Chapter 2

Lucas was entertaining clients late into the night.

Because I was a light sleeper, he chose to sleep in the guest room so he wouldn't disturb me.

What he didn't know was that I'd already moved out of the villa overnight.

There were some things I needed to take some time to clear my head and reconsider.

Before seven in the morning, my phone buzzed. Lucas's anxious voice came through the line. "Natalie, where are you?"

"I'm back at the Weston Manor," I replied.

Lucas sounded a bit flustered. "Why'd you go back all of a sudden?"

"I just want to spend more time with Edwin before the wedding."

"Alright, that's probably for the best," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of relief.

"Lucas."

"Yeah?"

"Is there anything you want to tell me about Chloe?"

Lucas considered it seriously for a moment. "Yeah, there is."

I couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope.

But all he said was, "Chloe's on vacation right now, so I'll be swamped with work. Don't forget to miss me, and make sure you take care of yourself."

*****

On the day of the wedding dress fitting, Lucas had an important engagement come up at the last minute and couldn't make it.

That was exactly what I expected, so I'd already arranged for Chloe to join me. She brought her sister Lily along.

"Sorry, Ms. Wynn. My sister gets out of school at four, so I picked her up on the way," Chloe explained.

Lily peeked out from behind Chloe, her little head popping out as she looked up at me with wide, curious eyes.

"It's fine," I said, crouching down and handing Lily a doll. "I heard today's your birthday. Happy birthday!"

Lily accepted it happily. "Thank you, Ms. Wynn. You're so pretty."

"I hope having your sister here today didn't mess up your birthday plans."

Lily's face brightened, her smile pure and genuine, like she'd just remembered something even better. "Not at all. My future brother-in-law is really busy and is only free at night. I want to wait and celebrate my birthday with him."

"Lily!" Chloe interrupted her. "Go play over there, okay? I've got stuff to do."

"Looks like your admirer is a corporate elite, just like Lucas," I said.

Chloe smiled, changing the subject. "Ms. Wynn, let me help you choose a wedding dress."

She selected an asymmetrical strapless gown from the rows of dresses. "Ms. Wynn, why not give this one a try?"

"It's not really my style," I said.

"Would it be okay if I tried it on?"

I nodded.

While Chloe was trying on the dress, Lily came running over with her little camera, eager to take a picture of me.

After she snapped the photo, she proudly showed it to me, along with some of her older shots.

She pointed at a side profile. "Ms. Wynn, look. This is my future brother-in-law. Isn't he really handsome?"

It was Lucas.

In the photo, he was turned to the side, gazing at Chloe, his eyes full of affection.

I'd always suspected there was something between them, but seeing it for myself made my heart clench painfully.

My voice came out rough as I asked, "Can I look through the album again?"

Lily handed it to me without a second thought.

The photos were all a bit blurry and out of focus, but they were enough to piece together the story of Lucas's pursuit of Chloe.

Suddenly, all those little details I'd overlooked before came rushing back to me like a tidal wave.

It all made sense now why Lucas had been traveling for work so often these past six months.

He was using those business trips as an excuse to take Chloe and Lily to family hotels all over the place.

Every day at four, he'd disappear because he was with Chloe, picking up Lily, not wanting anyone to bother them.

There were also receipts for toys in his pocket, and a children's hospital patient card in the glove compartment.

He explained it to me without batting an eye. "I've got this really demanding client, and I have to be at his beck and call for everything."

When I snapped back to reality, Chloe was walking over, holding up her dress. "Ms. Wynn, what do you think?"

As she spoke, her fingers lingered, almost unconsciously, over her collarbone, stopping at a faint mark. It was a hickey.

Lucas always left his mark there every time he had sex.

I swallowed down the nausea rising in my throat and forced a smile. "It looks great on you, Chloe. I wonder when you'll be getting married. Don't forget to invite me and Lucas, okay?"

Chloe's face went pale for a second.

She knew Lucas could give her anything except a wedding and an official status as his partner.

Honestly, I felt sorry for her, but she also made me angry.

She was willing to be a side piece for a man. But I refused to be some miserable woman wallowing in self-pity.

"Chloe, go ahead and try on other dresses. If you find one you like, Lucas will pay for it," I said.

After saying that, I turned and left indifferently.

Just as I was pulling out of the parking lot, I realized I'd left my watch at the store, so I had no choice but to turn around and head back.

The lights were still on, but no one was around.

I walked quietly, and as I rounded the corner, I heard some noise coming from the reception area.

"Chloe, you look breathtaking in that wedding dress," Lucas murmured, pulling her into his arms and holding her so close that it was as if he wanted to fuse her into his very bones.

Chloe gently pushed him away. "Mr. Weston, what if someone sees us?"

"I made sure everyone's gone. It's just the two of us now."

His voice grew low and hazy, and then, with the sound of the door clicking shut, they disappeared into the fitting room together.

After they made love, Lucas was still breathing heavily as he asked, "Are you sure Natalie noticed something was wrong?"

"Lily said she showed Ms. Wynn the photos on her camera. She's probably realized what's going on between us," Chloe replied.

Lucas fell silent for a moment. "I hope she'll break off the engagement herself. That way, it'll be easy for me to give an explanation to Grandpa."

Chloe said, "Wouldn't she stir things up with the Westons?"

"She's just an orphan with no one backing her up. Even if she kicks up a fuss, it won't amount to anything."

"Sometimes I really do envy Ms. Wynn. If only I'd met you a little earlier, Lucas."

"Aw, is my sweetheart getting jealous?" Lucas teased, giving her waist a playful squeeze and making her giggle.

My whole body was shaking.

Lucas's grandpa, Edwin, and my grandpa were old friends.

After my grandpa passed away, I moved in with the Weston family.

Lucas and I spent every day together, and we fell for each other. Eventually, we got engaged.

Edwin told us straight up that I'd always be the only one he'd accept as Lucas's wife. "If Lucas ever hurts you, he can say goodbye to Weston Group."

I never planned to hold that over Lucas's head.

Even after I realized he was in love with Chloe, all I wanted was for us to walk away from each other. I wasn't about to waste my time on someone who didn't deserve me.

But now, I'd changed my mind.

I dialed an international number. "It's time for you to go back to the Weston family."

"Okay," the voice answered.