Chapter 2

Maverick's words hit Nicole like a thunderclap, shattering her soul. A bone-chilling cold and overwhelming despair washed over her, leaving her numb to the core. Playing a part. Duty. Boredom. Exhaustion. His heart belonged entirely to Chloe. Each word was like a venom-tipped blade, cutting deep into the heart that had beaten only for him for so many years, until nothing remained but a mangled mess. She couldn't bring herself to hear another word. Pressing a hand over her mouth to stifle a sob, she stumbled back and bolted, fleeing as if escaping the pits of hell. She scrambled back to her room, pressing her back against the cold wood as she slid to the floor. Tears burst free like a breached dam, hot and unstoppable. She and Maverick had been childhood sweethearts for as long as she could remember. Even as kids, he had been possessive, boldly declaring his love and warning every other boy to stay away from her. He was devastatingly handsome and came from an elite family. All his life, admirers had flocked to him, throwing themselves at him like moths to a flame. But he had always brushed them off with a careless shrug. His gaze would drift past the crowd to find her, filled with a devotion that seemed to say, "Look, you're the only one I'd ever stay for." Among those admirers was Chloe—the plainest of the lot, yet the most persistent. It had started back in high school after a humiliating incident where Chloe had stained her pants during her period. While the other boys snickered and whispered, Maverick had stepped in with gentlemanly grace, wrapping his school jacket around her waist to shield her from prying eyes. From that day on, Chloe had clung to him like a burr. He had gone from indifference to outright rejection, eventually showing clear disgust for her. Yet now, while Nicole was completely blindsided, he had somehow allowed that obsessive devotion to wear him down. His heart had shifted entirely to a woman Nicole had never even considered a threat. And what about her? The woman he had chased and cherished above all else for over a decade? Was he only playing at love out of habit and obligation? How pathetic. How utterly absurd. She had given him everything—her first love, her first kiss. On her 19th birthday, beneath a canopy of starlight, he had whispered sweet promises, coaxing her into bed where he gently yet possessively took her virginity. He told her she was his only one, that he would love and protect her forever. But every sweet word and every vow of eternal devotion had curdled into the sharpest irony, piercing her heart until it bled. It hurt. It was a soul-crushing, agonizing pain. But even more than the pain was the anger and icy numbness that came from being betrayed and made to look like a fool. She wasn't that pathetic. She wasn't some unwanted charity case. Did he really think that if he broke up with her, she would be so devastated that she'd kill herself? No. If she was strong enough to give him over ten years of her life, she was strong enough to walk away too. At that thought, Nicole wiped away her tears. The shattered look in her eyes gradually hardened into a cold, sharp resolve. Without a moment's hesitation, she pulled out her phone and submitted an online application for an overseas visa. Due to a childhood trauma, Maverick suffered from a crippling fear of flying. He never set foot on a plane and almost never traveled abroad. By leaving the country, she was severing all ties to him and everything they shared. Nicole took a deep breath to steady her fraying nerves, then stood and went to the bathroom to splash ice-cold water on her face. Climbing back into bed, she pretended nothing had happened and closed her eyes. It wasn't long before the mattress dipped slightly. A warm chest pressed against her back, a familiar arm wrapping around her waist. It was Maverick. Even though he had married Chloe, he had never once spent the night in her room. Like clockwork, he came to Nicole every night, using his presence as a silent vow that he belonged to her, body and soul. Once, this embrace had been Nicole's sanctuary. Now, the intimacy only filled her with stinging disgust. He stayed with her, holding her close, while his heart and mind remained with another woman. The searing pain of betrayal made Nicole wrench herself from his arms. "Go sleep in Chloe's room." The man behind her went visibly rigid. "She's your legal wife, Maverick," Nicole continued, her voice edged with mockery. "So what does that make us? I have no title. We're just sleeping together in this sordid mess. If word got out, what kind of woman would people think I am?" "Nicky!" Maverick cried out in panic. He sat up and grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to face him. "Why are you saying this again? You know my marriage to her was just a means to an end—the only way to save you. You're the one I love. You know that." He seemed to realize something, and his voice softened. "Are you still upset about what Chloe did in the study? Don't be. I've already given Chloe a stern warning. She won't lay a finger on my things again, and I've banned her from the study entirely. Alright?" Listening to his earnest explanation, Nicole felt as if a knife were being twisted in her heart. She hadn't realized he was such a consummate actor. It had taken her this long to finally see the cracks in his performance. She bit her lower lip hard, forcing herself to stay silent. Arguing with him was useless. A full-blown confrontation would only make her current situation more humiliating. She needed time. She needed to make sure she could leave this place without any complications. Maverick noticed her silence and let out a sigh of relief. He settled into a comfortable position and pulled her into his arms as usual. He had no idea that the woman in his embrace was staring into the darkness with bloodshot eyes until the first light of dawn broke through the window. … The next morning, Nicole woke to find the space beside her empty. She washed up and headed downstairs. As she reached the dining room door, she found Chloe standing by the table with two breakfast plates in her hands, trembling like a pitiable waif. Maverick stood across from her, his expression dark with irritation. "Didn't I tell you to stop doing this? We have maids for a reason!"