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!"

In the desperate struggle for life, Allison saw Braydon dive into the water.

He wrapped Kathleen in a tight hold though and swam hard back to the shore.

He chose Kathleen.

That realization cut deeper than the autumn lake water.

Her body sank slow. Darkness swallowed her vision bit by bit.

Allison refused to accept it. She did not want to die like this.

She had no way out though.

Just as she teetered on the edge of unconsciousness, a passing doctor stepped in and hauled her to the surface.

She coughed for ages. When she looked up, she saw Braydon kneeling by the bank. He patted Kathleen's back with worry.

Only after he confirmed Kathleen stayed safe did he lift his head. He spotted Allison soaked through.

Color drained from his face in a flash. He rushed over in a frenzy. "Allison! How did this happen to you? I did not know. I did not know it was you in the water. The water was too murky. I just saw someone thrashing. I..."

Allison raised her hand. She cut off his rambling excuses. "It does not matter."

Her voice rasped. "It really does not matter anymore."

Braydon froze in place. That utter calm unnerved him.

He would rather she cried. She raged. She hit him or yelled at him.

Not this. Not like she looked at a stranger.

Allison turned her gaze away coolly. She thanked the doctor who saved her in a soft voice.

Then she turned. She walked away step by step.

Each one crushed the old self who loved Braydon deep underfoot.

The man who swore he would always protect her, in her hour of greatest need, he pushed her into the abyss himself.

The heart could truly die this completely.

Allison returned to the marital home she shared with Braydon. She started packing her things.

She took only the clothes and jewelry she bought before marriage. As for the gifts he gave later, she didn't touch them.

Braydon rushed back. He caught sight right away of the staff loading a set of her favorite costumes onto the car with care.

His face went pale as a ghost. He grabbed Allison's wrist. His voice shook with fear. "Allison! What's the meaning of this?"

Allison glanced at him flatly. "The show starts next week. Some costumes need to go to the theater early."

That explanation did not fully ease Braydon.

He bolted into the house. He flung open the walk-in closet. He saw plenty of her usual clothes and bags still there. He let out a long breath of relief.

He tried to pull her into his arms. His voice carried the relief of a close call. "You scared me to death. I thought you meant to leave this home."

Allison sidestepped his touch. A mocking curve touched her lips. "Why would I leave?"

Braydon faltered. He stammered half a minute before he forced out. "Allison, Kathleen is just my subordinate. Back in the water, what she yelled about the child came from her muddled head after choking. Do not overthink it."

Allison nodded in vague agreement.

She stopped caring.

He signed the divorce papers already. The marriage existed in name only.

Who he cared for or fathered a child with stayed far from her world now.

"I will not stay home the next few days." Her tone stayed flat, like a simple notice. "I booked a room at the hotel near the theater, so I can focus on the show."

Braydon's eyes rimmed red. Pleading edged his voice. "Allison, you are still mad at me, right?"

"I am not mad." Her gaze stayed even. "I just need to concentrate."

He clutched her hand in haste. "Then I will stay with you at the hotel."

Before the words settled, his phone rang.

Allison's eyes flicked to the screen. She read the flashing name clear as day. Kathleen.