Chapter 4

When I was eighteen, he and Sophia divorced, a messy affair that rocked the city.

Five years of marriage, and it ended up costing Thompson Industries 5% of its original shares.

Everyone said Sophia came from a humble background and only clung to Liam for those shares.

Everyone said Liam was shrewd in business but foolish in love.

One night, drunk, I found myself in his bed.

All the childish adoration and longing I'd harbored found their release in that moment.

Liam almost fled my room that morning, saying, "Chloe, let's pretend nothing happened. It's for your own good."

After that, Liam went through a string of lovers.

Every one of them bore some resemblance to Sophia.

He accepted anyone, but never me.

I cried and pleaded, demanding he be with me.

He couldn't stand my tantrums, and he feared my madness, so he agreed.

"Alright."

So we became a secret. By day, I was the charming Thompson family princess; by night, I was the woman in his bed.

Even if it meant never having a title, I was willing.

But Sophia came back.

One message from her shattered the bond I'd painstakingly fought for.

[Liam, I'm back in the city.]

That day was my birthday.

Liam didn't even lift an eyelid. He grabbed his jacket and walked out.

"Don't wait up for me. You go to sleep."

That night, headlines of Liam picking up his 'white moonlight' sweetheart late at night filled a third of the newspaper.

And I, staring at a table full of uneaten food, felt utterly desolate.

That time, I didn't leave. I waited at home for Liam to return and give me an explanation.

But this time, I had to leave.

I swung my legs out of bed, pulled out the IV needle, and slipped out through a side door.

The next morning, my boss excitedly posted a notice in the whatsapp group.

[There's hope for the Thompson Group contract!]

[Reschedule! We're flying back in three days.]

I rubbed my eyes, unable to believe that the Thompson Group would choose a small processing plant like ours.

My gut told me something was off. I took leave from my boss, citing my child's illness.

I booked a flight home for that day. As I walked out of the hotel lobby, my phone rang.

[Chloe, let's meet.]

[I want to know about the child.]

My phone felt hot in my hand. My heart, calm for so many years, began to ripple.

After Sophia returned, Liam's affair with her reignited.

One message, one phone call, and Liam would abandon me.

I remember one time, we were in bed, the act unfinished, and he was already pulling on his pants, ready to leave.

"What do I even mean to you?"

Liam looked down, buckling his belt, not even glancing at me.

"Chloe, if you can't accept this, then let's just end it."

He was always like that – no explanation, no reason. If I caused a scene, he'd immediately threaten to break up.

My silent treatment, my tears, my outbursts – nothing worked.

Later, I watched them, always together, standing side by side, becoming the couple everyone agreed was perfect.

Even Liam's parents, who had initially opposed Sophia, eventually fell silent.

Liam started bringing Sophia home, once, twice, three times.

Sophia would bring me many gifts, treating me like a sister.

I usually gave her the cold shoulder and spoke harshly.

Liam couldn't deal with me, always asking what I wanted.

"Are you going to abandon me and remarry her?!"

Every time I made a scene, so much so that Liam couldn't even speak.