Chapter 2
When I got back to the villa to pack my things, Madeline showed up.
She wore a white dress, her long hair draping over her shoulders. Her face was sickly pale, making her look vulnerable and fragile, like a delicate white flower trembling in the wind.
But I knew better. Beneath that innocent facade, this flower had teeth.
"Sorry, Charlotte," Madeline said softly.
She lingered at the doorway, making no move to come in. With a handkerchief pressed to her lips, she let out a couple of soft coughs. "Andrew only did it because he was worried about me. Please don't be mad at him."
I was stuffing the last piece of clothing into my suitcase when she spoke.
I straightened up and looked at her. "Ms. Summers, the room hasn't even been aired out yet. It's still saturated with my presence. Are you really so desperate to inhale whatever's left of me?"
Madeline's face stiffened, a flash of venom flickering in her eyes before she quickly masked it.
"Oh, Charlotte, you're being silly. I just came by to see if you needed any help," Madeline replied.
She took a few steps inside, her gaze sweeping over the room before finally landing on the photo of Andrew and me on the nightstand.
It was a picture from our wedding. We were standing far apart, both of us looking stiff and awkward.
"Oh, this photo." Madeline picked up the frame. Then, with a feigned gasp of clumsiness, she let it slip right through her fingers.
The cracks fractured Andrew's face into shards.
"Oops, sorry. Guess my hands are just too weak," Madeline said, her eyes glinting with a defiant challenge. "Charlotte, you don't mind, do you? After all, it's not like you'll be needing this photo anymore."
I looked at the broken glass scattered on the floor, and honestly, I felt nothing, just a strange, almost indifferent calm.
Back then, something like this would've had me shaking with anger. I'd argue with her, and Andrew would swoop in, calling me immature and accusing me of bullying the sick girl.
But now, I simply walked over and pressed my heel right onto the photo.
The pointed heel of my shoe crushed Andrew's face in the picture, grinding it in. "Yeah, not like I need it anymore," I said.
I shot Madeline a mocking smirk. "Trash should stay where it belongs, in the trash can. Since you're so fond of picking up garbage, Ms. Summers, I'll let you have it."
Madeline's face contorted in fury, completely blindsided by my comeback.
"And one more thing," I said, stepping closer, my gaze turning icy and fierce.
Madeline instinctively backed away, only to bump into the cabinet behind her.
"Only you, me, and God know the truth about that fire," I hissed, forcing every single word through gritted teeth.
"What do you think would happen if Edwin knew that his life-saving hero, the one he's been obsessed with, was actually an impostor, or even the one who started the fire?"
Madeline's eyes went wide with panic.
She looked at me, terrified, her whole body shaking.
"W-What are you even saying? You have no proof. Andrew would never believe you. He only trusts me," Madeline shot back.
"Is that so?" I smiled and let it drop.
I grabbed my suitcase and marched out, not looking back.
As I passed her, I shot her a cold parting line. "You've played that role for so long that you start believing your own lies. Let's see if you can keep pretending for the rest of your life."
As I stepped out of the villa, I tossed my set of keys into the fountain by the entrance.
Water splashed, sending ripples across the surface. It was done. But for me, this was just the beginning.
*****
The first thing I did after leaving Andrew wasn't to cry or hit the bottle. Instead, I started firing off resumes.
For the past three years, I kept my head down and stayed out of the spotlight, just to play the role of a perfect Mrs. Sterling. I even gave up a shot at a top architecture firm.
The genius designer who used to rack up awards had turned into a blurry shadow.
But now, that shadow was ready to step back into the light.
The company I joined was Evercrest Corporation.
It was the top dog in the business, and Sterling Group's fiercest enemy.
The one who interviewed me was Gabriel Sterling, the CEO of Evercrest Corporation.
He was the Sterling family's enigma and wild card, the most mysterious and unpredictable of them all.
He was Andrew's older cousin.
But those two couldn't stand each other. Andrew was the Sterling family's golden boy, the picture of integrity and grace, groomed to be the perfect heir.
Gabriel, on the other hand, was the exiled wolf, ruthless and cunning, fighting his way up overseas. When he came back, he took a third of Sterling Group's market share for himself.
*****
The CEO's office was spacious, the lighting dim.
Gabriel lounged in his oversized leather chair, absentmindedly twirling a lighter in his hand.
The flame danced, throwing shadows across his chiseled face, handsome, but with a hint of wickedness.
"Charlotte," Gabriel drawled, his voice deep and magnetic, laced with a playful edge. "Andrew's ex-wife. So, is this payback? You here for revenge?"
I stood calmly across from him, locking eyes without a hint of fear.
"Mr. Sterling, I'm here seeking a position. You can question my character if you like, but my expertise is beyond doubt," I replied.
I placed my design portfolio on the desk.
Inside were all the designs I'd been working on in secret for the past three years; every single one was groundbreaking enough to make waves in the industry.
Gabriel didn't even bother looking at the portfolio. Instead, he just stared straight at me.
His gaze felt almost tangible, tracing every inch of my face before finally landing on my collarbone.
There, the faint edge of a scar was just barely visible beneath my clothes.
"I heard you used to love him," Gabriel remarked out of the blue.
"That was then," I shot back, my voice firm. "Now, I only love money and winning."
"Who are you trying to beat?" Gabriel asked.
"Everyone who ever thought I wasn't good enough," I answered.
Gabriel smiled, then snapped the lighter shut with a crisp click.
The whole office seemed to tremble at the sound.
"Good," he said, rising to his feet. His tall frame loomed over me, casting a shadow that swallowed me whole.
The pressure he radiated was a hundred times stronger than anything I ever felt from Andrew.
"I'm giving you this chance. If you've got the guts, Evercrest will be your weapon," Gabriel said.
He moved in close, leaning down so his warm breath tickled my ear, with a dangerous, seductive edge.
"But let me tell you, Ms. Lane, being my weapon isn't for the faint of heart. Don't end up begging to run back to your ex," he murmured.
I stepped back, chin held high. "Relax, Mr. Sterling. I don't do second chances."