1. The Shattered Vows

The boardroom was cold, sterile, and suffocatingly silent. The only sound was the faint hum of the air conditioning and the occasional shuffle of papers. Amelia Hayes sat at the far end of the long mahogany table, her fingers curled tightly around a stack of documents she had spent months perfecting. The weight of exhaustion pressed down on her, but she ignored it, forcing herself to sit upright. The contract in her hands was a masterpiece, a deal that would bring in millions, solidifying Cavendish Corporation’s dominance in the market.

She should have felt victorious.

Instead, there was only an eerie, lingering tension in the room.

Across from her, Ethan Cavendish, her husband of five years, the man she had loved, built a life with, sat in his plush leather chair with the cool detachment of a man utterly indifferent to the woman sitting before him. There was something unsettling about the way he stared at her, as if he were a stranger rather than the man who had once sworn to stand by her side.

Amelia slid the finalized contract across the table toward him. "It’s done. The investors have everything they need. The deal is finalized," she said, her voice measured, though she could feel the strain behind it.

Ethan barely acknowledged her. His glanced at the papers, but his attention was fleeting. He leaned back, exhaling a breath that reeked of disinterest. "Good." 

No gratitude. No recognition of the months she had spent negotiating, refining, and securing this multi-million-dollar deal for Cavendish Corporation. Just good.

Instead, Ethan reached into his briefcase and pulled out a crisp white envelope, and slid them across the desk with that same calculated nonchalance. Amelia’s stomach twisted with unease.

"What is this?" she asked warily.

Ethan leaned back, crossing one leg over the other, his face devoid of emotion. "Divorce papers."

The words crashed into her like a physical blow.

“What?” The word barely made it past her lips.

“You heard me.” His voice was maddeningly calm. “It’s over.”

She blinked, her vision swimming as she scanned the crisp legal text. Words like irreconcilable differences and dissolution of marriage blurred together. For a moment, she could only stare, unable to comprehend the meaning behind them. 

"This isn’t funny, Ethan," she said, forcing a laugh that held no humor. "You’re ending our marriage?"

“I’m not joking.” His tone was clipped, business like she was just another contract to terminate. “I think we both know this was inevitable.”

She looked up at him sharply, searching for any flicker of hesitation. “No, I don’t know that. We built this together, Ethan. I built this with you.”

"You should have," he said simply.

Her throat tightened. "Is there someone else?"

A silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Then, a slow, measured chuckle rose from the corner of the room. Amelia’s stomach lurched as she turned toward the source, and there, lounging comfortably on the leather couch, was Sophie Laurent.

The younger woman lounged on the leather couch like she owned the place. Dark hair framed a face that was infuriatingly smug, lips curled in amusement. Amelia’s blood turned to ice. Sophie had been a frequent guest at their home, a supposed friend. Ethan’s assistant’s daughter, polite and eager to learn. The realization hit like a gut punch, this had been happening under her nose.

Sophie stood, her movements fluid, elegant, calculated. Dressed in a fitted emerald dress that hugged her every curve, she exuded confidence, her dark eyes gleaming with something that sent a chill down Amelia’s spine.

“Surprised?” Sophie murmured, a smirk playing at her lips. She sauntered over to Ethan and perched herself on the arm of his chair, resting a hand possessively on his shoulder.

A deep, sickening sense of betrayal coiled inside Amelia’s chest, but she refused to let it break her. "Her?" Her voice was low, steady, despite the way her hands trembled at her sides.

Ethan didn’t flinch. " Let’s be honest, Amelia. This marriage has been over for a while. I’ve outgrown it. Sophie and I are moving forward together."

Her heart hammered, not from pain, but from sheer disbelief. Outgrown it? As if she were a phase. A stepping stone. A bitter laugh escaped Amelia’s lips. "Moving forward?" she repeated, shaking her head. “And Sophie?”

“She understands where I’m heading. She supports my vision.”

Amelia let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Supports? You mean worships.” She shot a glare at Sophie. “Is that what you wanted? A man who built everything off of someone else’s work?”

Sophie’s smugness flickered, just for a second before she masked it with a smirk. “At least I know where I stand.”

Every ounce of love she had once held for Ethan evaporated in that moment. “You disgust me, Ethan. How long? How long have you been betraying me?"

Sophie let out a small sigh. "Oh, Amelia. Must we be so dramatic?"

"Dramatic? You slept with my husband!"

Sophie arched a perfectly shaped brow. "He wasn’t much of a husband to you, now, was he?"

Amelia’s hands curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms so hard they nearly broke the skin. She forced herself to breathe. Don’t break. Don’t let them see you break.

Ethan spoke up, his patience thinning. "You were useful, Amelia. But things change."

Useful!

The word cut deeper than any knife ever could.

Ethan exhaled, as if bored with her reaction. “There’s no need for dramatics, Amelia. Sign the papers. I’ll even let you keep the house.”

Her laugh was cold and humorless. “You think a house makes up for this?” She stood, planting her hands on the table. “I sacrificed everything for you. My career, my time, my trust.”

Ethan’s gaze didn’t waver. “No one asked you to.”

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then, without another word, Amelia grabbed the divorce papers, crumpling them in her hand. "I'll sign them. But don’t think for a second that you’ve won, Ethan.”

He smirked. “I already have.”

Amelia turned and walked out of the boardroom, her heart pounding, her world crumbling around her. Ethan barely looked at her before turning his attention back to Sophie. The sight made Amelia’s stomach churn.

But she would not break.

The moment Amelia stepped outside the towering glass doors of Cavendish Corporation, the cold evening air hit her like a slap. The world outside felt different, emptier, but she barely felt it. The betrayal, the humiliation, the sheer rage inside her burned hotter than anything.

She stopped at a quiet café, slipping inside purely out of instinct. The warmth of the small space was a stark contrast to the emptiness she felt inside.

She ordered a drink, but by the time it arrived, she barely touched it. She was too lost in thought, replaying the last hour over and over again.

Her phone vibrated against the table. She let out a breath and finally glanced at the screen.

“Amelia?” Sarah’s voice came through the line, filled with concern. “Are you okay?”

Her throat tightened. She didn’t trust herself to speak, so she stayed silent.

“Amelia?” Sarah pressed.

“He’s divorcing me,” Amelia finally managed to say, her voice breaking on the last word. She explained the situation to her. 

“I will kill him. No, I will ruin him. Which do you prefer?”

Amelia let out a breathy chuckle, rubbing her temples. “Both, honestly.”

 “Are you okay?”

Amelia closed her eyes, trying to block out the pain. “No. But I will be.”

“The hell it is!” Sarah said fiercely. “You’re not just going to let him get away with this, are you?”

“What choice do I have?” Amelia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You’re stronger than this,” Sarah said. “You built that company with him. Don’t let him take everything from you.”

Amelia wanted to believe her friend, but right now, all she felt was empty.

But the universe had other plans.

Then, Amelia’s phone buzzed again. An email notification. She clicked it open, her breath catching at the subject line:

Termination of Partnership Agreement – Cavendish Corporation

Ethan wasn’t just taking their marriage. He was erasing her from the business she had helped him build.

She didn’t remember driving home. Didn’t remember stepping into the apartment she had shared with Ethan. All she knew was that her hands were shaking as she poured herself a drink, the amber liquid sloshing over the rim.

Then, her phone vibrated once again, this time with a call from an unknown number. Against her better judgment, she answered.

“Hello?”

“Ms. Hayes?” The voice on the other end was deep and smooth, with a commanding presence. “This is Adrian Black.”

Her brow furrowed. She recognized the name immediately, the name sending a jolt through her system. Adrian Black was the youngest CEO in the city, a man as ruthless as he was brilliant. He was feared and respected in equal measure. Her ex-husband had spoken of him often, usually with a mix of envy and trepidation.

“I hear you’ve had an interesting evening.”

Her pulse quickened. “What can I do for you, Mr. Black?”

“I have a proposition for you. One that you might find intriguing.”

“Let’s discuss it over dinner,” Adrian said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Tomorrow night. I’ll send a car.”

Before she could respond, the line went dead. Amelia stared at her phone, a mixture of curiosity and apprehension swirling within her. Her mind raced. A proposition? From Adrian Black?

What could he possibly want from her?