His Mistress Mocked Me, I Dumped My Loving "Perfect" Husband

Chapter 2

I used to work for the Moretti Family, so I knew exactly how powerful they were.

If I disappeared for more than 10 hours, Angus would mobilize every resource the family had to track me down.

That was why I needed help.

I dialed the number and arranged to meet the person on the other end.

I told them to erase every trace of my existence the day I left.

From that day forward, Lilia White would cease to exist.

There would be nothing tying me to Angus ever again.

The person I met with gave me a confident smile.

"Of course. Once you're back in the Republic of Bellavere, you'll only be Cheryl Gramont."

After we wrapped up the discussion, I headed back to the luxury villa in Palm Beach.

Once upon a time, I'd thought of this place as the home Angus and I shared.

Through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, the sky looked gray and oppressive, as if it could open up and pour at any second.

Suddenly, I heard the click of the door opening behind me.

Angus walked in. His usually crisp, immaculate suit was rumpled, and one of his buttons was missing.

When he spotted me standing by the window, he froze halfway through tugging off his tie.

"Lilia? Why are you standing by the window and letting yourself catch a chill again?"

He strode over, took my hand, and muttered under his breath, "Your hand's freezing!"

He cupped my hand between both of his palms, trying to warm it.

Then his gaze fell on my fingers, and his expression instantly darkened.

"Lilia, where's our engagement ring?"

"I twisted my wrist by accident this afternoon, so I took it off for a while," I said calmly as I pulled the ring from the nearby cabinet.

Angus took it and slipped it back onto my finger with an almost reverent look.

"I hate that you got hurt, but don't take this ring off again, okay?"

I lightly brushed my thumb over the family crest carved into the band.

"Okay. I understand."

My voice was soft and perfectly composed, with no hint of anything beneath it.

I'd stood by Angus for 7 years.

Back when I still worked for the Moretti Family, I'd handled countless family affairs for him. When I accepted his proposal, I left my job to prepare to become the future Mrs. Moretti. It hadn't taken me long to learn all the poise and grace expected of a Donna.

Hiding what I really felt and controlling every tiny twitch of my expression had become second nature to me.

Angus stepped forward and reached for me.

I took a small step back and tapped a finger against his rolled-up shirt cuff.

"You're hurt."

There was a fresh scratch on his arm, already beginning to scab.

It looked so fresh it practically still stung.

Guilt flashed across Angus's face. He quickly pulled his arm back and yanked his sleeve down to cover the mark.

"It's just a scratch. I was dealing with some family business earlier. Some unruly jerk grabbed at me. Don't worry about it, Lilia."

Family business?

Oh, right. I supposed sleeping with his mistress on the lawn counted as family business these days.

I couldn't be bothered to listen to another one of his lies, so I looked away.

"I'm a little tired."

I wasn't just saying it. I was exhausted down to my bones.

I didn't want to keep pretending this betrayal-ridden relationship was worth saving for another second.

But Angus suddenly grabbed my hand, panic flashing across his face.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling sick? Damn it, how did I forget? Elliot told me you threw up this afternoon. I'll call the doctor right now!"

I pulled my hand free.

"No need. I'm just tired. I'll be fine after a good night's sleep."

Once I was settled in bed, Angus carefully tucked the covers around me and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.

"Get some proper rest."

Once upon a time, a tender kiss from him would have sent my heart racing.

Now, his lips against my skin felt like two slimy, ice-cold slugs crawling across my forehead.

The disgust was so intense that my entire body went rigid.

My hand curled into a tight fist beneath the covers as I fought to keep the loathing from showing in my eyes.

Not yet.

Just a little longer.

*****

The third day.

A family banquet was being held that night, and I was going as Angus's plus-one.

Angus loved putting on a grand show of devotion whenever we were in public.

Even though we weren't officially married yet, everyone already treated me as Mrs. Moretti.

To anyone watching, I seemed to come first in Angus's world.

The women around us practically turned green with envy.

"Mr. Moretti dotes on his fiancée so much. I'm so jealous!"

He'd maintained that perfect act for years.

Even I had fallen for it, completely convinced I was the center of his world.

But he'd betrayed me.

I pretended not to hear the envious comments and continued playing the role of the poised, graceful fiancée to perfection.