Chapter 5

Seth’s face turned bright red.

I ignored him and turned to walk away.

But I barely made it two steps before he grabbed my arm.

"Vanessa! You won't even take my money?"

"What is your problem?"

"Am I just a stranger to you now?"

I pulled my arm free.

"We broke up three years ago."

"It's better if we keep our distance."

"I wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong idea."

I was thinking about my fiercely loyal, slightly jealous billionaire husband.

But Seth glanced over at Chloe.

He looked like he had it all figured out.

"My company is hosting a massive gala for Mr. Vance in three days."

"I was actually planning to bring you as my plus-one."

"To let you experience high society."

"But you'd need to buy a decent dress."

"I can't have you embarrassing me—"

I cut him off immediately.

"I really don't need to go. Thanks."

Hearing me reject him again, Seth grew annoyed.

His hand, still holding the twenty-thousand-dollar check, hovered awkwardly in the air.

He was grinding his teeth.

"Vanessa, you've really grown a spine, haven't you?"

"It's true what they say."

"The poorer you get, the bigger your attitude."

"Fine! If you don't want to go, forget it!"

"I'll take Chloe!"

Hearing that she got to attend the billionaire's gala, Chloe's eyes lit up.

"Seth, I promise I'll be perfect!"

"I absolutely won't embarrass you!"

I was so incredibly done with them.

I turned around and strode away.

But I tossed one last look over my shoulder.

"I hope you're still this confident in three days."

I practically sprinted out of the arrivals terminal.

Hitting the fresh air outside.

Finally pushing down the nausea churning in my stomach.

My mind flashed back to three years ago.

My parents had been pressuring me into an arranged marriage overseas.

I fought them on it.

I begged Seth, my boyfriend of seven years, to just elope with me.

To sign the papers and make us permanent.

Seth agreed.

But when I showed up at the County Clerk’s Office...

He brought his childhood sweetheart, Chloe.

He told me her baby needed a legal father.

He told me he'd divorce her in a month and marry me then.

He told me not to overthink it.

Watching him hold her hand and walk into that Clerk’s Office...

I’m completely done.

I flew overseas for a blind date that very night.

A month later, I married Grayson Vance.

A year later, we had our first baby.

And now, I'm pregnant with our second.

Honestly, if it wasn't for Grayson's family memorial...

I never would have set foot back in this country.

And I definitely wouldn't have bumped into Seth.