Chapter 2
Grace's POV
Sleep doesn't come that night.
Every time I close my eyes, I see it. Alexander kissing that child's forehead, over and over, until memory and nightmare blur together. By dawn, I just sit on the edge of the bed, staring at the sky turning gray outside the window, numb and hollow.
When Alexander comes home, I pretend I'm still asleep.
He takes off his coat and sits on the bed, hesitating before pulling me into his arms. His warmth bleeds through my pajamas, his heartbeat steady against my back, as if nothing ever happened.
"Babe," he says, excited, "let me show you something."
The tablet screen lights up. Golden vineyards stretch under California sunshine.
"Napa Valley," he says. "I just invested in a winery project. When we retire, we'll live there. We can watch the sunset in the vineyards every day. Isn't that what you always wanted? That quiet life?"
I stare at the golden landscape on the screen. It hurts to look at.
He swipes to another photo. A white yacht anchored on azure waters. "And this. I already booked a European tour for next summer. Mediterranean all the way to the Aegean Sea. Two months, just the two of us."
"Plus, our eighth anniversary is coming up." He turns, cupping my face, his eyes frighteningly sincere. "I've got a surprise planned. You're going to love it, I promise."
I force out a smile. "Sounds... amazing."
He pulls me tight. "Grace, I'm crazy about you. You're the best thing that ever happened to me."
Tears come without warning. I bite down hard, but they blur my vision anyway.
"What's wrong?" He notices immediately, panic in his voice. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No," I take a deep breath. "It's just... a friend of mine. Her husband cheated on her. Watching her go through that really got to me."
I lift my head, looking straight into his eyes. "Would you ever do that?"
The question hangs between us like a knife.
But he just laughs, like I just asked the most ridiculous question. "Never. Being married to you is the best thing that ever happened to me. Why would I ever cheat?"
His eyes are clear, his tone firm.
If I didn't know the truth, I'd believe him.
"There's a company gala this afternoon." He takes my hand. "Come with me. Let everyone see what we have."
I want to refuse. Want to say I'm not feeling well, that I just want to be alone.
But the hopeful look in his eyes stops me. Seven years. I've gotten used to giving him every little thing he wants, even now, even though I've already decided to leave.
"Okay." I hear myself say.
The gala hall looks like something from a fairytale, crystal chandeliers casting warm light across the room.
Alexander stands on stage with his arm around my waist, smiling at hundreds of employees below. People whistle and clap, and someone shouts, "Mr. Thornton, kiss her!"
He actually kisses my forehead. The applause gets louder.
"We've been together seven years," his voice carries through the microphone across the entire hall. "Our eighth anniversary is coming up. People talk about the seven-year itch, but for me, it doesn't exist."
He pauses, turning to look at me.
The crowd erupts in amazement.
I just keep my polite smile in place, nodding, waving, like a well-trained actress.
"To celebrate," Alexander signals his assistant, "I've got a little something for everyone."
Staff members wheel out carts of elegant gift boxes. Employees open their gifts and gasp.
"Oh my God, this is incredible!"
"This set must be five figures at least!"
"Mr. Thornton is so generous!"
I look down at the box in my hands. The elegant packaging has a gold-embossed brand logo I don't recognize.
Once, these envious looks would have made me feel happy. Would have made me believe I really was the luckiest woman in the world, married to a man who'd give me everything.
But now, standing in this brilliantly lit hall with hundreds of envious eyes on me, I only feel suffocated.
This performance is too perfect. So perfect I almost forget that somewhere I can't see, there's another woman, another child, another home.
The gift box in my hand suddenly feels heavy.
"Miss Collins is here!"
Someone in the crowd calls out.
I lift my head and see Sarah walking through the crowd. Black suit, pearl necklace. A gentle smile on her face.
An employee nearby whispers, "The Brand Development Director actually came to the gala. She's never around usually."
She stops in front of us. "Mr. Thornton, Mrs. Thornton, I really envy your relationship. Our company's like one big family. This is really nice to see."
Her tone sounds sincere, her eyes warm.
But then she sighs softly. "My husband's pretty good to me too, though."
Her gaze sweeps over the gift boxes in everyone's hands, her voice gentle. "He created this brand for me three years ago. From positioning to global expansion, he handled everything himself. We have eighteen flagship stores across North America now."
When she says "my husband," her eyes drift toward Alexander, seemingly casual.
His body stiffens for a moment. His arm tightens around my waist.
She turns to me, smile still gentle but sharp as a blade in my eyes. "Mrs. Thornton, what you're holding is our signature collection this year."
She pauses, her tone pointed. "I hope you like it."
The noise around us continues, but all I can hear is my own heartbeat.
