Chapter 4My Marriage Was His Secret Penance

I froze. Before I could even reach out to grab her, a shadow blurred past me.

Xavier shoved me aside. I hit the pavement hard, the skin on my palms tearing.

He gathered Gemma into his arms like she was made of glass. He looked at me, and for the first time in five years, the mask of the doting husband was gone. His eyes were full of pure, unadulterated rage.

"Nora! What is wrong with you? Have you lost your mind?"

"Gemma just came here to talk to you, to try and clear up the misunderstandings from the past! How could you lay a hand on her?"

He looked like he wanted to kill me. There wasn't a shred of love left in his gaze.

I let out a cold, jagged laugh. "She brought up my mother, Xavier."

"The 'misunderstandings' from the past? Don't you think I deserve an explanation for those?"

His brow furrowed. A flicker of guilt—or perhaps just fear of being caught—crossed his face. "What explanation? Your mother was sick and the surgery failed. You know that. Whatever happened back then is no excuse for being a violent psychopath."

"Nora, apologize to her. Now."

Before I could speak, Gemma leaned into his chest, her voice a fragile whisper. "Don't... don't be hard on her, Xavier. It’s my fault. We hurt her when Harrison left her. Just let this be my penance..."

"Since she hates me so much, maybe we shouldn't see each other anymore. I don't want to be the reason your marriage falls apart."

I clenched my fists so hard my nails drew blood. I watched them walk away, watched him carry her to his car. I knew then. It was over.

I stood up and restarted the fire. I watched five years of "love" turn to ash.

An hour later, Xavier sent a text.

Gemma is the lead on the Cole project, Nora. Hurting her is bad for the company. I only made you apologize to keep the peace for the cameras. Don't overthink it.

I'll come home tonight and make it up to you, okay? I have that gift I promised. Don't be mad.

He wasn't performing for Gemma. He was still trying to manage me, to keep his "compensation" project under control.

I sat in the dark living room with the divorce papers until midnight. He never showed up.

Instead, a tabloid headline popped up on my phone: Billionaire Xavier Knight Rushes Local Socialite to ER After Domestic Dispute.

Gemma had a tiny scratch on her arm, but Xavier had called in every specialist in the city. He’d donated a million dollars to the hospital wing on the spot just to ensure she got the best suite.

In the photos, he was holding her. His eyes held a tenderness I had never, ever seen directed at me.

The hospital was lit up like a fortress that night, all for a woman’s bruised ego.

At dawn, I called him.

He didn't answer at first. I could hear him in the background, barking orders at his secretary.

"Sir, are you sure about the contract revision? We’re going to lose over a hundred million on this deal!"

"Just do it," Xavier snapped. "It’s the compensation I promised her. And draft another document—I want to transfer half of my personal shares in the holding company to Gemma."

The secretary left, and Xavier finally realized the line was open.

"Nora? Sorry, I've been swamped. I'm coming home soon. Did you need something?"

I looked down at the burns on my hands. "Nothing. Keep working. I won't bother you."

"Good girl. Wait for me at home. I'm on my way."

I didn't wait.

I signed the divorce papers and left them on the kitchen island.

I took my suitcase and walked out of the house.

I made one final stop: the hospital where my mother died. I requested a copy of the organ donation consent forms from five years ago.

There it was. My signature at the bottom.

Except I had never signed it. Xavier had forged my handwriting perfectly.