Chapter 2

The next morning, Victor sat up in bed, clutching his pounding head. He looked at me, still fully dressed, and a flash of surprise and irritation flitted through his eyes.

'What the hell? Was that stuff a dud? I just knocked out last night!

'Dammit, lucky bitch. I guess she gets to live one more day.'

I walked over with a glass of water, my face a mask of concern. "Victor, you're awake. You had a bit to drink last night and passed out like a light. Have you been overworking yourself lately?"

I laid it on thick with the "had a drink" excuse, giving him a perfect out.

He took the bait immediately, rubbing his temples and looking worn out. "Yeah, things have been crazy at the office lately. The stress is really getting to me."

As he talked, he kept sneaking glances at me, like he was checking if I was acting weird.

'She's as clueless as ever. Looks like she didn't notice a thing.

'The plan stays the same. I'll make my move by the stairs today. Just one little shove... and I'll be rolling in billions.'

His inner thoughts were like a bucket of ice water, dousing the very last spark of hesitation in my heart.

I acted like I didn't see the murderous glint in his eyes and turned toward the walk-in closet to pick out a tie for him.

"By the way, Victor," I said, my back to him, keeping my voice light and casual. "What do you think about notarizing the company shares I mentioned yesterday?"

Behind me, he put on a show of being taken aback. "Charlie, why are you still dwelling on that? I told you, I don't want them."

'Hell yes! I want them so bad I can taste it.

'I've got to get my hands on those before she kicks the bucket, or something might go sideways.'

I turned around and handed him a royal blue tie, giving him a stubborn look that said, "If you don't take this, you don't love me."

"No, you have to take them. It's a gift from the heart," I pouted slightly. "If you refuse, it means you don't love me anymore. In that case, I'm skipping work today."

This was my signature act in my previous life, playing cute and acting all clingy, and Victor could never resist it.

As expected, he let out a "helpless" sigh and playfully tweaked my nose. "Alright, have it your way. You win, my little queen. Just don't be mad at me."

'Perfect! This idiot is practically putting her own head in the noose.

'Once she signs, she's as good as dead.'

Inside, he was laughing his head off, but I caught the flash of greed and urgency in his eyes.

During breakfast, my phone buzzed. It was an email from Warren, my private investigator.

I opened it, and a flood of stomach-turning photos filled the screen. There were Victor and Sophie, kissing and groping in every imaginable place, some even taken right on the mattress I shared with Victor.

One shot showed Sophie with a baby bump, while Victor beamed, cradling her stomach with a look of pure bliss.

Finally, there was Adam's birth certificate. It said the father was Victor, the mother was Sophie, and the date was five years ago.

At that time, we had only been married for two years.

The man who swore he loved me, the man who said he didn't want kids for my sake, had already had a child behind my back for years.

My knuckles turned white as I gripped my phone tight, my nails digging deep into my palms.

"Charlie, what's wrong? Who texted you?" Victor asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

'Did her family catch wind of something? No, her parents have been retired abroad for ages, and they left her in full control of the company.

'Doesn't matter. Once she signs, nobody can do a damn thing about it.'

I tucked my phone away and flashed him a radiant smile. "Nothing important, just some spam. Eat up. We need to head to the office and sign that share transfer agreement."

I made sure to lean into the word "transfer."

The glint in Victor's eyes grew even brighter.