Chapter 1
On Valentine’s Day in our seventh year of marriage, my husband never showed up not even by the time the sky restaurant I’d booked was closing for the night–And this was strike three.
Strike one: “Company’s at a critical growth phase, babe. Gotta pull an all–nighter.”
Strike two: “My assistant, Ivy’s cat went missing. I’m helping her look for it.”
And this time? He didn’t even bother with the act:
“Harley, paparazzi caught me and Ivy. Get down here to cover her!”
A sickeningly sweet voice chirped through the phone:
“Hey, don’t forget to use whitening cream everywhere before you come. I’m paler than you are. Otherwise the paparazzi will catch
on.”
Before long, his chief assistant delivered an outfit identical to Ivy’s.
In the past, I would have had a complete meltdown every time, crying and making a scene without caring about dignity.
But this time, I just calmly picked up the see–through mini dress and commented: “Jaxon’s taste just keeps getting trashier.”
As his assistant, stared in shock, I walked into the dressing room.
While changing, I called a number:
“Dash, I’m really done with him this time.”
“Give me three days to sort out my assets, then I’m investing in your Harley & Dash. Let’s conquer those overseas markets together!”
On the way to the press conference, I pulled up the paparazzi footage.
At the private Disneyland rental, Jaxon and the girl wore matching headbands while holding hands on rides.
Thirty drones dropped a cascade of rose petals as Jaxon played piano-“Wedding Dream.”
I smiled bitterly.
He’d learned that piece just to propose to me.
Back then, he wouldn’t let anyone else hear him play it.
Now I felt like the “anyone else“.
The assistant opened my car door. I pushed away my thoughts and walked into the press conference.
When Jaxon saw me, he hissed under his breath, clearly annoyed:
“About damn time. You scared the poor girl to tears–she’s only twenty. Can’t have people calling her a homewrecker!.
He yanked me onto the stage so hard my ankle slammed against the step, immediately swelling up
Jaxon frowned but said nothing.
Chapter 1
The reporters had been waiting forever and fired off questions.
I handled each one with picture–perfect smiles.
Jaxon threw in a few half–hearted comments here and there.
Under the camera flashes, everyone gawked at my see–through outfit. One reporter straight–up called my style “bold.“,
Jaxon, reeking of alcohol, said I looked innocent but had pulled all kinds of stunts to chase him back in the day.
He grabbed my hand and showed off my wedding ring to everyone.
“We’re absolutely not getting divorced! Harley’s crazy about me–she treasures that cheap $20 silver ring like it’s the Crown Jewels!
Looking at his face, I couldn’t match it with the boy in my memories.
When he proposed on one knee with that silver ring, he broke down crying before he could even get the words out.
I ended up pressing my forehead against his, laughing as I said yes and reaching for him to put it on my finger.
Thinking about it now, I closed my eyes, turned off the mic, and ended the conference.
Backstage, Ivy clasped her hands together in fake apology.
The massive pink diamond from today still sparkled on her ring finger as she tried to link arms with Jaxon.
I warned her stone–faced that reporters were still around–don’t cause more drama.
The girl’s eyes immediately welled up.
Jaxon’s face went cold: “Harley, take a good look in the mirror! You’re pushing thirty–quit giving the kid a hard time!”
The cold wind dried the tears at the corners of my eyes.
Jaxon was still the same–he couldn’t stand anyone saying a harsh word to whoever held his heart.
The year I got my license, some road–rage psycho cornered and screamed at me.
When Jaxon found out, he called up twenty–something guys and they tailed that man for a month.
It only ended when the guy broke down crying and apologized to me.
But now I wasn’t the one who held his heart anymore.
I took off the matching headband and put it back on Ivy’s head.
Jaxon looked stunned.
He opened his mouth like he wanted to explain something.
But seeing how calm I was–no fighting, no drama–he just said: “I didn’t know they were matching.*
I didn’t call out his lie.
What was the point of explanations now?
