Chapter 2

Kate's POV

My fingers hovered over the keyboard. My heart pounded a furious, violent rhythm against my ribs. I didn't hesitate. I accept the resident artist project.

[Send me the contract.]

Then, I turned my attention back to the nightmare. I opened the full security footage on my phone. I forced myself to watch the hours I had missed.

Bile rose like acid in my throat.

There was Lillian. She was strutting around my master bedroom. She was wearing my custom silk nightgown.

She poured herself a glass of my expensive wine. She laughed. Wave after wave of pure disgust washed over me. My bed. My clothes. My sanctuary. They had defiled all of it.

The flight back to the States was agonizing.

I played the perfect, oblivious mother.

I smiled at Nina. I held her hand.

But every time she looked at me with those big, innocent eyes, my stomach churned.

We landed. We walked out of the terminal. "Kate! Over here, honey!" Alan stood at the arrivals gate. He was holding a massive, obnoxious bouquet of imported roses.

He looked exactly like the flawless, devoted husband. The man the whole neighborhood envied.

He pulled me into a tight hug. "God, I missed you."

His cologne mixed with the faint, lingering scent of Lillian's perfume.

I held my breath to keep from gagging.

"I have a welcome home surprise for you," he whispered.

He pulled a sleek velvet box from his jacket.

He popped it open. A globally limited-edition Patek Philippe women's watch.

"Oh, Mom! Look at it!" Nina cheered, jumping up and down.

"Look how much Dad loves you!" My sweet daughter. My little accomplice.

I forced a trembling smile, playing my part. "It's… beautiful, Alan. I'm so touched."

But then, he reached into his pocket for his car keys.

A crumpled slip of paper fluttered out. The receipt. It landed face-up on the polished floor, right at the tip of my shoe.

My eyes automatically zeroed in on the total line. The amount was double. He hadn't bought one limited-edition watch. He bought two identical watches.

My pulse hammered in my ears. "You dropped something, honey," I said. My voice was completely flat. I pointed a finger at the paper.

Alan's perfect, loving smile froze instantly. His face drained of all color. A flash of genuine panic crossed his eyes. He snatched the receipt from the floor. "Oh, this is just—I can explain—"

Before he could even stutter out a pathetic excuse, a high-pitched voice cut him off. "That's for the horse farm owner's wife!" Nina chimed in. She didn't even blink. Not a single hesitation.

"Dad needed to buy her a gift to make sure I got that purebred pony! I suggested he buy the exact same watch!" Silence hung in the air for a fraction of a second. Then, Alan let out a heavy, incredibly loud sigh of relief.

His posture relaxed.

"Right! Yes. It's a business expense, Kate. You know how greedy these breeders can be."

I stared down at my ten-year-old daughter.

Her face was the picture of perfect innocence.

A chilling, paralyzing horror crept up my spine. She was so smooth. So terrifyingly practiced at lying for him. How many times had she done this? How long had my own child been covering for her father's whore?

I looked at the two of them smiling at me. I was the only fool in this entire house.

"Wow. You two really thought of everything," I whispered.

We got home.

That night, the lights were low in the master bedroom.

Alan slid into bed beside me.

His hand crept under the sheets, sliding up my thigh. "I've missed you so much," he murmured, his lips brushing my neck.

He wanted to play the loving husband. But all I could see was Lillian thrashing on these exact sheets.

All I could feel was pure, unadulterated revulsion.

I violently shoved his chest.

"Don't touch me," I snapped.

He blinked, pulling back in shock. "Kate? What's wrong?"

"Jet lag," I lied coldly, turning my back to him. "I have a splitting headache. Go to sleep."

He sighed, a sound of feigned disappointment, and rolled over. Within minutes, he was snoring.

I didn't sleep a wink.

At 2 A.M., I slipped out of the contaminated bed.

I walked down the dark hallway to my old art studio.

I flipped on the dim overhead light.

I stood there in the silence, staring at the dust-covered easel in the corner. I walked over and yanked the dust cloth off. A blank canvas stared back at me.

The glorious life I had thrown away to build this toxic, rotten family. I

Never again. I made a silent, unbreakable decision in that cold room.

I am taking back everything that belongs to me. My career. My money. My dignity. And then, I am divorcing him.

The next morning, I stood in the kitchen.

I poured myself a cup of black coffee.

Alan walked in, "Morning, honey," he smiled warmly.

I set my coffee mug down on the counter.

Take a deep breath. I opened my mouth and said slowly, "Alan, let's get a de..."