"Actually..." I smiled faintly. "Why don't you come with us?"

She looked genuinely surprised.

"Me? No, Natalie. This should be your night together."

"I'd really like you there," I insisted, taking her hand. "You'll help keep things from getting emotional. Besides, Caleb always enjoys your company."

A flicker of satisfaction crossed her face before she quickly hid it.

"If you're certain..."

"I am."

"Then I'd be happy to come."

Dinner was nothing more than an elaborate performance.

Caleb sat beside me in a secluded booth, one hand resting possessively on my leg beneath the table.

Across from us, Chelsea quietly sipped her wine while watching every interaction between us.

I gave them exactly what neither of them expected.

I leaned against Caleb's shoulder.

I laughed at every joke he told.

I offered him bites from my dessert.

At one point I even leaned over to kiss his cheek, whispering that I loved him.

Each display of affection chipped away at Chelsea's composure.

Her smile grew tighter.

Her fingers curled harder around the stem of her wineglass.

She couldn't hide the jealousy burning in her eyes.

Eventually she pushed back her chair.

"I'm going to freshen up," she announced.

"I'll come too," I replied immediately.

She glanced at me in surprise before walking toward the ladies' room.

The restroom was empty.

As soon as the door swung shut behind us, Chelsea turned sharply.

"What are you doing?" she demanded. "You're making a spectacle of yourself."

I folded my arms.

"How exactly?"

"The constant touching, the flirting..." she scoffed. "You're practically sitting in his lap. It's embarrassing."

I leaned casually against the counter.

"He's my husband. Am I not allowed to show him affection?"

She folded her arms.

"Don't play innocent. Less than an hour ago you were talking about leaving him. Now you're acting like the perfect wife."

"I'm trying to save my marriage."

She laughed bitterly.

"Please. It's obvious."

"I love Caleb."

"He doesn't need this."

"He needs me."

Chelsea's expression darkened.

"He feels sorry for you," she snapped. "That's all."

I stepped closer until only a few inches separated us.

"Is that what you've convinced yourself?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I think you're jealous."

Her eyes widened.

"Excuse me?"

"You've envied me for years," I said evenly. "The house. My clothes. My life."

She opened her mouth, but I didn't let her interrupt.

"And now you're jealous because I have a husband."

"I'm your best friend!" she shouted. "I'm trying to help you!"

"My best friend?" I let out a quiet laugh.

"No."

"You're a parasite."

Her face drained of color.

"You've lived comfortably because I've always opened my home, my wallet, and my life to you. Honestly, Chelsea, I'm tired of carrying you."

Her eyes filled instantly.

"How can you say that after everything I've done?"

"Everything you've done?" I repeated. "You mean living in my guesthouse without paying rent? Helping yourself to my clothes? Eating my food? Living off my generosity?"

This time her tears were real.

Without another word, she grabbed the door handle and stormed out.

I counted to three, checked my reflection in the mirror, and calmly followed.

Back in the dining room, Chelsea was already collecting her purse while Caleb stood beside the table looking completely bewildered.

"What happened?" he demanded the second he saw me. "Why are you attacking your best friend after everything you've been through today?"

I calmly returned to my seat and lifted my wineglass.

After taking a slow sip, I answered.

"Because I've decided I don't want toxic people in my life anymore."

Caleb frowned.

"What does that even mean?"

"It means she's fired."

The words landed like a bomb.

His face went blank.

"...What?"

"I've tolerated too many mistakes from her at work," I replied. "The public relations department has been a mess for months. I've been considering replacing her for a while. Tonight simply made the decision easier."

"You can't be serious," Caleb protested.

"I've never been more serious."

"But she's practically family."

"No."

I set my glass down with deliberate care.

"She's an employee."

I met Chelsea's tear-filled eyes without a trace of sympathy.

"And as of this moment, she's unemployed."