Chapter 1
My husband said the celebration was for senior executives only, so I shouldn't come.
I nodded and thought that I would change my outfit to go.
Borrowing a server's uniform, I stepped into the ballroom just as he was escorting that woman to the stage.
The moment the emcee finished speaking, he pulled her closer. "Taking this chance, let me officially introduce. This is my wife. Please take good care of her."
Applause erupted. Leaders raised their glasses; colleagues cheered.
I clapped along, loud and bright.
As he stepped down, his gaze swept the crowd and landed on my face.
Two seconds. He froze solid.
I gave a polite, slight bow. "Sir, would you care for a refill?"
*****
Andrew Grant had told me a week in advance. "Don't come to the party on Saturday. It's a gathering for the company execs. It's not really your scene."
I nodded while ironing his suit.
"Okay," I replied.
But in my head, I thought I'd just put on something else and show up.
It wasn't that I didn't trust him.
I didn't trust Sophie Young.
She was his new assistant, young, gorgeous, and a graduate of a top university.
The way she looked at him was full of admiration, and there was definitely a flirtatious spark in her eyes.
Sometimes, a woman's intuition was more reliable than any evidence.
On Saturday night, I borrowed a waiter's uniform from a restaurant I had connections with.
Balancing a tray of dishes, I slipped calmly into the glittering banquet hall.
Andrew was leading Sophie up to the stage, his arm wrapped around her.
He was dressed in the suit I'd ironed until it was flawless, standing tall and sharp.
Sophie clung to his arm, wearing an eye-catching red dress, her smile bright and dazzling.
Standing side by side, they really did look like a match made in heaven.
The host's passionate voice thundered through the microphone, filling the hall. "Let's give a warm round of applause for our greatest contributor, the project director, Mr. Grant, and his lovely wife, Sophie."
His wife?
Still, my hand holding the tray didn't tremble at all.
As soon as the host finished speaking, Andrew tightened his hold on Sophie, his arm snug around her waist.
He smiled at the crowd of company execs and coworkers.
"Thank you all. I'd like to take this opportunity to formally introduce my wife, Sophie. I hope you'll all welcome her," he said.
His voice was gentle, with a touch of pride.
It was like Sophie was his proudest accomplishment.
The crowd erupted in thunderous applause.
The leaders raised their glasses, and the colleagues started hollering and making a ruckus.
"Mr. Grant, you really hit the jackpot."
"Damn, your wife is gorgeous."
"So when are you throwing the wedding party, Mr. Grant?"
I stood at the very edge of the crowd, holding my tray.
Watching the picture-perfect pair under the lights, I clapped along with everyone else, making sure my applause was loud enough to blend in.
The applause thundered so loud, it completely smothered the sound of my heart shattering.
No, my heart didn't break.
It just stopped beating for a moment.
And then, it froze over.
As Andrew raised his glass to toast the crowd, his gaze swept across the room.
And then, it landed right on me.
We were separated by more than ten meters and a noisy crowd.
Our eyes locked, perfectly.
For two seconds, his smile vanished, and he stood there, completely frozen.
It was like someone had hit pause on him.
The champagne in his glass rippled as his hand trembled.
I didn't flinch.
I even gave him a perfectly polite, practiced smile.
Then I started walking, making my way through the crowd, step by step, straight toward him.
My heels made no sound on the carpet.
But I knew, with every step, I was stomping right on his heart.
I walked up to him, gave a slight bow, and kept my eyes down, focusing on the empty glass in his hand.
In my most professional voice, I leaned in and asked quietly, "Sir, would you like a refill?"
He swallowed hard, lips moving, but not a single word came out.
His face went from red to pale, then to a greenish shade.
It was a sight to behold.
Sophie was still tugging at his sleeve, giggling as she asked. "Andrew, what's wrong? Do you know her?"
He was speechless.
His eyes bored into me, filled with shock, panic, and a flicker of regret I couldn't quite decipher.
I didn't look at him again.
I just gave him another polite smile and asked again. "Sir?"
He knew the answer, clear as day.
He was done for.
And me? I was reborn.
Sophie seemed to sense something was off, and her smile started to slip.
She raised her voice, her tone sharp and hostile as she turned to me. "Who do you think you are? Did Mr. Grant even say a word to you?"
I finally met her gaze, staring her down.
And I just smiled.