Rachael Brown stood frozen at the doorway, peering through the narrow gap at her husband of two years, Xander Spencer, tangled with Milly Clark, the woman he had always called his best friend.
Milly's shameless moans and the harsh rhythm of bodies colliding stabbed into Rachael's ears, tearing her heart open.
Keeping her expression steady, Rachael lifted her phone and began recording.
If this marriage had been built on deception, then she would make sure betrayal came at a price.
She slipped her phone away after saving the video, backed it up to the cloud, and then quietly turned to leave.
For two years, Xander had always found reasons to avoid sharing a bed with her.
Only now did Rachael realize every excuse had been a lie, just like the marriage itself.
The Spencer Group was drowning in debt, and she had planned to surprise him today with a bank transfer.
But when she learned the marriage certificate required for the transaction was fake, she finally understood that his real wife had always been his childhood companion, Milly.
Rachael clenched her fists, her hands shaking despite herself.
After a brief pause, she stepped into the backyard and dialed a number.
The call connected quickly, and a deep, steady male voice came through, making Rachael's eyes sting.
"Rae," the man said calmly. "The banquet is set for next week. Our parents have secured two major deals for the Spencer Group. Once they close, the company will dominate Mophia's business scene. Since you refuse to return to Oniolens with us, at least a thriving Spencer Group will make everything easier for you."
Rachael pressed her nails deep into her palm, forcing the tears back.
On the drive home from the bank, she had swallowed her anger again and again, planning to demand an explanation from Xander. Part of her still believed there had to be some unavoidable reason.
Now she understood how foolish that hope had been.
"Rhett, I no longer want those projects handed to the Spencer Group. The banquet will still go on, but instead of propping them up, I want them destroyed."
Rhett Shaw, her eldest brother, immediately caught the strain in her voice.
"Rae, did Xander hurt you? Tell me. I will deal with him."
He had never liked or even trusted Xander, and he had long heard rumors that their marriage was strained.
But because his sister cared for that man, Rhett had stayed silent.
Now, his anger could no longer be held back.
A quiet sense of comfort spread through Rachael, but she shook her head slowly. "No. I need to take care of this myself."
There was a brief pause on the other end before Rhett spoke again, his tone steady and approving. "I am relieved you finally see things clearly. Xander was never worthy of you."
No one knew that only a month ago, her biological parents had finally found her.
Rachael had only recently learned she was not an orphan abandoned by her family, but the daughter of the Shaw family of Oniolens, with living parents and four brothers.
The Shaw family wanted her to divorce Xander and come home.
She thought about it but declined for Xander's sake, believing she could now help him climb higher. Now, that sacrifice felt meaningless.
A hollow, self-mocking laugh escaped Rachael.
Rhett had never met Xander, relying only on investigations. Yet he had seen through Xander immediately, while she had shared five years of her life with him before finally understanding the truth.
How ironic!
"Rae, one more thing. You were betrothed when you were young. He'll be arriving in Mophia soon, and I'll arrange for you to meet him. After the divorce, you can move forward without any burden. He's far superior to Xander."
Rachael rubbed her temples.
Her brother was usually composed and dependable, but his perspective on marriage felt unsettlingly pragmatic.
A marriage alliance between two families? Not a chance!
She rejected it without hesitation. "Rhett, I'm not interested in entering a new relationship right now. I won't meet him."
Rhett didn't argue further. After exchanging a few final words, they ended the call.
Rachael went back inside the house and stayed seated in the living room for a long time until footsteps echoed down the stairs, accompanied by flirtatious laughter shared between a man and a woman.
"Xander, you're really something in that area. Being your woman is such a delight."
Rachael turned and saw Milly clinging to Xander, her satisfied expression unmistakable, the marks on her neck glaring.
They descended together, bodies close, clothes slightly disordered.
With a sudden bang, Rachael kicked the coffee table beside her, the sharp sound startling them both.
Only then did they realize she was there.
Milly hesitated briefly before laughing softly and stepping away from Xander, approaching with an easy smile and no trace of shame.
"Rachael, you're back already? I got my clothes stained by accident, and the guest bathroom was too cramped. Xander kindly let me use the one in the master bedroom to clean up and change. You don't mind, do you?"
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