The Divorce That Freed Me

amily' s annual foundation gala, a night meant to celebrate their power, their legacy, and, specifically, my husba

hard wa

ing mine. He was only five, looking lost in his tiny tuxedo. Every few minutes, a gue

Ava? The ceremony

e words tasting like ash. "You know

woman, Chloe, clung to his arm, her expression a mixture of triumph and feigned shyness. Between them, hol

d me, spreading like a virus. Richard saw me, his eyes holding no apology, only

but firm, for my ears only. "

lished smile on my face had frozen, a brittle mask that felt like i

er, sensing the shift in th

lided to his side. Her face was a stony mask of d

ne, Ava," she warn

he room, taking the microphone. The room fell silent again, waiting for the aw

. "Before we begin, I have an important announcement. This is Chloe, and this is m

st to me, but to everyone who understood the rules of our world. He was publi

my reaction. They didn' t care about my pain. They cared about the scandal. They wanted me to be

ment. I felt Liam trembling behind me. I had to be strong for him. But my