Chapter 4

I gripped the back of the empty chair.

"Why is there only one plate?"

Damian didn't even look up from his files.

"You're eating?"

"I thought you were strictly on your pre-wedding diet."

If he had looked at me for one more second, he would have seen my tears.

He didn't look up.

His eyes stayed glued to the pages.

I pulled out the chair across from him.

"Damian, we need to talk."

Before I even sat down, he was already on his feet.

He grabbed his suit jacket.

"No time."

"Chloe and I have a charity gala preview."

"We're already late."

The heavy front door slammed shut.

I was left alone with his cold steak and an empty chair.

The silence in our Central Park penthouse was deafening.

Then, a faint voice drifted from his home office.

His AirPods lay abandoned on the desk. Still connected to his open laptop.

Chloe’s voice leaked from the tiny earpieces.

"Are we going to the Monaco F1 Grand Prix next month?"

"I've been dying to go!"

Then came Damian’s recorded reply.

"Already on it."

"I secured VIP passes last week."

"It was supposed to be a surprise."

Chloe’s giggles filled the room.

"You know me better than anyone!"

Every single word hit me like a freight train.

For Chloe, he planned weeks ahead.

For Chloe, he planned surprises.

For me, I only ever got his favorite excuse.

"She's a partner. You're my fiancée. It's different."

If this was what being his wife meant...

I’d rather be a stranger.