Days earlier, Asher had wasted no time moving Crystal into our home.

Then he placed her in the company, right by his side. When I confronted him, he brushed it off with a flimsy excuse. "She's new to the corporate world. I'm just helping her get up to speed."

Now, at the family dinner, his face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and defiance. He waved off further argument. "Crystal is outside with an urgent file. I'll bring her in."

He didn't wait for objections, striding to the door and flinging it open.

Crystal glided in behind him, her flowing white sundress accentuating her delicate frame. Her wide eyes darted nervously to play the part of a fragile damsel.

Asher stepped in front of her. "Ease up, Mom. She's here for work. Don't scare her with that look."

I remained silent, watching with cold eyes.

"This is a family gathering. Maybe I should leave," Crystal murmured, but not moving an inch.

"You've earned a break," Asher insisted, guiding her to the chair beside him. "Stay for dinner."

That was my seat.

The room grew heavy with tension. Margaret's gaze pierced Crystal's fragile act, her lips curling. "Save the performance, dear. We're all women here."

She set her fork down with a deliberate clink. "Your intentions are transparent."

Crystal's face paled, her eyes glistening with practiced tears. "Mrs. Terrell, I-I don't know what you mean."

"Don't play dumb," Margaret snorted. "Back in college, when Asher brought you here, your eyes were glued to every antique. When you learned about our company, greed was all over your face."

Crystal trembled, her façade cracking.

"Enough!" Asher slammed the table, glaring at Margaret. "After all these years, you're still doing this? It's not about my happiness. It's about your control over my life. You broke us up and pushed her into depression. She's finally healing, and you attack her?"

"Control?" Margaret's voice shook with fury. "If I wanted control, I'd have kept Tabitha from suffering with you during bankruptcy. Who do you think pulled you from that abyss?"

"I haven't forgotten that!" Asher roared. "I'll honor her sacrifice forever. Helping Crystal doesn't cancel that out."

He grabbed Crystal's hand and led her to leave.

Margaret shouted after him, "Where are you going?"

"Any place but here!" he shouted back, leaving in a huff.

From start to finish, his eyes never met mine. Nor did he ask me to go with him.

"Let him go. He's a fool." Margaret's chest heaved with anger. "Stay here for the night."

I shook my head, rising from my chair. "It's fine. I need to go home."

This was between Asher and me. I couldn't let her feud with him over my pain.

In the courtyard, the car idled. He leaned against the hood, scrolling his phone with furrowed brows.

Clearly, he hadn't entirely forgotten me. He was waiting, albeit grudgingly.

I approached, my shadow stretching long and solitary under the streetlamps. He looked up, his scowl deepening. "Took you long enough. Get in."

He yanked open the driver's door and slid behind the wheel. I reached for the passenger door when a soft moan from the back seat stopped me.

"It hurts so much. I can't breathe," Crystal grunted.

Asher's irritation vanished, replaced by panic. He leaned back. "What's wrong?"

"I think it's my peanut allergy," she choked out.

Asher turned around, glaring at me. "You knew about her allergy. Why didn't you warn the kitchen?"

I was stunned by the absurdity.

He had never told me anything, and it wasn't my responsibility to manage Margaret's menu for an uninvited guest. Furthermore, the food had been served when we arrived.

"I didn't know," I said, my voice cold as ice.

"That's bullshit!" he yelled. "You did this on purpose. Are you so jealous?"

A hollow laugh escaped me. "So what? You expect me to take responsibility for her?"

"I'll let it slide this time," he said through gritted teeth. "But she's living with us. Be careful when you cook, no more mistakes."

He expected me to cater to his ex. The gall was staggering.

Before I could respond, Crystal let out another pained whimper. In an instant, Asher's focus snapped back to her.

"Hang on! I'm taking you to the hospital." He revved the engine, then barked at me, "Go."

I held his gaze. "You expect me to walk home?"

The estate sat in a remote, exclusive suburb. At night, public transport was nonexistent, and taxis were a rare sight.

He slammed the dashboard. "The hospital is in the opposite direction, and Crystal is in danger. I can't detour to drop you off. Figure it out."

He slammed on the gas, and the car darted out, leaving me in a cloud of exhaust.

I stood alone on the empty road, the late wind biting my skin. He had said that so casually, as if my sacrifices all those years were an afterthought.

Pulling out my phone, I dialed his driver. "Mike, can you pick me up at the Terrell Mansion?"

Ten minutes later, the car pulled up. Mike poked his head out and blinked. "Ma'am, isn't Mr. Terrell with you? Thought you two were dining together."

I pulled open the car door and slid in. "He left early on an urgent call."

Out of his sight, I smiled bitterly.

Back home, I'd barely kicked off my shoes when my phone pinged with a message.

I checked it out, and my pupils contracted.

A photo filled the screen, showing Asher, shirtless on rumpled hotel sheets. His bronzed skin was marred by fresh hickeys trailing from his neck to his chest.

He slept soundly, oblivious to the camera.

Below was a taunting caption: [Asher is with me tonight. Says he could finally relax.]

The allergy was a lie, a ruse for their hotel rendezvous. Asher had crossed every line.

I screenshotted the evidence and sent it to my lawyer, then forwarded it to Asher.

[The house isn't enough? You have to offer yourself to her?]

He burst through the door soon after, his eyes darting with guilt. "It's not what it looks like. Crystal and I..."

"Shut up!" I snapped, my voice cutting through his excuses like a blade.

He reached for me. "Babe, don't be upset. Nothing happened, I swear."

I yanked my arm free, disgust surging through me, and stormed to the study where I opened a drawer, pulled out a thick binder, and thrust it at him. "Look at these, Asher."

My voice trembled with rage. "Remember when your family fell apart? I was there, in that miserable basement, eating scraps. I sold every piece of jewelry to pay off your millions. I carried you home drunk, stood up to your mocking friends. Where was Crystal then? Now you're back on top, with her on your arm, and I'm the discarded wife?"

Tears choked my words as I flung the papers at him. "How will you repay me for this?"