Chapter 2Decade-Long Love, One-Day Betrayal

A furious shriek echoed from behind me.

The glass shattered inches from my feet, a shard slicing my ankle.

The sharp sting spread, and I bit the inside of my cheek, then dialed my private lawyer.

"Someone just threatened my safety. Come deal with it."

I leaned against my car, annoyed, and reached for a cigarette.

But the thought of the baby in my belly made me stop.

Gaylen rushed over, his grip tightening painfully on my wrist.

"Chloe needs this job to support her sick grandmother. She can't lose it."

"She's suffered enough."

Suffered enough?

I flung Gaylen's hand away, my composure snapping, and days of pent-up resentment exploded.

"Just because she's 'suffered enough' means she gets to steal my boyfriend? Just because she's 'suffered enough' means she can strut around, flaunting it in my face?"

I hiked up my skirt, revealing my bleeding ankle, and let out a choked laugh.

"Or is it just *her* 'suffering' that tugs at your heart?"

My hoarse shouts echoed in the empty parking garage.

Gaylen massaged his throbbing temples.

"If you won't let her go, I'll have to protect her my own way."

He turned and walked away without a backward glance.

His broad back disappeared from sight. All my defenses crumbled, and I hugged my arms, sinking to the ground.

Gaylen had been "suffering" back then, too. I'd taken him in.

He had an easy job, and after work, he'd do the laundry, cook, and take care of my daily needs.

He'd worry when my eyes were red from overtime, and when my stomach bled from drinking with clients.

He'd worry that I had no one else to rely on, and that I wouldn't dare take a sick day, terrified of missing a promotion.

Maybe Gaylen had forgotten.

His original ambition to climb the corporate ladder was just to be my rock, to build a safe haven for me.

I pulled open the car door and sped off towards the hospital.

While waiting in the corridor, the couple across from me, after learning they were pregnant, wept with joy.

The man squeezed the woman's hand, tearfully promising to be a good father.

It was a touching, heartwarming scene.

I gently touched my abdomen, my heart wavering slightly.

Was I too headstrong, causing all these arguments with Gaylen?

If he knew we had a baby, would he finally settle down and become a responsible father?

My phone buzzed, shattering all my sweet illusions.

Chloe hadn't been fired.

Gaylen had hired her as his personal assistant, reporting directly to him.

The usually dormant company group chat suddenly burst to life.

"OMG, Chloe is amazing! With Gaylen covering for her, she can basically run wild in this company."

"Gaylen is known for being strictly fair, but he broke all the rules to keep Chloe. What a man!"

"Who knows, maybe Chloe will be our boss one day. Our respected CEO's wife!"

My heart sank deeper into the abyss.

Gaylen, who never participated in company gossip, even showed up, sending out a huge cash prize to celebrate.

My phone vibrated frantically, displaying a familiar number.

I answered.

"Gaylen pulled strings with the CEO, cashing in the favor from his last big project, just to keep Chloe."

"Your… dismissal approval has been returned to your inbox."

I responded flatly.

Gaylen had taken on a difficult but high-stakes project last time. I'd pulled all-nighters for half a month, practically gave myself a heart attack.

I'd gone through hell and back to help him nail that tough challenge.

We'd agreed then that we'd use that success to get a week's vacation and fly to Bali to relax.

All my hard work, my very blood and sweat, just a stepping stone for him.

Tears streamed down my face. I didn't hesitate anymore; I walked into the operating room.

I also applied for a transfer to the headquarters in the States.