Chapter 3

I went to my office and handed in my resignation.

My boss looked at it with genuine regret. "Anna, with your track record, you were in line for a manager position soon. Are you absolutely sure you won't reconsider?"

I just smiled and shook my head.

I had only taken this corporate nine-to-five grind in the first place to prove my competence to Daniel.

My dream had always been to join the expedition team and travel the country.

It was ironic. I sacrificed my dream, and all I got in return was his betrayal.

*****

For the next few days, Daniel didn't show his face. Texts went unread. Calls went straight to voicemail.

But I was too busy handing over my projects to care about babying his ego.

I finalized my departure date with the professor for two weeks out. That same day, I went to Daniel's company.

The second I pushed open the frosted glass door to his office, I saw Madison straddling his lap. They were making out.

Their clothes were completely rumpled, and most of the buttons on Madison's blouse were undone.

"Looks like I came at a bad time." I calmly pulled the door shut behind me. The click of the latch startled them out of their fantasy.

Madison scrambled to button her shirt, her pencil skirt hitched all the way up her thighs.

She shot me a resentful glare and snapped, "Ever heard of boundaries? Didn't anyone teach you to knock?"

Daniel didn't say a word. He just gave her a fleeting glance filled with obvious indulgence.

He took his time straightening his tie, a smug smirk playing on his lips. "What, finally decided you missed me?"

He gave Madison's backside a light smack, his tone completely flippant. "Run along, baby. I need to have a word with my wife."

Madison glared at me, clearly pissed about being dismissed, and made sure to slam the door so hard it rattled the frame on her way out.

"Haven't seen you in a few days. Missed me?" Daniel leaned back in his leather executive chair. "I told you. Throw your little childish tantrums all you want. You just needed a couple of days to cool off."

I cut him off with complete calm. "I want a divorce."

Daniel's hands froze on his collar. He narrowed his eyes at me. "Say that again."

I looked him dead in the eye, articulating every single syllable. "I said, I want a divorce."

Daniel suddenly burst out laughing, like I had just told the most absurd joke in the world.

"Anna, since when did you start using lines like this just to get my attention?" He walked over, reaching out to touch my face. "Look, I know I've been neglecting you lately.

"How about this. I will clear my schedule next week and take you to the Maldives. How does that sound?"

I took a half-step back, dodging his hand. The gesture made the smile freeze instantly on his face.

I pulled the divorce papers out of my purse and held them out to him. He just stood there, refusing to take them.

I had no choice but to drop the manila folder onto his desk.

"I am not joking." My voice was quiet, but incredibly firm. "I am done wasting my life on you. The terms are crystal clear. It is a straight fifty-fifty split. Read it over and sign it."

Daniel's eyes widened the moment his gaze fell on the legal documents.

He dropped heavily back into his chair, flipped through a few pages, and let out a harsh sneer before ripping the packet right in half.

"You want a divorce? Over my dead body," he said.

I rubbed my temples, completely exhausted. "Why do this? Once we are divorced, you can bring a hundred mistresses home and nobody will say a damn thing."

"Anna," he suddenly softened his tone, coaxing me like a clueless toddler. "We have been together since college. You were the one who stuck by me through the absolute worst of my startup days.

"Those girls out there are just business. They mean nothing. I have never once considered leaving you."

He stood up and rounded the desk to stand in front of me. His expensive cologne, mixed with the lingering stench of his little office hookup, washed over me. It made my stomach turn.

Listen to him. He made it sound so incredibly noble, acting like he was the most devoted man on earth.

Yet he was the one who brought his lovers into our home to screw around right under my nose. He was the one who threw a birthday bash for his mistress while I was home burning up with a 102-degree fever.

He was the one who betrayed me over and over again, taking a knife and plunging it right into my heart.

At the end of the day, our esteemed CEO was just terrified of the PR nightmare of ditching his starter wife.

He needed me, the loyal first wife, as a convenient cover to maintain his image as a respectable family man.