Chapter 4 - The Price of BetrayalRyan refused to leave.
Even after security approached.
Even after executives turned away from him.
Even after the entire room knew the truth.
He stood there.
Still believing he could fix everything.
Because Ryan had spent seven years believing every problem had a solution.
Usually because I was the person solving it for him.
"Victoria."
His voice became softer.
The same voice he used when he needed something.
"We need to talk."
I looked at him.
"About what?"
His eyes moved around the room.
"About us."
A painful smile appeared on my face.
"Us?"
He nodded quickly.
"Yes."
"Our marriage."
I almost laughed.
Almost.
Because the man who destroyed our marriage was standing in front of me pretending it still existed.
"Ryan."
I said quietly.
"You burned my dress."
His expression changed.
"I was angry."
"You humiliated me."
"I made a mistake."
"You brought another woman to my company's gala."
"It wasn't what you think."
I stared at him.
"Then what was it?"
He had no answer.
Because there was no explanation.
Only excuses.
Madison suddenly stepped forward.
"Ryan."
Her voice was nervous.
Everyone turned toward her.
She looked uncomfortable.
Because she finally realized Ryan could no longer give her anything.
The powerful position.
The business connection.
The future she imagined.
Everything disappeared.
"Maybe we should leave."
She whispered.
Ryan looked at her.
And for the first time, he saw what I had seen.
She was not standing beside him because she loved him.
She was standing beside him because she believed he was valuable.
The moment his value disappeared.
So did her loyalty.
Ryan looked back at me.
"Victoria, please."
"I made a mistake."
"Seven years doesn't disappear because of one mistake."
His face fell.
"You can't throw away everything we built."
I looked at him carefully.
"We?"
That single word destroyed him.
Because deep inside, he knew.
I had carried the weight.
I had made the sacrifices.
I had protected him.
I had believed in him.
And he had mistaken kindness for weakness.
"I want a divorce."
The room went silent.
Ryan stopped breathing for a second.
"What?"
I repeated myself.
"I want a divorce."
His confidence disappeared.
"No."
A desperate expression appeared.
"You don't mean that."
"I do."
"You love me."
"I did."
Those two words hurt him more than anger would have.
Because love was the thing he lost.
Not money.
Not power.
Not status.
My assistant handed me a folder.
I placed it in his hands.
"Everything has been prepared."
He looked at the papers.
His hands trembled.
"You planned this?"
I looked at him.
"No."
"I hoped I would never need to."
That answer broke something inside him.
Because he finally understood.
I had not been waiting for revenge.
I had been waiting for him to prove me wrong.
And he failed.
I turned away.
The cameras followed.
The world watched.
And Ryan Bennett remained standing alone.
May you like
The man who wanted to stand beside power.
Had just lost the only person who truly believed in him.
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