Chapter 2

Exhaustion finally took over. I pulled my gaze away and stared out the window.

"Fine. I’m petty."

"Sign the divorce papers, and you’ll never have to look at my petty face again."

Julian didn't agree.

He stood up smoothly. "You just woke up. You're emotional."

"Once you're discharged, I'll buy you that designer bag you wanted."

My stomach churned in disgust.

Always this.

He truly believed money could fix anything.

On the anniversary of my mother's passing, he promised to visit her grave with me, only to ditch me to sit with Chloe all day because she had a bad day.

Six months ago, when I asked him to drive me to my allergy follow-up, Chloe had a mild fever. He stayed at her bedside, and later bought me a ruby necklace to "make it up to me."

Julian always claimed, "Chloe saved my life. I owe her everything."

There were a thousand ways to repay a debt of gratitude. He could buy her a house. He could give her a trust fund.

Why did it always have to be at my expense?

Hurting me to soothe her.

That wasn't repaying a debt.

That was an emotional affair.

After Julian left, a man in a white lab coat stepped into the room.

He was tall, with broad shoulders, sharp features, and silver-rimmed glasses that gave him a calm, clinical demeanor.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Dr. Ethan Reed. I was an attendee at the gala last night, and the one who pushed you into the ER."

He glanced at me thoughtfully. "Rough conversation?"

A bitter smile touched my lips. "Are all doctors this observant?"

"Not observation. Your heart monitor was spiking."

I followed his gaze to the monitor.

Some pain doesn't need words; the body tells the truth.

I looked at him suddenly. "Did the dessert really have peanuts?"

"Preliminary tests say yes. The hotel sample has been sealed, and the hospital has preserved the full toxicology and emergency intake report."

"Thank you."

Ethan met my eyes. "If you plan on taking legal action, do it through the proper channels. Don't gamble with your health again."

After he left, I dialed a number.

Resting against the pillow, I said, "Hi, Sam. I've decided to divorce Julian."

A three-second pause on the line.

"Good."

Sam paused, then added, "Claire, there's something I have to remind you of. That luxury fragrance line you built for Vance Enterprises—under whose name was the copyright registered?"

My heart seized.

Two years ago, when Julian’s company wanted to pivot to high-end lifestyle products, no one believed a supply-chain startup could sell luxury perfume.

I was the one who pulled out my late mother's heirloom recipe journals. I reformulated the scents, wrote the brand story, and designed the packaging.

I named the signature fragrance "Velvet Mist."

It became an overnight sensation.

Vance Enterprises transformed from a generic logistics company into the trendiest lifestyle brand in the city.

Back then, I loved him so deeply that I believed there was no need to draw lines between husband and wife.

I still remembered Julian wrapping his arms around me, whispering, “Claire, once the company stabilizes, this entire line will be exclusively yours.”

Then, Chloe returned. She was named the brand ambassador for the company’s charity foundation.

She casually mentioned she loved fragrances, so Julian handed over the entire promotional campaign of the perfume line to her.

And I, the actual creator, was reduced to "the trophy wife who just spends his money."

Sam continued, "Vance Enterprises is launching a new scent next month. It’s called 'Gardenia Summer.'"

Gardenia. Chloe's favorite flower.

"They're telling the media that Chloe personally co-developed it. The primary notes are white tea, cedarwood, and bitter orange blossom."

My hand clenched into a tight fist.

That was my mother’s final, unfinished formula.

I had never shown it to Chloe.

The only person who had ever seen those notes was Julian.

After a long time, my voice came out cold and steady.

"Sam, hold off on serving the divorce papers."

My throat still burned, but my mind was sharper than ever.

"Run a full background check on Chloe first."

"Her medical records, and that so-called life-saving incident."