In the morning, with red eyes from crying all night, and a body that aches from tossing and turning, Vanessa dragged herself to work at Husband’s Enterprise. She tried very hard to ignore the painful ache in her chest, and covered her eye bags and red eyes with make up, pretending everything was fine.

As she entered the company, waiting behind a few of her coworkers to clock in so she could do the same, she heard them gossiping, completely unaware of her presence—or maybe they just didn’t care.

“Girl! Have you seen the news lately? Isla Johnson is finally back!” Lilly, a blonde co worker whispered excitedly to her friend.

“The model?” her friend, Amelia, asked.

“Yeah, but she’s not just any model. She’s Alec Hudson’s only girlfriend and his true love. Everyone knows he literally can’t live without her,” Lilly said, almost giddy.

“Really? But hasn’t there been talk about that secretary Vanessa and the boss… you know… together?”

Lilly let out a disgusted scoff. “Oh Please, Vanessa? That dumb bitch is just a slut that spreads her legs for anyone with power.”

Amelia chuckled. “What a fucking joke. She probably thought sleeping her way to the top would have him wrapped around her finger, but now that Isla’s back, she’s over and done for. Bet she’s soon going to be losing both her job and her so-called status in one day.” The girls burst out laughing.

Vanessa clenched her fists at her sides. She could feel the heat rising in her face but stayed silent.

After all, No one else knew that she was actually Alec’s wife. Their marriage had been a secret, because Alec had forced her to sign a confidentiality agreement. As far as the world was concerned, she was just the “Secretary that probably sleeps with her boss.”

The girls finally clocked in and stepped aside to let Vanessa do the same, but the girls still kept talking.

Lilly shot Vanessa a sideways glance before continuing, “If I were her, I’d leave the company and probably change cities, or even countries. It’s beyond pathetic to hang on like some desperate home wrecker begging to be the main chick. Honestly, the shame must be unreal.”

Amelia snickered. “Hey, she can hear you.”

Lilly didn’t care. She just smirked. “Well, truth hurts, doesn’t it? She’s trying to steal a man who clearly belongs to someone else.”

Vanessa stared straight ahead, pretending their words didn’t sting.Home wrecker? If only they knew she was Alec’s wife, would they call Isla the home wrecker. But she couldn’t even tell anyone, could she?

She bit her lip as her heart throbbed in pain. Alec hadn’t come home last night, and she didn’t need to guess where he’d been. The thought of him spending the night with Isla at that hotel made her stomach twist, but what hurt more was that he hadn’t even bothered to tell her.

By the time Vanessa made it to Alec’s office, her mood had soured even more. She felt too sick and nauseated to work. All she wanted was to beg for the day off and leave before she broke into a pathetic mess in front of everyone.

When she knocked and entered, Alec didn’t bother to look up from his phone. He was wearing different clothes than the day before, confirming that he had slept, showered and changed in the hotel with Isla.

“You’re late,” he snapped coldly, without even glancing her way.

“I-I’m not feeling well,” Vanessa muttered. “Can I- can I take a day off please?”

“Why? Are you really that sick or you’re just lazy today?” Alec asked flatly, finally looking up, his gray eyes as icy as ever.

Vanessa was offended that he would think she was faking it, in all the years she had been working here, she had never ever taken a sick day, even when she was really sick. “I’m really… not feeling well Alec, please I need this,” she begged, swallowing the bitter knot in her throat, remembering that he had rushed out of their house in the middle of the night to see his ill ex girlfriend, but he didn’t even want to give a day off to his own sick wife.

There was a part of her that wanted to ask him where he had been last night. Wanted to ask if he’d spent the night in the same room with Isla. Whether they shared the same bed, But the words wouldn’t come out. She was terrified of hearing the truth.

“Fine, leave if you want to,” Alec said curtly. When Vanessa hesitated, he raised an eyebrow. “Why are you still here? Is there anything else because I have a lot of work to do today.”

Vanessa’s heart sank. He didn’t even try to be kind or reassure her. It was as if her feelings didn’t matter at all. She shook her head and quietly left the office, feeling more empty and useless than before.

Just as she was leaving the building, Vanessa had the great misfortune of running into the worst person she could ever see today.

Isla Johnson.

The woman was being helped out of her car by her guards, looking effortlessly graceful but extremely fragile like a precious damsel in distress that could collapse at any moment.

To make matters worse, Isla smiled at her as their eyes met, her expression annoyingly joyful like they were old friends.

“Hii, So, you must be Vanessa, right? Alec’s wife?” Isla said, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness. “I’m Isla, you must have heard of me. Nice to meet you.”

Vanessa felt her face flush. Was this supposed to be some kind of joke?

“I just wanted to say, Thanks for looking after my Alec these past few years,” Isla added with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

Vanessa nearly laughed out loud. Look after Her Alec? Was that what Isla thought of her marriage to Alec? That she had been some kind of temporary caretaker or nanny until Isla returned?

“You don’t need to thank me for doing my duty as his wife,” Vanessa responded stiffly, trying to hold onto whatever shred of dignity she had left.

Isla’s smile remained unchanged. “Of course. Well, I just wanted to introduce myself since I’m sure we’ll now be seeing more of each other.”

Just as Isla began to move away, her purse slipped from her hand, clattering to the ground. She paused and even though she had guards around her, she looked at Vanessa with a helpless smile. “Oh sweetie, Could you grab that for me? I can’t quite reach it.”

Vanessa gritted her teeth but she didn’t want to seem petty so she nodded, bending down to pick up the purse. However, just as she reached out for it, Isla suddenly let out a loud cry and tumbled down to the floor on her own.

“What—?” Vanessa jumped back in shock as Isla hit the ground with a soft thud. Blood began trickling from her forehead, and her cries echoed in the parking lot.

Before Vanessa could process what the hell had just happened, a familiar voice shouted across the garage.

“ISLA!”

Vanessa froze. It was Alec. She’d never heard him sound so frantic and angry.

Within seconds, Alec was by Isla’s side, lifting her into his arms with a gentleness that he had never shown Vanessa. His eyes blazed with hot anger and disgust as they locked onto Vanessa then his cold voice cut to her like ice.

“What the hell did you do to her huh? What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

“No, wait I—I didn’t—”

“Get the fuck away from her!” Alec snapped, pushing her aside without a second thought.

Vanessa stumbled, falling onto the cold concrete as she watched him pick up and cradle Isla in his arms, whispering softly to her just like he did in the photos last night. The tenderness and care in his eyes was something Vanessa had never ever seen directed at her in all their years together.

And as he carried Isla away, Vanessa sat there, her heart shattered, realizing just how worthless she really was to him.

“Isla, I want to apologize for whatever happened back there.”Alec said, his tone disappointed as he stared at Isla after the private nurse finished tending to her.

He kept glancing at the bandage on her forehead, but there wasn’t much sympathy behind his eyes. “I don’t know what’s gotten into Vanessa. She used to be a calm woman.” He could still picture the moment in the parking lot, where it looked like Vanessa was dragging Isla from her wheelchair. The thought of her hurting Isla out of sheer jealousy sent a jolt of irritation through him.

After all, Isla had become sick because of him, and now his wife’s jealousy seemed to be making things worse for her. Alec felt very guilty.

“Please I really hope you can forgive Vanessa. I don’t know what got into her, I prom She usually doesn’t act like this,” Alec sighed.

They were leaving the private hospital he had rushed her to, Islawas leaning against him as he picked her up and put her in the car. She was so weak and helpless that he had to carry her everywhere.

Isla smiled weakly, her hand reaching out to touch his face, as if trying to comfort him despite everything. “Alec, please don’t blame your wife, this isn’t Vanessa’s fault. I fell on my own… I think the floor was a little slippery and I wasn’t strong enough to hold my weight.”

Alec’s eyes narrowed slightly. “So, Vanessa didn’t push you?Are you sure because I don’t want you to lie just to protect her.

Isla shook her head, biting her lip. “No, she didn’t. Please, don’t blame her for this. I don’t want to cause any trouble between you two.”

Alec’s brow furrowed, irritation creeping in as he thought back to how he had yelled at his wife and roughly shoved her aside without a second thought. He hadn’t even checked on her after she hit the ground.

“Misread the whole situation, didn’t I?” he muttered, though there was little warmth or regret in his tone. His voice was cold, almost detached.

Isla gave him that same gentle smile. “Go and talk to her, clear things up.”

Alec glanced at her, noting how she still seemed as soft and forgiving as ever. Nodding, he finally said, “I’ll speak with her. But first, I’ll get you home. I’ve called someone to bring you back home.”

“I can wait here. You don’t need to worry about me,” Isla said softly. “Go to Vanessa before it gets worse.”

“She’ll understand when I explain things,” Alec replied, his voice void of much emotion.

Meanwhile, Vanessa was seated at a diner with her best friend, Amber, trying to process everything.

“You’re pregnant?” Amber exclaimed, her eyes wide in disbelief. “That’s huge news!”

Vanessa’s lips tightened into a sad smile. “I’m not sure it is. You were right last night. The man you saw… it was Alec. And that woman with him? She’s Isla, his ex and the one he’s always loved.”

Amber’s expression darkened instantly. “Are you kidding me? Is he seeing his old flame behind your back?”

Vanessa shook her head, looking down at the cup in her hands. “I’ve always known there wasn’t love between us but I agreed to marry him because I loved him and I always hoped he would love me back one day. But seeing him with her… maybe it’s time to do what I’ve been avoiding for so long. I need to let him go.”

“You can’t be serious. You’re pregnant! Why would you leave now?” Amber scoffed. “You’ve got the upper hand here. That woman has no claim on him. You’re the wife, Vanessa.”

“And what’s the point?” Vanessa’s voice was quieter now. “You didn’t see the way he reacted when he thought I pushed her. He shoved me aside without a second thought. I can’t keep fighting for a man who doesn’t want to be fought for.”

Amber’s face softened in sympathy, but her resolve remained strong. “Tell him about the baby, Vanessa. His little reunion with his old flame will mean nothing once he knows there’s a child involved.”

Vanessa’s hand instinctively moved to her belly, where her child was growing. But all she could think about was Alec’s coldness, his complete disregard for her when it mattered. What if he didn’t even want this child? What if he asked her to get rid of it, just to keep his life free of complications?

“I’m not telling him,” Vanessa said firmly, shaking her head. “He never actually wanted to marry me, Amber, he only asked me to marry him because he didn’t want any other man to have me. A child would only get in the way of his real happiness.”

Amber let out a long, frustrated sigh. She could see that Vanessahad already made up her mind. “Well, whatever you decide, I’m with you. Just promise me you won’t give up on your own happiness.”

Later that evening, Alec returned home to find Vanessa waiting in the living room. As he walked in, he replayed the events of earlier in his mind, his brief guilt mixing with frustration.

“Vanessa, about what happened earlier, I—” he began, his tone still somewhat distant.

“I have something to say first,” Vanessa interrupted, her voice steady and calm as she stood and handed him a stack of papers.

Alec glanced at the documents, a confused frown forming on his face. “What is this? Work papers? Can’t it wait? We need to talk about—”

“It can’t wait,” Vanessa said sharply. “Those are my resignation and divorce papers, Alec. It’s time we end this charade. Let’s part ways.”

Alec’s expression hardened, but he didn’t argue. “So, that’s it, huh? After everything?” His voice remained as cold as ever.

“Yes,” Vanessa replied simply. “It’s clear that we have never cared for each other so this has been overdue.”