Buxton Corp's CEO got his ex back.

The cost? His pregnant wife vanished without a word.

Month One:

Calvin didn't flinch. Too busy worshiping his so-called true love.

Month Two:

His buddies placed bets on when Angela would come crawling home.

Month Three:

Panic hit. He sent scouts everywhere to find me. Nothing. Not a whisper.

After that, "Angela Astor" turned into a curse word in Auremburg.

But what no one saw?

He missed her so bad at night, it nearly broke him.

Auremburg, Carmoria.

The Buxtons had this stuck-up tradition—some fancy end-of-year bash where outsiders weren't welcome.

Except this time, someone didn't get the memo.

Enter Gianna Payne. Calvin Buxton's ex. His "one true love."

They strolled in late, dinner already in full swing. Calvin had one arm around her, and guess where they headed?

Straight. To. Me.

I looked at his smug face, and my eyes started to burn.

He was the only guy I'd ever loved. Three years married, and I still hadn't made it past the velvet ropes into his heart.

"Get up. That's not your seat."

No shame. No hesitation. Just straight-up humiliation in front of everyone.

And yeah, he was right. That chair wasn't mine—it belonged to 'Mrs. Buxton.'

Legally, that was me. Emotionally? I might as well have been a ghost.

Now that his precious Gianna had slithered back into Carmoria, I was supposed to just... vanish.

Every pair of eyes in that room turned into knives.

I couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Years of swallowing this kind of crap had left me numb.

Right as I started to stand, Calvin pulled out a bank card and dropped it like he was tipping a waitress. "Is this enough?"

Gasps and whispers shot across the table like sparks off a short fuse.

Three years in, and this wasn't even the first time he tried to slap a price tag on my pride.

CEO of heartless transactions, that's Calvin Buxton for you.

When I didn't react, he blinked like I'd glitched his system. "We've been married three years. You're not raising your price now, are you?"

Boom. One sentence. Instant pride-killer.

I dropped my gaze, about to say something—then Gianna beat me to it.

"Calvin, it's a family event. Don't start drama," she cooed.

Then, like she was doing charity, she slid her bracelet into my hand. "He gave me this for my birthday. It's secondhand now, but you might like it."

I forced a smile, about to pass it back, but she clutched my hand and went in for the kill.

She pointed at my ring and giggled. "That ring? Calvin gave me that too. I told him it was hideous and to toss it. Didn't think someone would actually wear it. Guess you're giving it a second life."

Silence. Thick, choking silence.

I didn't need to look up to feel the stares.

Gossip. Pity. Smirking amusement.

I didn't want anyone's pity.

My nails cut into my palm as I yanked the ring off and set it on the table.

I turned to leave. Calvin's voice stopped me. "Wait. Don't forget the card."

And just like that, I heard it—the sound of my heart cracking.

"Fine."

'Calvin, I forgot to mention... I'm pregnant. And this baby? They'll never know a man like you.'

***

Back home, I stuffed the pregnancy test results behind a stack of sweaters in the closet.

I'd planned to surprise Calvin.

Well, mission accomplished—he beat me to it.

Perfect.

At the bitter end, we finally synced up.

Mutual disappointment: check.

I had just closed the closet when the front door creaked open downstairs.

Gianna's voice floated in first, then came the click of her heels. She latched onto Calvin's arm like she owned him.

Honestly? She looked more like the lady of the house than I ever did.

Calvin spotted me and raised a brow. "Gianna doesn't have a place to stay in Carmoria. She'll be living with us for a few days."

"Alright."

Didn't bother asking why, out of all his mansions and penthouses, this was the only option.

Asking would've just made me look pathetic.

I kept my voice low. "Should I move out? Save you the hassle?"

He frowned, clearly not loving the optics. "No need. Just give up the master bedroom."

"Okay."

No fight. No drama. I just turned and started packing. Guest room it was.

As we passed each other in the hallway, Gianna dialed up her voice. "Calvin, you KNOW I'm a clean freak. Have the housekeeper disinfect the room—I can't deal with dirty spaces."

My steps froze mid-stride. I looked at Calvin.

No way he missed what she really meant.

Of course he didn't. He just didn't care.

"It's too late tonight. I'll take you to a hotel. Come back tomorrow after it's cleaned."

Gianna giggled and launched herself into his arms, tossing me a smug little glance over his shoulder. "Fine, but you have to stay with me. I'll be scared alone."

Calvin didn't even blink. Took her downstairs and walked out the door.

And there I was—standing alone with a half-zipped suitcase and a stomach full of regret.

What a joke.

I glanced down. The mark from my wedding ring still ghosted my finger.

Three years of lies I told myself. Three years of pretending I mattered.

At 11 p.m., I finalized the divorce agreement with my lawyer.

Outside the window, the rain finally started to fall.

Gianna's social feed lit up with a fresh post.

Her and Calvin, curled up on a hotel bed.

She was all dolled up, smiling like she'd just won the lottery.

Caption: [Side by side, with hearts beating as one.]

Yeah. I'd had that kind of embrace once, too.

Six months ago. Right after my mom's funeral.

Three years back, I married Calvin for the money—just enough to cover her medical bills. I knew he didn't love me.

Still sold every last shred of dignity I had.

Didn't matter.

All that cash couldn't save her.

That night, with the rain drowning Auremburg, I sat in the dark, clutching her old clothes, crying so quietly it hurt.

Calvin walked in. Didn't say a word.

He just pulled me onto the bed and held me. All night.

When my mom left this world, when I had absolutely no one left—

He gave me that one, single moment of comfort.

And for a split second, I believed I had a home again.

Really thought I'd made it.

I was so close.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I hit "like" on her post.

Set the phone down. Closed my eyes. Tried to forget.

Ten minutes later, my screen lit up with a pinned message:

[Still awake?]

***

I sat up when I heard the ding.

More messages followed—Calvin, of course.

[I saw Gianna's post. Don't overthink it. I was only with her for a bit.]

Then came the e-wallet transfer. His favorite move: buy peace, buy silence, buy me.

Since Mom died, I'd stopped taking his money unless he pushed.

Usually took a couple nudges before I gave in.

But this time? I accepted it without flinching.

[Thank you, Mr. Buxton.]

Phone rang instantly.

He sounded thrown off. "Why'd you take it so fast this time?"

Before I could answer, Gianna's syrupy voice cut in with a giggle.

"Ms. Astor, since you're still up, could you bring us a bowl of saffron milk soup to the hotel?"

She kept going. "Calvin said you're REALLY good at it. You don't mind letting me try, do you?"

I was ready to shut it down—hard—when another transfer lit up my screen.

Calvin.

Note: [For your trouble.]

Nice. The kind of tip they usually toss to a maid.

Guess I'd officially been downgraded—Mrs. Buxton, now playing the help.

I let out a dry laugh, hung up, and accepted the cash.

Divorce was coming anyway.

Might as well get paid while I still had the title.

By the time I got to the hotel with the soup, it was 2 a.m.

The suite door was cracked open—like they'd been expecting me.

I stepped onto the plush carpet, and there it was—Gianna's voice, floating out.

"Calvin, I heard that when Ms. Astor's mom died, you held her on the bed all night. Is that true? Did you fall in love with her?"

I froze. Barely breathed.

I'd already made up my mind to leave.

Didn't stop my heart from pounding like a drumline.

That night came rushing back—the storm, the silence, the way I let myself believe I'd found love.

'Calvin... do you even remember?'

Inside, he was by the window, staring out at the rain. Lost in it.

Just like he was that night. Six months ago.

Gianna nudged him, all whiny and impatient. "Calvin, you still haven't answered me."

He blinked, snapping back. His voice was calm, but it hit like a slap.

"No... I just felt sorry for her. Like I would for a stray cat or dog. That's all."

Crash.

The container slipped from my hands. Soup everywhere.

All eyes turned.

Calvin stepped out first, freezing when he saw me.

"You... When did you get here?"

I didn't answer. Just knelt down and started cleaning.

Calvin frowned and crouched next to me. Reached out to help.

I flinched without thinking. Pulled back.

His hand froze midair, then dropped like nothing happened.

But Gianna saw. Of course she did. Her eyes lit up with that petty flash of jealousy.

She grabbed her designer bag, pulled out a bill, and dangled it in front of me. "Ms. Astor, thanks for your trouble. Here's your delivery fee."

That bill didn't just float down—it hit my pride like a slap.

Back when my mom was sick, I swallowed every bit of pride just to keep her alive.

Now that she was gone? The humiliation stayed exactly the same.

I gave a bitter little smile. "Thanks."

Took the money. Turned to leave.

Calvin grabbed my wrist. His voice sharp. "You're not angry at all?"

My eyes flickered.

Angry? At what?

Or maybe the better question—do I even get to be?

To him, I was just a stray he felt like rescuing.

A project. A pity case.

When he felt generous, he kept me.

When he didn't, I was disposable.

"I should go. It's late."

Knowing my place never bought me kindness.

Calvin blocked the door, eyes shadowed. "You didn't used to be like this."

"And you didn't used to just stand there while people bullied me."

Two years ago, one of his cousins called me cheap trash in public.

Calvin kicked him out of the company. Banned him from ever showing his face around me.

A year ago, someone shoved me into a pool at a business event.

Calvin jumped in after him—held the guy underwater till security pulled them apart.

He never loved me. But back then, at least, he protected me.

He remembered, too. His hand clenched awkwardly at his side. "I..."

But I was done rewinding the tape.

I gave them both a polite smile and walked out.