Chapter 1

Claudia's POV

I thought I was already broken the moment Preston started treating me like a useless thing and made me feel that he's already interested in someone, but I'm wrong.

My heart broke into pieces after that night, when I lost my baby in a car accident. And that very night, Preston also happened to be in that place, driving his porsche car with his female assistant sitting on the passenger seat

where I should be sitting.

"P-Preston..." I uttered amidst weakness and shame.

His car window rolled down and he saw my white dress covered in blood, while his assistant also looked at me with curiosity in her eyes.

Preston covered his assistant's eyes and coldly muttered, "Bad luck. Don't look." Then he sped off like I'm just some trash.

I sighed and thinking it was just a simple accident, I forced myself to get up and go home on my own. I tried so hard to be strong because I had no one to rely on but myself. Preston didn't care even though he could see that I was hurting. I washed myself and my bruises, then planned to go to the doctor the next morning and continued doing my normal routine.

The other night, while I was in the bedroom, I found a lace bra stuffed in the corner of our closet—a bra that definitely wasn't mine. My tears flowed and my chest felt heavy, because even though I didn't ask Preston about it, I knew who it was.

Closing the closet door with a heavy heart, I picked up my phone and I calmly dialed a number. "Mr. Miller, I've made up my mind. I can leave the city, it can be next week and start at your company."

——

"Wow! That's wonderful news, Ms. Tiongco! We're excited to have you on board!" he replied cheerfully.

I ended the call with a sigh and heard a door opened, Preston walked out of the bathroom. His hair was damp, and beads of water still clung to his skin.

He used to take only just five minutes in the shower but lately, he's been spending almost half an hour and always with his phone.

"Who were you talking to?" he asked, not even looking at me, busy with his phone.

"It was just Mr. Miller," I replied honestly.

"Ah," he said, barely paying attention.

Well, he wasn't really listening to me all the time. He will just talk to me if he needs something or wants me to do something for him.

For the first time, I didn't get mad or make a fuss. I didn't confront him. I just started drafting my resignation letter on my phone.

When Preston reached for his water cup, likely expecting the calming tea I used to make for him every night, he paused, noticing it was empty.

Finally, he spared me a glance.

"I showed your CT scan to a specialist. He said it was just a minor injury, nothing serious. Just keep your wound dry."

"Alright," I said without looking up, still typing.

This afternoon, I had eight stitches in my leg from the accident. Worse still, I had just found out I was four weeks pregnant and already showing signs of miscarriage. I was madly sad hearing that hurtful news and cried for almost an hour.

The doctor apologized, saying that if I had been brought to the hospital sooner, the baby might have been saved. But if Preston had been able to take care of me and took me to the hospital first that night, maybe I wouldn't have lost my baby.

I'm full of regret because building a family is one of my dreams. I feel like I have no right to be sad because if Preston sees me sad he will just get mad at me.

I didn't even see Preston sad and regret when I found out I had a miscarriage, that makes me really feel bad for myself.

"Claudia..."

Seeing the blank expression on my face, Preston frowned and started walking over to check what I was doing.

But just then, his phone buzzed.

His lips suddenly curved into a sweet smile and without a second thought, he turned his back on me and disappeared into the room.

When he was out of my sight, I opened up my secret social media account and scrolled through his feed. Sure enough, there was a new post—visible to everyone except me.

It was an apology letter post.

[I shouldn't have let the cutest assistant in the world down and be sad. Promised her dinner after work, but work got in the way, and I made her wait a whole ten minutes. Totally my fault. I'll do better from now on and be a good boss.]

"How sweet of you. I don't remember receiving this type of letter from you."

I let out a bitter smile before liking the post and in the same breath, I received a notification from Mr. Miller. He already sent me the contract.

I clicked the link and signed the document without hesitation.

The next morning, I woke up early because I still had to go to work at the moment but Preston woke up earlier than me. To my shock, Preston brought some bagels and pastries from a well-known restaurant.

I stopped myself from smiling and just as I was about to open the bag with chocolate croissants, Preston suddenly slapped my hand away.

"You like peanut butter bagels, right? I got one just for you." He said strictly.

I froze for a second before realizing that the chocolate croissants weren't for me.

These were for his assistant, for Penelope Hepburn, I guess.

I smiled bitterly and couldn't hold back anymore. "We've been together for seven years, Preston. And you still don't know I'm allergic to peanuts?"

His expression darkened and stood abruptly, "Stop making a fuss, Claudia. Eat it or don't. I don't care. Stop with that nasty attitude."

I almost rolled my eyes, it's my fault now? As he prepared to leave, I walked into our bedroom and came back with a bag.

I handed it to him with a serious expression. "If you see Penelope, do me a favor and return this to her. Or maybe teach her how to be mindful of her things."

His brows knitted together before taking the bag. When he peeked inside and saw the lace bra, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He opened his mouth like he was about to explain something, but when he saw my calm and serious face, he only said, "I'll tell her to stop being so careless."

"Yeah," I replied shortly, with a low tone.

Sensing my bad mood, Preston spoke again.

"I can give you a ride to work today if you want, Claudia." He offered.

My brows almost furrowed. In our seven years together, there are no instances that he had driven me to work even once, no matter how bad the weather was. He always kept work and personal life separate to me and I didn't know how I was able to endure all that.

But for Penelope? He would do everything even in exchange for not disrespecting me. Even on Penelope's first day at work as his assistant, he would already give her a special treatment... that I'm always craving for.