Chapter 01

NORA'S POV

The rain was pouring hard, soaking me as I rushed into Sam’s company building. I had not taken my car because it was a trekkable distance, and I had not anticipated the rain.

My heels clicked against the marble floor, and my clothes were sticking to my skin, but none of that mattered. I held the watch tight under my coat, protecting it from the rain.

It was Sam's watch—a leather-strapped heirloom passed down from his father. He always wore it during important meetings, like a good luck charm. This morning, I saw it lying on the nightstand. He left in such a hurry, barely saying goodbye, that I knew he would need it today.

Genevieve had encouraged me to go to him. To show him this act of kindness. She believed it would touch her brother's heart.

He had been distant lately, colder, like the man I married was fading away. We used to be best friends, but now? Now, it felt like he barely knew me.

I knew it was pathetic to get my husband’s attention like this, but that’s what it was.

As the elevator doors closed, I glanced at my reflection in the metal panel. My hair was a mess, my makeup ruined, but I straightened my shoulders. Maybe giving him the watch would remind him. Of what, I wasn’t sure, but anything was better than this growing silence.

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open to reveal the top floor of Sam’s office building. I stepped out, forcing a smile as I passed by a few familiar faces in the hallway.

"Morning, Mrs. Bennett," Anna, Sam's assistant, greeted me with her usual chipper tone.

"Morning, Anna," I replied, trying to keep my voice light. "Is Sam in his office?"

She nodded, her eyes flicking quickly to the watch in my hand. “Yes, but he’s preoccupied right now.”

"Of course he is," I muttered under my breath, pressing on.

I walked down the hall, my heels clicking against the marble floor, past the rows of glass-walled offices. I exchanged a quick nod with Roger from finance as I hurried toward Sam’s office at the end of the hall. My pace slowed as I neared the door. Something felt... off.

Then I saw it.

Draped over the arm of a chair outside Sam’s office was a woman’s coat. Deep burgundy. Cashmere. Expensive.

I stopped dead in my tracks. My heart thudded, and a chill crept up my spine.

I didn’t need to touch it to know whose it was. Isabella.

Her signature scent lingered in the air—jasmine and vanilla. The same scent she always wore back in college, back when Sam had first introduced her to us. My stomach tightened as the memories came rushing back.

It had been a warm spring afternoon. I had been sitting at a small café with Genevieve and Jacob, Sam’s cousin, laughing about something meaningless when Sam walked up. He had this confident grin plastered on his face, and trailing behind him was Isabella—tall, graceful, and stylish even then.

Genevieve had been the first to notice. She shot me a quick glance, raising an eyebrow. I knew exactly what she meant. Neither of us liked her instantly, though we couldn’t say why.

“Guys, this is Isabella,” Sam had said, introducing her as though she were someone we should already know. “We met in class last week. She’s new here.”

Isabella smiled politely, her perfect red lips curving as she extended a hand. Her dark hair cascaded down her back in effortless waves, and her white blouse tucked into fitted jeans gave her the appearance of being effortlessly chic.

“Nice to meet you,” she had said in that smooth, polished voice that always sounded like she was two steps ahead of everyone else.

“Nice to meet you too,” I had replied, my tone a little cooler than intended. Genevieve had merely nodded, her arms crossed as she eyed Isabella like she was a puzzle that didn’t quite fit.

Jacob, of course, had been immediately captivated, standing up to pull out a chair for her. “Sit, join us,” he had offered, too eagerly.

But Isabella hadn’t sat. Instead, she’d given a delicate laugh and said, “Maybe next time. I’ve got to run. Sam and I are heading to the library.”

And just like that, she had whisked Sam away, leaving us to wonder what had just happened.

I blinked, pulling myself back to the present. That same knot tightened in my stomach as I stared at her coat now, lying casually over the chair, like she belonged here.

Without thinking, I reached for the door and pushed it open.

The room was as impressive as ever—floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the entire city, sleek furniture, and Sam standing by his desk, deep in conversation. His back was to me, but I knew that posture well—his broad shoulders, the crisp lines of his tailored suit. He was powerful, commanding, the kind of man who seemed to have everything under control.

But something was wrong.

“Sam,” I called softly, holding up the watch. “You forgot this.”

He turned slowly, and for a split second, his blue eyes met mine. There was a flicker of surprise, maybe regret, but it disappeared just as quickly, replaced by that familiar, guarded look. He didn’t even move to take the watch.

And then I saw her.

Isabella.

She stood up from the couch, that same knowing smile on her lips. Her dark hair cascaded down her shoulders, just as perfect as it had been in college, and she wore a sleek dress that clung to her figure in all the right places.

“Nora,” she said smoothly, her voice dripping with false warmth, “it’s been so long.”

I clenched the watch in my hand, forcing myself to smile. “Not long enough.”

Sam’s eyes flicked between us, but he didn’t say a word. He just stood there, silent, like I had interrupted something I wasn’t supposed to see.

“You didn’t need to bring the watch,” Sam finally said, his voice colder than I expected. “I wasn’t going to need it today. The meeting with the board was cancelled last minute”.

You could have told me that Sam, I thought to myself sadly.

I glanced at him and Isabella. The tension in the room was thick, suffocating. There was no mistaking it—whatever they were talking about before I arrived, I wasn’t meant to hear it.

“Well, you have it now,” I said, holding the watch out toward him. My hand trembled slightly, but I steadied it.

Isabella stepped closer, placing her hand on Sam’s arm, her red nails tapping softly against his sleeve. “Nora, how thoughtful of you,” she said, her voice sweet, but I knew better. “You look… well.”

Her words were like a dagger, twisting in my chest. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, and yet I couldn’t stand the sight of her either.

Sam finally walked over and took the watch from my hand, his fingers brushing mine for the briefest moment. It felt like he was a million miles away.

Sam glanced at Isabella, then back at me, his face unreadable. “We’ve been making progress on the project. Isabella’s been a huge help.”

I could barely focus on his words. All I saw was the way Isabella leaned into him, her hand still on his arm. My throat tightened, but I forced myself to respond. “I’m sure she has.”

Isabella laughed, the sound soft and dangerous. “Remember that night in Paris, Sam? We should do it again when this is all over.”

My heart stopped. Paris. That was where Sam and I had spent our honeymoon. Now it felt tainted, like a memory twisted into something ugly. I looked at Sam, waiting for him to say something, anything, to make it better. But he didn’t deny it.

The silence between us stretched thin, and I realized—this was it. This was the moment where everything I had feared was staring me in the face. The watch in my hand felt heavy, like a symbol of all the things slipping away.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “I’ll let you get back to your meeting.”

But as I turned to leave, I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever was going on here, it wasn’t just a business meeting.

And it wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Isabella’s voice stopped me.

“Nora, you seem pale. Are you alright?” Her words were a challenge, daring me to crumble.

I paused, but I wouldn’t let her see how much she affected me emotionally. I turned back and met her gaze. “I’m fine. Thank you for asking.”

With that, I walked out, not bothering to look back at Sam. The door clicked shut behind me, and I let out a breath I didn’t realise I was holding.

As I walked down the hallway, my chest tightened. I didn’t know if I was losing Sam to his work or to Isabella, but either way, he was slipping away. And I had no idea how to get him back. The thought of divorce crept into my mind, a dark, unwelcome presence that I quickly pushed away.

But as I walked down that hallway, I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe—just maybe—divorce was exactly what Sam wanted.