Allison stared at Braydon's handsome face and alluring body. Her first reaction was disgust.

In the past, when she returned from abroad, they truly made the most of their brief separations. They spent entire days in bed.

Now, looking at him like this, her mind filled with images of him tangled naked with Kathleen.

Her stomach churned. She clapped a hand over her mouth and rushed into the bathroom. She dry-heaved violently.

Braydon hurried after her with concern in his voice. "Allison, what's wrong? Is your stomach acting up?"

His hand touched her shoulder. She heaved even harder.

She never imagined she would one day loathe Braydon this much.

As she pondered how to escape this suffocating situation, Braydon's phone rang.

He came back from the call with the same old excuse. "Work issue. I have to head out. There's medicine in the kit. Take it. I'll be back soon."

He had no idea that the moment he left, Allison received an anonymous text. "Come to Grand Plaza Hotel, Suite 18. Got a show for you."

The stage was set. How could she miss it?

Allison arrived at the suite door. Someone left it ajar on purpose. Braydon was already inside.

His face looked frosty. He spoke coldly. "You dared to get my woman drunk. Tired of living?"

Kathleen huddled behind him and trembled.

A middle-aged man who seemed like a boss bowed repeatedly. He groveled. "Mr. Saunders, we're so sorry. We had no idea Ms. Murphy was yours. We won't dare again. Please let it slide."

Braydon snorted. "You think there's a next time? She's done working here. Good luck to you."

With that, he took Kathleen's hand and strode out with commanding presence.

Allison ducked behind a nearby cleaning cart. She heard Braydon say to Kathleen. "Quit this lousy job. If you can't sit still, come to Saunders Enterprises."

Kathleen murmured agreement. Then she asked. "If I join Saunders Enterprises and your wife finds out?"

At the word wife, impatience flickered across Braydon's brow. "Don't mention her. She's a pain."

They walked farther away. Allison caught the rest of their talk from her phone.

That unknown number sent a recording. "Why can't we mention your wife? Aren't you two doing great?"

"She's off on that tour for months. No sign of her. Finally back, and now she's busy with some solo ice show. Never home."

Next came the sound of a sports car unlocking. They must have gotten in.

Braydon let out a long sigh. "Tonight was perfect, but she felt off. Wouldn't let me touch her. I'm about to lose my mind."

After a long silence, Kathleen asked cautiously. "Mr. Saunders, are you that uncomfortable? Maybe... I can help?"

"No." Braydon rejected her sharply. His breathing grew heavier though. "That night I drank too much. I won't betray Allison again."

"Just with hands. That doesn't count as betrayal. You helped me. I want to help you too."

What followed was sticky, breathless panting.

Each sound sliced into Allison's nerves. It hurt beyond words.

Braydon never was the fairy-tale prince on a horse. He was just a fickle man.

His body and heart no longer belonged to her.

Fine then. Allison drew a deep breath. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat.

From now on, Braydon could play around however he wanted. It had nothing to do with her.

On Friday, Allison brought a divorce agreement into the Saunders Enterprises headquarters building.

She had made up her mind to confront Braydon and end the marriage.

The elevator shot straight to the top floor. As the doors opened, she ran right into Kathleen sitting primly at the executive assistant's desk.

Four months pregnant and pampered by Braydon, Kathleen glowed with health. Her cheeks flushed pink, and her eyes sparkled with a glow she could barely hide.

When she saw Allison, she forced a professional smile. Jealousy nearly spilled from her eyes though. "Hello. Do you have an appointment?"

She knew full well who Allison was.

Allison sneered inside.

Even though she planned to let go, she would not let this woman strut in front of her.

Allison curved her lips in a smirk. Her tone dripped with casual disdain. "I'm here for your boss. Go tell him his dearest wife has arrived. He should come greet me."

Kathleen's face twisted in disgust, like she had swallowed a fly whole.

But she knew how to bend without breaking. She shoved down her feelings fast and picked up the intercom.

Braydon pushed through the door moments later. He saw Allison leaning against Kathleen's desk. Panic flashed across his handsome features. "Allison, what brings you here out of the blue?"

"I missed you." Allison tossed him a cool smile and clicked past in her high heels. She headed straight into his office without a sideways glance.

That smile hooked Braydon hard. His eyes glazed over. He hurried after her.

Before he shut the door, Allison shot Kathleen a deliberate look.

She caught the other woman clenching her fists until they cracked. A wave of satisfaction swept through Allison. She slammed the door shut with a snap.

She turned around and froze.

Braydon's office had changed completely.

The leather sofa overflowed with colorful cartoon plush toys.

The old deep gray curtains gave way to soft pinkish-purple ones.

The minimalist vase on his desk vanished. In its place sat a macaron-hued ceramic piece with a flamboyant foxtail lily poking out.

She did not need to guess who did this.

Allison recalled how he brought her here right after he took over the company. He showed her the office.

They kissed deeply by the floor-to-ceiling windows. He said earnestly. "Allison, will you design the decor here? I want to see traces of you in every corner when I work."

Now everything that belonged to her lay buried under fresh layers.

She drew a deep breath. She tamped down the sour ache and fury rising in her chest. She faced Braydon squarely.

He looked awkward. He swept the toys off the sofa in a flurry. "The assistants messed around with this. I'll fix it back to normal tomorrow. Have a seat first."

Allison did not budge.

She stared at that sofa. She could almost picture Braydon and Kathleen tangled on it.

Just like that recording from the car that night. Sticky. Revolting.

It felt filthy to her.

She wasted no time. She pulled the divorce papers from her bag. She flipped to the last page and slapped it down on his desk. "Sign it."

"What's this?" Braydon leaned in to read. From outside came Kathleen's gut-wrenching sobs.

His face shifted. He spun toward the door to rush out.

Allison grabbed his arm. "Sign first."

"Allison. My assistant needs me. I have to check on her."

"Sign then go." Her voice iced over. Her fingers dug in.

Braydon huffed in irritation. He did not even glance at the text. He snatched a pen and scrawled his name at the bottom.

He tossed the pen aside and bolted for the door without looking back. He threw over his shoulder. "Allison, when did you turn so heartless?"

Allison tucked away the signed divorce agreement and let out a long breath.

Braydon skipped reading the details. That spared her a lot of fake tugging and excuses.

This worked out fine. Next month she could leave unburdened.

She stepped out of the office just in time to see Braydon scoop Kathleen up in his arms and dash into the elevator without a backward glance.

The fragile little pregnant woman must have "accidentally" bumped into something again and stirred up fetal distress.

Allison stared blankly at the spot where they vanished.

The elevator doors slid shut slow. Braydon never once looked up at her.

Her heart went hollow for a beat.

She once dreamed of having a child with him.

She even pictured how frantic he would get if something went wrong during her pregnancy.

Now she witnessed his panic firsthand. It just was not for her.

True love shifted in a flash.

The man who once saw only her faded into the river of time. Gone forever.

Whatever. She might as well pretend he died.

Allison sighed softly. She took another elevator down and drove to the hospital.

Years of intense ice training and shows left her with plenty of old injuries. She needed regular therapy.

Today marked her scheduled checkup.

After a full rehab session, she walked out of the therapy center sore all over.

She spotted Kathleen unexpectedly by the artificial lake in the hospital garden.

The other woman clearly waited for her. She curved her lips and hurried over. "Ms. Palmer, nice weather today. Care for a stroll?"

Allison wanted no tangle with her. She walked straight ahead.

Kathleen caught up though. She started bragging in that false-modest way. "I told Mr. Saunders it was just a little bump on the table corner. No big deal. He insisted on rushing me here for a check."

Allison halted sharp. She fixed Kathleen with a cold stare. "If you came to gloat, spare me. Your little games turn my stomach."

Kathleen's laugh grew bolder. "You know, us mistresses have it easy compared to you proper wives. Your husband knocks up another woman, and you sit there cool as ice. If it were me, I'd have passed out from rage."

Allison ignored her. She sidestepped to leave. Kathleen grabbed her wrist though. "Ms. Palmer, you don't seriously plan to just muddle along with Mr. Saunders and raise my kid for me?"

She dropped her voice low with a spiteful grin. "Let me tell you. Fat chance. He slept with me. He said I taste better than you. Replacing you is just a matter of time."

Allison burned with fury. She yanked her hand free. "I told you I don't want to hear it."

That slight tug sent Kathleen toppling straight back though.

She was pregnant after all. Allison reached out on instinct to steady her.

Kathleen twisted and pulled her arm instead. They both tumbled into the lake behind them. Water splashed everywhere.

The icy lake flooded her mouth and nose. Allison could not swim. Her body sank out of control.

Kathleen clung to her clothes like some water spirit. She whispered in her ear. "Guess who he saves first."

Allison struggled to lift her head. In her blurry sight, she made out Braydon rushing over. His face twisted in panic.

Kathleen clearly knew how to swim. She thrashed hard now though. Her cries rang out shrill and helpless. "Mr. Saunders! Save me! Save our baby!"