Betrayed by One, Loved by the Billionaire

CHLOE’S POVWe walked into our own home like total strangers. Bryan was still high on the adrenaline he had gotten from the crowd, his smile reaching both ears. “Babe, did you see the audience? It was magical, babe.”I said nothing, just took off my heels and placed them by the stairs. He still didn't notice a thing or maybe he chose not to.“I swear it was like I had them eating right out of my hand,” he said, taking his jacket off and tossing it on the armchair. He knew I hated that. “And that last question? I killed it.”“I was great, wasn’t I?”I could feel my throat become dry, but I forced a nod. “Yeah. You did well.”“Just ‘well’? That’s all you have to say?” he laughed, looking at me as he pulled out his tie. “C’mon. I felt like a genius up there.”I smiled even though it seemed like he was a complete stranger when I watched him sit on that chair and talk.He walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. I was in the living room staring at our wedding phone, wishing I could s

CHLOE’S POV Bryan blinked his eyes at me, while his hand was still on the cheek that I had just slapped the shit out of. His mouth was opened wide with shock, but no words could come out of it.“What the f**k, Chloe?” He asked, staring at me like I had gone completely mental. “The hell was that for?”I didn’t move or stand. I just sat still on the edge of the bed, steadying my breath as I waited for the storm inside of me to break loose.“Bryan, I have only one question for you,” I said calmly. “All I want to hear from you is the truth.”He frowned, still rubbing his jaw. “Chloe, tell me what the hell is going on?”I looked him dead in the eyes. “Are you cheating on me?”The question came to him as I shock. I could see him falter and try to act unfazed by my question.Bryan took a step back. “What?”“I asked you a question. Just give me an answer.”“Where the hell is all of this coming from?” he asked, voice rising. “Why would you even say something like that to me?”“Just

CHLOE’S POVI buttoned my blouse slowly, staring into the broken mirror above the bathroom sink. What I had chosen to wear wasn’t fancy, just a cream-colored top with sleeves that stopped at the elbow, but I was happy that it looked professional. Paired with the dark grey pants that I’d ironed the night before and a pair of scuffed black heels I brought with me from my previous marriage. For now, it was the best I could do.The job listing I saw yesterday still sat folded on my nightstand, torn from the corner of a newspaper I’d found buried under some old utility bills and an empty cereal box my father hadn’t thrown away. My father had been saving newspapers for no reason, except maybe for the mess it made in the house. Luckily, I found the listing because of his behaviour. [General Manager – BW Enterprises. Apply in person.]I hadn’t planned to start searching for jobs immediately. But something about the words Apply in person felt like a sign from the heavens to me.I dabbed on a

The streetlights had continued to flicker on by the time I reached my dad’s house. My feet were sore, dragging a little as I crossed the sidewalk to his front door. The porch step creaked beneath me, the same way it had always done. It sounded like an old friend or a warning to the horror I was walking into. Hard to say.I didn’t go inside right away. Instead, I took a quick detour to the corner café and picked up a small to-go box with grilled chicken and steamed vegetables. No soda. No dessert. I wasn’t really hungry, per se. My appetite had already checked out after the day I had just had.Back at the house, the lights were off in the living room except for the faint glow coming from the TV. My father was passed out on the couch, snoring lightly with a half-empty beer bottle resting on his stomach and pouring onto the floor.I slipped past him quietly, careful not to wake him, and headed upstairs to avoid any conversation with him that ended in me getting angry and hating him forev

CHLOE’S POVThe dress arrived at my office just before five p.m., delivered in a sleek black garment bag that came with a delicate silver tag attached to it. I unzipped it carefully, revealing a deep emerald satin gown with an open back and a very modest neckline. It was elegant, but if I had to be honest, it was breathtaking.There was a small note pinned inside the garment bag: [WEAR THIS. DON’T BE LATE.]I stared at the note, then at the dress, my thoughts spinning in my head. It was beautiful, almost too beautiful for me. My first instinct was to smile, but it faded away quickly.Wearing this...being seen in it... walking into a public space with Alex Blackwood in something he had picked for me? That was fuel for every rumour that had already started circling around the office like wildfire.Still, I hung it behind my door and tried not to think too hard about it.I focused on the emails I was working on. Sorted through reports and tried to act like the dress didn’t exist.