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Chapter 3
"He said the Steele family finally has an heir… and he'll personally raise him to take over."
The office exploded with whispers.
"An heir? Mr. Steele has a child?"
"I thought Mrs. Steele couldn't have kids…"
"Keep it down! Word is, it's an illegitimate son."
"What?! You're kidding."
My fingers curled into fists, knuckles turning white. I ignored the murmurs and locked eyes with the secretary.
"Open the door."
She shifted nervously, clutching her tablet like it could shield her. "Mrs. Steele… I-I'm sorry. Mr. Steele told us not to let anyone in."
I didn't blink. "I said, open the door."
Before she could move, a familiar voice cut through the air, sharp, cold, and merciless.
"This company isn't yours to command."
I turned.
Alexander stood behind me, Tommy in his arms like some kind of prize.
He didn't even spare me a glance.
He walked straight past me and into the office, carrying our end like he owned the world.
Which, technically… he did.
The looks I got from the rest of the staff were unbearable.
Sympathy. Judgment. Thinly veiled glee.
I used to be the one people bowed to. Now I was just a cautionary tale in designer heels.
Alexander sat at his desk like nothing had happened, Tommy babbling in his lap. He didn't even raise his head when he spoke.
"If you're done, you should go home. Handle things there."
The message was loud and clear.
You're no longer needed here.
The secretary wouldn't meet my eyes. Neither would my assistant.
I didn't make a scene.
I turned around, heels clicking against the marble as I walked out, quiet, composed, humiliated.
When I got home, no one acknowledged me.
The staff was too busy fawning over Emily like she was queen of the castle. No one even bothered to call me for dinner.
By evening, my lawyer had sent over the first draft of the divorce agreement. Efficient. Clinical. Brutal.
There were a lot of zeroes. None of them could fix this.
Around midnight, I got up for a glass of water.
The house was dark, silent, except for the faint glow from Alexander's study.
Voices.
I crept closer, staying in the shadows.
Emily was leaning over his desk, eyes red from crying.
"I waited ten years for you," she whispered, voice trembling. "I was so scared I'd never get you back…"
Alexander stood and pulled her into his arms, the same arms that once held me like I was his entire world.
"Silly girl," he murmured. "Even if I lost everything, I'd never forget you."
Then came the dagger,
"Everything else out there? Just a show. None of it matters."
Emily leaned into him, brushing her lips against his jaw.
And Alexander… didn't stop her.
His hands tightened around her waist. Then he lifted her onto the desk, like they were the only two people in the world.
The sound of tearing fabric sliced through the air like a blade.
I didn't wait to see more.
I turned, walked back to my room, and picked up the pen sitting next to the divorce agreement.
I signed my name.
And with it, I signed away every illusion I'd ever had.