Chapter 2

The guest suite of our Manhattan penthouse was a haven of understated elegance—soft grays and creams, plush carpets, and floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city. It was here that Gabriel suggested Sophia stay, her things moved in with an efficiency that spoke of long practice. I stood in the doorway, watching as he carefully placed her bags on the velvet-draped bed, his movements tender in a way I hadn’t experienced in years.

“You’ll be comfortable here,” he said, turning to her with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Let me know if you need anything.”

Sophia nodded, her gaze flicking briefly to me before returning to him. “Thank you, Gabriel. You’re too kind.”

I swallowed hard, forcing a smile as I stepped further into the room. “Yes, make yourself at home.”

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed slightly at my tone, but he didn’t comment. Instead, he turned back to Sophia, his hand brushing her shoulder in a gesture of casual intimacy. “I’ll have someone bring up a spare robe for you. The master bath is through there.” He pointed toward the en suite bathroom, his voice low and smooth. “Help yourself to anything you need.”

Sophia smiled again, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of gratitude and something else—something sharp and calculating. “Thank you, Gabriel. You’re a wonderful host.”

I watched the exchange, my heart pounding in my chest. This was different. This wasn’t the usual casual fling, the kind of woman Gabriel would discard after a few weeks. This was something more. I could feel it in the way he looked at her, the way he moved around her with a possessive ease that made my stomach churn.

“Excuse me,” I said quietly, turning away before I could say something I might regret. I retreated to our bedroom, the door closing softly behind me. Leaning against it, I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside me.

But the sight of Gabriel’s hands on Sophia’s shoulder, the way she looked at him with such adoration, kept replaying in my mind. I moved to the dresser, my fingers trembling as I reached for my favorite silk robe. It wasn’t there. Confusion flickered through me until I remembered—Gabriel had taken it out earlier, replacing it with a spare.

For Sophia.

The realization hit me like a blow, and I sank to the floor, my knees giving way beneath me. I sat there, surrounded by the opulent decor of our bedroom, and felt the weight of my marriage crumble around me.

***

The lunch with Alistair Sterling was supposed to be a routine affair—a meeting to discuss some new business ventures. But from the moment Sophia walked into the private dining room at La Grenouille, I knew this was anything but routine.

Gabriel’s father, Alistair, was a man who valued power above all else. He had built the Sterling empire with ruthless precision, and I had always known my place in his world—a silent, obedient wife, nothing more. But today, something was different.

As we sat down, Gabriel couldn’t stop talking about Sophia. Her innovative ideas, her sharp mind, her potential. He spoke of her with a fervor I hadn’t heard in years, not even when we were first married. Alistair listened intently, his expression unreadable, but I could see the calculating glint in his eyes as he assessed Sophia.

“She’s going to be a valuable asset,” Gabriel said, his voice filled with pride. He reached for Sophia’s hand, his fingers intertwining with hers in a way that made my heart clench. “I’m lucky to have her on board.”

Alistair nodded, his gaze shifting to me. “And what about you, Lily? How do you fit into all this?”

Gabriel’s laughter was sharp, almost mocking. “Lily is...supportive. She’s always been good at that. But let’s be real, she’s not exactly built for the business world. She’s more the domestic type.”

The words cut deep, and I felt my cheeks burn with humiliation. I opened my mouth to protest, but the look on Gabriel’s face silenced me. He wasn’t just dismissing my contributions; he was erasing me.

“I see,” Alistair said, his tone neutral. “Well, whatever works for the company, I suppose.”

I couldn’t take it anymore. Pushing my chair back, I stood up, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. “Excuse me,” I murmured, not trusting myself to say more. I turned and walked out of the dining room, leaving the three of them behind.

***

For days, I watched Sophia, trying to understand what made her so different. I followed her at a distance, observing her routine. She started her days early, always at the same café near our penthouse, sipping coffee and typing away on her laptop. Her focus was intense, her concentration unbroken.

But it was her phone habits that caught my attention. Every morning, without fail, she would send a series of texts to Gabriel—coy, smiling messages that seemed to make him light up whenever he read them. And every time, he would respond immediately, their conversation flowing easily, filled with a warmth and intimacy that had long been absent from our marriage.

I stood across the street, hidden in the shadows, and watched as Sophia laughed at something on her screen. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, her thumbs moving with a speed and dexterity that spoke of long practice. And even from this distance, I could see the way her eyes sparkled, the way her lips curved into a secret smile as she read Gabriel’s responses.

The sight was like a knife to my heart, twisting deeper with every passing moment.