Chapter 5

By the time I reached Westwood City, it was already noon.

I parked outside a small milkshake shop overlooking the busy street.

A familiar figure stepped out of a car.

Catharine.

The corner of my lips curled upwards as I stared at her.

She looked exactly like a woman who had never worried about money. Her elegant dress fit perfectly, her hair was carefully styled, and even from a distance, I could see the expensive handbag hanging from her arm.

She walked into the shop without checking the prices.

Then I saw the little boy beside her.

He was walking by her side while holding a nanny's hand. He was holding a toy helicopter while Catharine casually picked up several expensive baby items from a nearby display.

She didn't hesitate over the price of anything.

I watched silently.

Then Rayan looked up.

My breath caught.

His face looked so much like Damon.

He had the same eyes, the same nose and the same little curve of his lips.

I had seen photographs before, but photographs could never prepare me for seeing him in person.

He was real, Damon's son.

A child my husband had been raising behind my back while I had spent twelve years believing he simply didn't have enough time for me.

Rayan smiled at something Catharine said.

For a moment, the betrayal became painfully physical.

My chest tightened. I wanted to look away.

I didn't.

Instead, I watched Catharine pick up another baby item and hand it to an employee.

Everything about her screamed comfort.

Everything about that child screamed that Damon had built a second family while I remained outside it.

Then Catharine noticed me.

Her expression froze.

Our eyes met.

I smiled politely, “Catharine.”

Her fingers tightened around the stroller handle, “Serena?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes quickly moved over my face, searching for anger, tears, or perhaps desperation.

I gave her none.

I looked down at Rayan, “He's beautiful.”

Catharine's expression softened immediately, “Thank you.”

I smiled at the boy, “What's your name?”

“Rayan,” he answered proudly.

“That's a lovely name.”

He smiled again.

That smile hurt. Not because the child had done anything wrong.

He hadn't. He was innocent. But he carried Damon's face.

The face I had loved for twelve years.

The face that had looked at me every morning while hiding another life.

I swallowed the ache and looked back at Catharine, “He looks exactly like his father.”

Her body stiffened and she pulled the boy closer.

“Especially the eyes,” I added calmly.

She said nothing.

I glanced at the things she had bought.

“You seem to have everything you need.”

Her expression became guarded, “I suppose.”

I smiled, “I hope you enjoy your day.”

I didn't accuse her. I didn't ask about Damon.

I didn't mention the money.

There was no need.

She already knew what I knew and now she knew something else.

I wasn't broken. I turned and walked away.

By the time I reached my car, my hands were trembling slightly.

Seeing Rayan had made everything more real.

Damon hadn't simply betrayed me. He had chosen another woman and built a family with her.

I closed my eyes for a moment. Then I called Evan.

He answered immediately, “You met her?”

“Yes.”

There was a pause.

“Are you all right?”

“I am.”

“You sound calm.”

“I think I finally understand something.”

“What?”

“I can't spend my life grieving over what Damon chose.” My gaze settled on the busy street, “I have to decide what I choose.”

A quiet smile entered his voice, “Good.”

I returned to the office that afternoon.

The restructuring documents were waiting on my desk. I opened them and began reviewing the company's divisions, liabilities, shareholder positions, client contracts, and liquid assets.

Evan arrived a short while later.

He studied the papers in silence, “You're moving quickly.”

“I don't have time to move slowly.” He looked at the figures.

“If we separate the assets according to the plan, the old company will retain its existing obligations, but most of the valuable contracts and liquid resources will move into the new structure.”

“Exactly.”

“And you're certain this is legally defensible?”

“Mr. Kai will review everything before we submit it.”

Evan nodded, “Elara will remain the registered owner of the new company?”

“Yes.”

“And you'll control the internal structure?”

“The finances, strategy, and operations.”

He smiled slightly, “You've thought this through.”

“I've spent twelve years building that company.” I closed the folder, “I know exactly what makes it valuable.”

Evan looked at the final projection, “If everything goes according to plan, Damon will be left with roughly three million dollars.”

I stared at the number.

Three million?

Once, that would have sounded like a fortune.

Now it seemed insignificant compared with what he had taken from me.

Evan watched my expression, “Serena.”

“Hmm?”

“Is three million really not enough?”

I leaned back. My anger had become strangely quiet.

“If three million is enough for him to raise three children,” I said, “then it's far too much.”

Evan's eyebrows rose, “You're serious.”

“Completely.”

He studied me for several seconds before a low chuckle escaped him, “You're becoming ruthless.”

“No.” I looked down at the documents, “I'm becoming fair.”

He smiled, “That might be worse.”

I picked up my phone and sent the revised plan to Mr. Kai: Begin preparing everything according to this structure. Send it to me for review before filing.

Then I placed the phone down.

For twelve years, I had built an empire and handed it to a man I trusted.

He had used it to create the life he wanted with another woman.

Fine.

Let him keep whatever remained after I reclaimed what was mine.

I looked once more at the number on the page.

Three million dollars.

“If he wants to spend the rest of his life taking care of the woman he chose,” I said quietly, “he can do it with his own money.”

I closed the folder. I had spent twelve years building Damon's empire.

Now I would decide exactly how much of it he deserved to keep.