Chapter 2
"If you don't toss it, you're gonna burn your fingers." Stella's voice snapped me back to reality.
I stubbed out my cigarette and saw Edward's car coming into view at the end of the street.
Stella waved me off. "That guy's a total jinx. Bumping into him is a guaranteed disaster. I'm leaving before whatever he's got spreads to me."
The automatic door slid open, and Edward stepped out, looking every bit the aloof, high-class guy in his sharp suit.
From the moment I got in, Edward closed his eyes, acting like I wasn't even there.
I figured if his mother, Eleanor, hadn't called him to drag me along to face the family together, he wouldn't have cared where I was at all.
After all, I'd been running around for the play all year, and he never once called or even asked how I was doing.
I leaned back in my seat and opened up social media. My notifications were blowing up, the screen flooded with numerous alerts.
Over the years, Edward's lovers came and went, including random models, internet celebrities, and even A-list actresses. His affairs were always splashed across the front page.
And I, as his wife, was always in the spotlight. In their eyes, I cared about my reputation, so no matter what happened, I kept up appearances for the sake of our marriage.
The same drama played out over and over, and the public's outrage had worn off, giving way to outright mockery.
My comments section was blowing up.
[Let's take bets on Mrs. Shaw's cover-up this time. Just a casual hangout? Just a friendly hug? You know how it goes.]
[Gotta hand it to her. Marrying rich really means putting up with anything. Give it an hour, and she'll post some weak denial.]
[A gold-digger who hit the jackpot? Yeah, right, she's never leaving that money.]
Some folks online even whipped up my latest PR statement for me. Every single line sounded exactly like me talking.
Looking at all that, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Edward heard me laughing and gave me a frown.
Before he could get a word out, his phone buzzed. I could hear Chloe's voice, crystal clear on the line. "Eddie, will you come home tonight?"
Of course, she meant the home Edward built for her.
"Be good. I can't make it tonight." Edward tried to soothe her. "That jewelry set you loved is already on its way to you."
After the call ended, Edward glanced at me, watching as I typed with focus.
"If you don't want to put out a statement, then don't bother," he said.
He assumed I was drafting a statement for the latest scandal, but my eyes lingered on the word "divorce" in my notes before I locked my phone.
I searched his face, hoping to find some remnant of the love he once had. What stared back was nothing but cool, polished detachment.
"Chloe, huh? It's obvious you've really fallen for her, haven't you?" I asked him.
The first time I heard her name was from those tabloid blogs, always hungry for drama. One of the headlines read: [Can Edward Shaw's Latest, Chloe Lane, Win the Ultimate Jackpot and Become His Wife?]
After two years with Edward, Chloe had completely reinvented herself. He poured endless resources into her, and she shot up the ranks, step by step.
He rested his hands on his knees, gave me a frosty glance, and then turned to stare out the window. "Me and her? That's none of your business."
Realizing I'd stepped on his sore spot, I kept my mouth shut.
At first, the very first time Edward messed up in our marriage, he'd apologized, acted all sorry, and tried to win me back with fancy gifts. He'd really pulled out all the stops just to make it up to me.
But as the gifts kept piling up, he didn't even bother pretending to care or making excuses anymore.
*****
The car pulled up outside a big house, and Edward and I got out in turn.
As we neared the front door, he paused to wait for me, and then reached for my hand when I caught up.
When we walked in, Eleanor saw us hand in hand, and her smile softened a little. "Jules is already asleep. Why don't you two stay over tonight?"
Once she headed upstairs, I let go of his hand. "You can take the master bedroom. I'll go check on Jules."
Edward didn't say a word. He just went upstairs by himself.
Before heading to Jules's room, I knocked on the study door.
"Eleanor," I said with a small smile, looking at the woman who'd always been so sharp, a powerhouse who'd spent her whole life fighting her way through the business world. I hesitated for a second before adding, "I've decided to get a divorce."
Eleanor's hand froze mid-page as she was flipping through some documents. She set them aside, her voice calm but with a hint of surprise. "I thought after all these years, you'd never bring this up again."