Chapter 4 · Betrayal on Our Fifth Year

Julia stood there, frozen, like she'd just been slapped across the face.

"What did you just say?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Divorce."

I said it again, making sure she heard every word.

"I'll have my lawyer draft the papers tomorrow. Don't worry about the assets. I'm not taking a single cent from Sunrise. All my shares will be transferred at market value. No strings attached," I said, my voice cold and final.

"Luke, are you out of your mind?" Julia cried.

Her voice was trembling.

"Do you even realize what you're saying? You think a divorce will just end everything? Your shares are the lifeblood of Sunrise. If you dump them, the company's finished! How can you be so heartless?" she shouted, her voice cracking with desperation.

"Heartless?" I echoed, my voice cold and mocking.

I picked up my car keys from the coffee table.

"Did you ever care if it hurt me when you were wrapped up in another man's arms?" I shot back, my voice cold and sharp.

I walked over to the entryway and changed my shoes.

"Where are you going?" Julia called out, her voice trembling with panic.

"I'm moving out. I can't stay in this house anymore," I said, my voice final, unyielding.

"Luke! Stop right there!" Julia shouted, her voice cracking with desperation.

Without looking back, I opened the door and walked out.

Julia's sobs and the crash of things breaking echoed behind me.

I shut the door behind me, and suddenly, everything was silent.

I drove to a hotel downtown and booked a suite.

Putting my phone on silent, I took a shower and lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

My phone had over forty missed calls and more than twenty new messages.

They were from Julia, Emma, and a few of the company's top executives.

I didn't reply to a single one.

At two in the morning, a text popped up from an unknown number.

Michael: Mr. Chandler, this is Michael Ford. I hope you can take a breath and give Ms. Summers a chance to explain. What happened today was honestly just a misunderstanding. If you're willing, I'd like to clear things up with you face to face.

I hit delete without hesitation.

Explain things face-to-face?

'Where was that urge to explain when your hand was on my wife's waist?' I sneered inwardly.

Chapter 4

Julia stood there, frozen, like she'd just been slapped across the face.

"What did you just say?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Divorce."

I said it again, making sure she heard every word.

"Luke, are you out of your mind?" Julia cried.

Her voice was trembling.

"Heartless?" I echoed, my voice cold and mocking.

I picked up my car keys from the coffee table.

"Did you ever care if it hurt me when you were wrapped up in another man's arms?" I shot back, my voice cold and sharp.

I walked over to the entryway and changed my shoes.

"Where are you going?" Julia called out, her voice trembling with panic.

"I'm moving out. I can't stay in this house anymore," I said, my voice final, unyielding.

"Luke! Stop right there!" Julia shouted, her voice cracking with desperation.

Without looking back, I opened the door and walked out.

Julia's sobs and the crash of things breaking echoed behind me.

I shut the door behind me, and suddenly, everything was silent.

I drove to a hotel downtown and booked a suite.

Putting my phone on silent, I took a shower and lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

My phone had over forty missed calls and more than twenty new messages.

They were from Julia, Emma, and a few of the company's top executives.

I didn't reply to a single one.

At two in the morning, a text popped up from an unknown number.

I hit delete without hesitation.

Explain things face-to-face?

'Where was that urge to explain when your hand was on my wife's waist?' I sneered inwardly.