Chapter 2

I stared at Juan, the light in his eyes slowly dying out, leaving nothing but cold emptiness.

"My biggest regret isn't climbing into your bed at eighteen.

"It's wasting ten years being blind, treating an ungrateful bastard like you as my whole damn world."

When I finished, I didn't bother looking at his face, now ashen with rage.

I ignored the shocked gasps rippling through the crowd.

I gathered up my champagne-soaked dress, turned around, and walked out of the birthday party I'd painstakingly arranged, now nothing but a stage for my humiliation.

My back was straight and proud.

Behind me were the ruins of ten years of my youth.

I didn't go home.

Now, in the home Juan and I had shared for five years, all I could picture was that damn pregnancy test sitting on the nightstand.

I got myself a room at a hotel downtown.

Hot water rained down as I leaned against the cold tiles, slowly sliding to the floor.

It was over.

Kaia, you fool. It was time to wake up.

I didn't cry.

The tears I shed in the party hall had drained away every last feeling of love I once had.

All that remained was a cold, lifeless wasteland inside me.

My phone was buzzing like crazy inside the waterproof pouch.

I picked it up and saw the caller ID light up with one word: "Mom."

It was Juan's mom.

I swiped to answer, but didn't say a word.

Her voice came through, sharp and full of accusation. "Kaia! Have you got any sense of decency? Do you even realize what kind of event this is? You embarrassed Juan in front of everyone. What are you trying to pull?

"Have we ever wronged you? Why would you humiliate our family like this?

"Let me tell you, men messing around outside is just part of life. As his wife, you should learn to be more tolerant! Look at you, acting like some crazy shrew. What man could stand that?"

I just sat there, listening quietly, numb to it all.

For years, I'd heard these same words over and over.

Whenever Juan and I argued, she'd always side with him, calling me childish and saying I wasn't generous enough.

Back then, because I loved Juan, I'd put up with it, even humble myself and apologize.

But now, not anymore.

"Are you done?" My voice was dead calm, cold as ice.

Her yelling stopped dead. She clearly hadn't expected me to react like this.

"What-what kind of attitude is this?"

"My attitude is," I said, enunciating every word, "Keep your son in line and tell him to get ready to receive my lawyer's letter.

"And don't call me again.

"After all, you'll soon have a new daughter-in-law, one who's more sensible, more generous, and a better match for your son."

After I finished speaking, I didn't give her a chance to react. I hung up and blocked her number without hesitation.

The world finally felt quiet.

I walked out of the bathroom and caught sight of my own miserable reflection in the mirror.

My hair was soaked, my eyes swollen and red, my lips pale as paper.

All I could see was the foolishness of wasting ten years on the wrong man, written all over my face.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I'd kept buried for years.

The phone rang three times before someone picked up.

"Hello?"

A calm male voice answered, tinged with uncertainty.

"Mr. Sloan," I said, my voice rough, "It's me, Kaia."

There was a brief silence, then a soft sigh. "I've been waiting for this call."

Otis Sloan was my senior in college, a legend in the law school back then. When I gave up my guaranteed spot for postgraduate studies, he was the only one who told me to think twice.

He said, "Kaia, a woman's worth shouldn't depend on any man."

I didn't listen back then.

Now, ten years of my life was the price I paid to prove he was right.

"I want a divorce," I said into the phone, my voice cold and steady.

"And I want Juan ruined. I want his name dragged through the mud."

Early in the morning, I scheduled a meeting with Otis at his office.

The hangover and a night without sleep made my head feel like it was splitting open, but my mind had never been so crystal clear.

"Kaia, are you really sure about this?" Otis slid a glass of warm water across the table to me. "Once you file the lawsuit, there's no going back."

I picked up the glass, feeling the warmth spread through my fingers.

"I'm sure.

"I have three demands.

"First, I want a divorce.

"Second, I want back what belongs to me. I want half of the shares in 'Apocalypse' Tech.

"Third, I want him to pay for cheating on me."

Otis's face grew serious. "The second point is going to be tough. You two didn't sign a prenup, and even though the company was founded after you got married, all the shares are registered in Juan's name. Legally, proving your contribution will be difficult."

"I can prove it," I said.