Chapter 2
Caroline's POV
I look at the face I once threw everything away for. Now he looks like a stranger. Disgusting.
"Project wrapped early." My voice stays flat as I look past him to Ruby hiding in the corner.
"Ruby, come here, sweetie."
Trevor relaxes, thinking I didn't catch anything.
He walks over, throwing an arm around my shoulders. "You look beat, babe. What sounds good for dinner? I'll cook."
I shift away from his touch.
"I'm fine. Just tired. Gonna go lie down."
The next day is Saturday.
I'm planning to take Ruby shopping for some new fall clothes when Trevor suddenly volunteers to come along.
"I've been a terrible husband lately. Let me treat you girls today." He smiles like he means it.
If I hadn't heard what I heard yesterday, I'd probably be in tears right now.
At the mall, Ruby spots a pair of pink shoes. Three hundred dollars.
She holds them carefully, eyes bright as she looks up at Trevor. "Daddy, can I have these? Please?"
Trevor glances at the price tag. His face hardens.
"Ruby, you're growing like a weed. You'll outgrow these in two months. Total waste of money."
He grabs a fifty-dollar pair from the clearance rack and tosses them in the cart. "These work fine. Little girls need to learn to save money."
The light dies in Ruby's eyes. She bites her lip and puts the pink shoes back.
"Okay, Daddy."
Something twists in my chest.
Trevor's worth nine figures, but three hundred bucks for his own daughter is too much.
I walk over, pick up those pink shoes, and hand them to the sales associate. "We'll take them."
Trevor shoots me a look. "Caroline, what are you doing? You're gonna spoil her rotten."
I stare back, cold. "I'm spending my own money on my daughter. You don't get a vote."
Trevor opens his mouth, then shuts it. Guilt flickers across his face. He doesn't push back.
That's when his phone rings.
He steps away to answer, voice low, but I hear every word.
"Amber? What's up? Leah wants that piano? Yeah, of course. Whatever she wants, I'll get it. Hey, don't stress about it. Consider it a birthday gift for her seventh birthday."
That piano starts at six figures.
Six figures for another man's kid without blinking. Three hundred dollars for his own daughter is highway robbery.
He showers someone else's kid with whatever she wants. But his own daughter? He nickel-and-dimes her.
I watch Trevor hang up, looking pleased with himself, and the absurdity of it all hits me. It's almost funny.
This is what I gave up billions for. Seven years of building his dream from scratch.
His generosity only ever went to Amber and her kid.
Back at the office, Trevor gets bolder.
At Monday's executive meeting, he drops a bombshell.
"Everyone, we're expanding internationally. Amber Warren has years of overseas experience, so I'm appointing her Director of International Operations."
Dead silence.
Everyone knows Amber's a college dropout who waited tables abroad. She got through the door because Trevor pulled strings for her.
And international operations? That's been my territory from day one.
Trevor turns to me, fake apology written all over his face.
"Caroline, you've been running yourself into the ground. Between the company and Ruby, you need a break. Let Amber handle international. Hand off your contacts and client lists, take some time for yourself."
He's stripping my authority in front of everyone.
For his precious Amber, he's gambling with the company's backbone.
The old guard - the investors who built this with us - they're all frowning, ready to push back.
But I just say quietly, "Okay."
Nobody expected me to cave. Trevor practically sags with relief. He can't hide the triumph in his smile.
"Caroline, you're amazing. I knew you'd understand. You always do."
He thinks I'm backing down. Rolling over.
Poor idiot has no idea the "core resources" I just handed over are Pembroke portfolio scraps, bottom-tier European subsidiaries.
One phone call from me, and those clients vanish overnight. Let him play house with his fantasy girl in an empty shell.
After the meeting, I head to my office and start wiping personal files, drafting divorce papers.
Minutes later, my door opens.
Trevor walks in, all charm and apologies.
"Hey, Caroline, you're not mad about the meeting, right?"
"I'm doing this for you, I swear. You look exhausted lately, and it kills me. Amber's a single mom, she needs help. I'm just throwing her a bone. But the real power? That stays with you."
I stop typing and look up at him.
"Trevor."
"You don't need to explain. If you think she's qualified, let her do it."
Trevor blinks, clearly shocked I'm being so agreeable.
Joy flashes in his eyes. He moves toward me, arms out. "Babe, you're the best."
I turn my head slightly, dodging the hug, and point to the documents on my desk.
"I've got work. You should go."
Trevor's arms hang awkwardly in the air. He pulls them back.
"Right. Well, don't work too hard. I booked us a table tonight. Family dinner, the three of us."
