chapter 5

Kaylee's POV 

I stared at the mirror in front of me, my reflection staring back at me. If I was being honest with myself, I would say that I didn't look too bad. At first, I didn't even want to dress up. When dad had brought it up, I had turned down the idea immediately. 

After I'd walked into the house when Hayden dropped me off, I went straight to apologizing to father. Unlike how I thought he was going to react, he'd welcomed me with one of the biggest bear hugs I'd ever received in my entire life. However, that sweet demeanor disappeared the moment I told him about Daniel.

Father never liked Daniel and when I told him everything he did to me,I knew it took everything in him to not go and shoot the blasted man in his balls. He was pleased however, when I told him I was going to get a divorce. To celebrate, he decided to throw me a party, the very one I was dressing up for.

I ran a hand over the invisible creases on my black dress. It was a little black number, with a corset bustier and a little bit of fabric flowing down to my knees. I had a decent amount of cleavage out out on display and it made the diamond shaped jewelry I was wearing even better. To top it off, I'd smeared red lipstick and packed my hair up with a claw clip. 

I looked like the star of the show and I actually liked it. 

After I was sure I was done preparing, I made my way downstairs. Dad had said the party was for me, to celebrate my home coming, but I couldn't help but feel like he had a little ulterior motive of his own. He wanted to show me off to the world, that his beautiful daughter, would probably be back to the marriage mart in no time, and what other way to do so than by organizing a party and inviting all of the industries biggest businessmen? 

Everyone who was everyone was going to be in attendance and while that would be exciting to witness, there was one person I wasn't looking forward to seeing. Daniel. Dad had said he was going to invite him, and I knew for a fact that Daniel was going to tag along with Liliana. And I hated it. 

“Kaylee.” Dad's voice reached my ears immediately as I stepped into the hall. I'd barely had any time to take in the decorations, before he walked towards me. “You're here, and you look as beautiful as always.” 

“Thank you dad.” I kissed both of his cheeks. “or should I say, Cayden?” 

Dad let out a hearty laugh at my last statement. I'm the business world, he was known for his name; Cayden. Just the mere mention of his name was more than enough to make waves. He was on the highest rung of the business ladder and I would say he deserved it, without any sentiments attached to it too. 

“Tell me, do you like the party dear?” Dad asked, and I took that as my opportunity to check it out. A huge chandelier hung at the center of the room, with other lights twinkling beside it. Guests dressed in expensive looking sequin dresses and three piece suits miled the hall, some of them chatting animatedly with drinks in their hands, with the other standing alone and towards the buffet table. All in all, the party looked to be a success, until my gaze landed on someone. 

The devil himself; Daniel. 

My lips tugged downward into a frown immediately. He looked sharp and decent in his suit, but I still scowled nonetheless at both him and the woman he came with. Yes, Liliana. 

What did he even see in her, that he would choose her over me? Perhaps, if he knew who I truly was, it would cause him to have a change of heart. 

 “Are you okay, dear?” Dad's voice was all it took to pull me back to the present. My eyes flickered in his direction, just to see him staring at me with worry in his eyes. Before I could answer, he traced my gaze to the source of my frown. “Do you want me to do something about them!”

“No, dad.” I shook my head. “It's not necessary. And you won't reveal my true identity to him, got it?” 

My dad caught on to the warning I'd thrown in the last part, and he nodded in understanding. 

“Cayden.” Someone called from behind, before pulling my father into a conversation. An idea popped up in my mind and before I could tell myself to let it be, I walked up to the duo. 

“Kaylee.” Daniel's voice was sickeningly sweet when I walked up to him. Liliana in return, dragged her eyes over me like I was nothing but a piece of trash. “You're here, that's a surprise.”

“I came to give you this.” I quipped, before pulling out a brown envelope from my purse. It had taken me a lot to do what I did last night, but seeing the both of them only confirmed my suspicions that I'd made the right choice. “I think you'd be happy now.” 

“Finally.” Liliana pulled the letter from my grip. I watched Asher eyes lit up, after scanning through the contents of the letter. “you've done the right thing.”

“Divorce?” Daniel chorused. If I didn't know any better, I would have said the uncertainty in his voice hinted at the fact that he was having a change of mind. “Really?” 

*Yes, Daniel.” I nodded. “I'm divorcing you.”

Time seemed to slow to a halt as he kept his gaze on me. His eyes darted from one corner of my face to the other, but I didn't budge. He'd asked for a divorce and I just gave it to him. 

“No.” His response hit me square in the jaw. “I will not be divorcing you.” 

What?!