Just before I could process the rejection, another call came in. It was my grandmother. “Natalie, darling! Did something happen? Why did Zane go to the banquet with another woman?”

Shock hit me like a cold wave. “What? No, Grandma, I’ve been so busy with work. It’s nothing to worry about.”

Her voice softened, concern etched into every word. “Have you told him who you really are yet?”

The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken fears. “I… I haven’t told him yet. I was going to do it tonight.”

“So, why didn’t you attend the banquet?” my grandmother pressed, noticing the hesitation in my voice.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my tone light. “Something came up, and I couldn’t make it. I’m sorry, but I’m just feeling a bit under the weather.”

My grandmother sighed, her worry palpable even through the phone. “I know how much you invested in that banquet. Why would you suddenly decide to leave for something else?”

I winced, knowing my grandmother knew that I had poured my heart into planning that event. “I just… I developed cold feet about revealing my true identity to Zane. I thought it would be easier to wait.”

Her surprise was evident. “Then when do you plan to tell him the truth? He deserves to know who you truly are.”

I felt the weight of the secret I had carried for so long. “Soon, Grandma. I promise. I just need to figure out the right moment.”

After hanging up, a whirlwind of emotions swept through me.

Thoughts of Zane at the banquet with another woman gnawed at my mind. Could it really be true that Zane is cheating on me? I shrugged it off, believing I was just being impulsive and that isn’t right. I trust Zane. He was always busy, always working late.

Once discharged from the hospital, I attempted to call Zane again. No answer. Frustration bubbled within me as I sent a series of texts, each met with silence.

“Why won’t you pick up?” I muttered to myself, feeling a growing sense of unease.

Just then, a sleek Rolls Royce Phantom pulled up in front of me. The driver’s door swung open, and a tall, handsome man stepped out, exuding confidence. He approached me with an easy smile.

“Hello! I’m Sebastian Sterling, CEO of Vanguard Dynamics,” he introduced himself, extending his hand.

I recognized the name. Vanguard Dynamics had competed for contracts I had awarded to Zane. They were rivals with Zane’s company. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Sterling,” I replied, trying to mask my unease.

“I’m Natalie Winters,” I added, my tone polite but reserved.

Sebastian’s smile widened as he shook my hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Natalie. Are you alright? You look a bit lost,” he observed, his gaze sincere.

“I’m just waiting for someone,” I said, instinctively protective of my situation.

“Would you like a ride home?” he offered, charming and disarming. “I can’t leave a lovely woman stranded.”

“No, thank you,” I replied politely, though curiosity flickered within me. He seemed genuine.

Sebastian’s smile faltered slightly, but he pressed on. “Are you sure? I insist. It’s a long wait, and I’d hate to see you standing here alone.”

His persistence was admirable, but I shook my head again. “I really can’t. I’m just waiting.”

He sighed, clearly not ready to give up. “I have a meeting to attend, but I can drop you off afterward. Just let me know.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll be fine,” I insisted, trying to keep the conversation light.

After a few more attempts, he finally relented, returning to his car with a bemused smile. Just as he settled back into the luxurious interior, his personal assistant, Mark, looked over at him, eyebrows raised.

“Why did you take such an interest in that woman?” Mark asked, curiosity evident in his tone.

Sebastian sighed, his gaze drifting back to where I stood, my expression a mix of confusion and determination. “I don’t know. There’s just something about her,” he admitted. “I can’t quite place my finger on it, but I feel drawn to her.”

Mark chuckled lightly, shaking his head. “You, the notorious womanizer, suddenly interested in a woman you barely know? What’s the catch?”

Sebastian smirked, brushing off the comment. “It’s not like that. It’s different this time. There’s an air of mystery around her, and I want to uncover it.”

“Okay, Sherlock,” Mark replied, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Just be careful. You don’t want to get caught up in something you can’t handle.”

Sebastian’s smile faded slightly, a hint of seriousness replacing the playfulness. “I know what I want, Mark. And if there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that I want her.”

Sebastian leaned back in the plush leather seat of the car, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. His gaze drifted back to the entrance of the hospital where he had seen me. The image of me standing there lingered in his mind like an unfinished melody.

“Mark,” he said, turning to his assistant, who was busy tapping away on his tablet. “I need you to look her up. Her name is Natalie Winters. I want everything you can find.”

Mark glanced up, surprise flickering across his face. “You’re really interested in her, huh?”

Sebastian nodded, his tone becoming more serious. “She’s a beautiful woman, isn’t she?”

Mark nodded in agreement. “You’re not wrong about that. I’ll look her up and give you feedback as soon as possible.”

“Good,” Sebastian replied, settling back in his seat.

He started the engine of the car and zoomed off.

I watched as the sleek Rolls Royce Phantom glided away, my eyes following its movement until it disappeared from view. Sterling's presence lingered in my mind longer than I expected. He was as handsome as everyone said—tall, with a commanding presence and an easy charm that caught me off guard. I had heard his name countless times in business circles, but this was the first time we had met in person. Our brief interaction replayed vividly in my thoughts.

“Sterling’s got quite the reputation, but I guess there’s more to him,” I mused quietly to myself.

The thought didn’t last long. Frustration quickly returned. I pulled out my phone again and tried calling Zane. No answer.

“What is going on with him?” I muttered, my voice thick with exhaustion and annoyance. I had been trying to reach him for hours now, and every attempt was met with silence. The weight of the situation bore down on me, sinking me into frustration.

With a weary sigh, I gave up. I glanced around the bustling street, feeling utterly drained. Spotting an approaching cab, I raised my hand and flagged it down. The car came to a smooth stop beside me, and the driver, a middle-aged man with a friendly face, leaned over to roll down the passenger window.

“Where to, miss?” he asked, his voice kind but businesslike.

I hesitated, still feeling dazed from everything that had happened. “Silver Heights estate,” I finally replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

The driver nodded and unlocked the door for me. “Hop in,” he said.

I opened the door and sank into the back seat, my mind already wandering. "I hope he’s okay," I muttered under my breath.

When the cab finally pulled up in front of the estate, I handed the driver the fare with a quiet, “Thank you.”

He nodded, pocketing the money as he responded with a simple, “You’re welcome. Have a good day.”

As I walked up to the grand entrance of our mansion, the keys in my hand jingled softly. I unlocked the door and stepped inside, greeted by a heavy silence. Unease washed over me; something just didn’t feel right.

My eyes scanned the living room. Scattered across the couch and floor were items that didn’t belong to me—lace underwear, a tube of lipstick, a pair of panties, and a dress, all tossed carelessly around the room. Confusion clouded my thoughts, and my heart stopped for a moment.

“Whose are these?” I wondered aloud, my voice barely above a whisper. My mind raced to make sense of what I was seeing.

I bent down, picking up the foreign items one by one, inspecting them closely. None of these things were mine. But if they weren’t mine, then who did they belong to?

“Zane?” I whispered, my heart racing as a sickening feeling crept into my stomach. A sudden thought gripped me, and before I could stop myself, I was marching toward the master bedroom.

With trembling hands, I pushed open the bedroom door, my heart racing. What I saw shattered my world into pieces. Zane was there, lying in our bed with another woman—both of them lost in each other, completely unaware of the hurt they were causing.

The woman had long, dark hair that flowed down her shoulders, looking relaxed as if she belonged there. A cold wave of sickness washed over me. Zane looked up at me without any sign of guilt. He didn’t flinch or apologize. Instead, he stood up slowly, his expression calm, and walked over to me.

“Hey, Natalie,” he said, as if nothing was wrong, his voice steady.

I felt my heart sink. How could he be so calm? The betrayal hit me hard, making me feel like I might drown in my own emotions. I wanted to shout, to demand answers, but the words stuck in my throat, trapped between disbelief and anger.

I watched as Zane leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Jennifer’s lips right in front of me. A chilling realization washed over me. This was why he hadn’t been answering my calls—he had been busy cheating on me with another woman.

A wave of nausea hit me as I struggled to comprehend the scene before me. The laughter and joy we had shared just days ago felt like a cruel joke. Zane’s lips were on another woman’s while I stood there, frozen, heartbroken.

“Natalie,” he began, his tone indifferent, almost casual. “This is Jennifer Smith.” He gestured to the woman in bed. “Jennifer was my first love. If she hadn’t left the country all those years ago, I never would have married you.” His voice was chillingly emotionless, as if this confession was something he’d been holding onto for years.

"She’s a Smith? Zane actually cheated on me with a Smith?" I thought, my mind racing. "Her father works for me. My grandmother has always favored him and his family. I can’t believe this."

I closed my eyes briefly, trying to compose myself.

"Too bad you came back early and walked in on this," Zane said, his voice laced with sarcasm.

“What is this, Zane?” I managed to choke out, my voice trembling with shock. “How can you do this to me?”

Zane’s expression shifted to one of cruel amusement. “Oh, Natalie,” he said, his tone dripping with condescension. “All you’ve ever done is make me spend money on you. You’ve been nothing but a burden.” His words cut deep, slicing through me like a knife. “Jennifer, on the other hand, has been helping me secure multi-billion-dollar contracts. She’s been a real partner, not some useless piece of furniture.”

I felt a wave of disbelief wash over me. This was the man I had trusted completely, the one I had sacrificed everything for. And now, here he was, standing in front of me, calling me a burden, a piece of furniture, stripping me of my worth.

In that moment, I wished desperately that this was all just a dream or a figment of my imagination. But it wasn’t. Reality stood before me, unyielding and harsh. Zane, the man I had loved so deeply, was cheating on me with another woman, and he didn’t even feel a hint of regret.

Zane had once been sweet and loving, a devoted husband who made me feel cherished. What had caused this betrayal? What had turned him into someone so different, so unrecognizable?

"You didn’t answer my calls yesterday, and you didn’t pick up this morning, either. You didn’t respond to any of my text messages. Didn’t anyone tell you I was in the hospital, or do you just not care?" I cried out, my voice trembling with anger.

Zane shrugged casually, his expression indifferent. "Isn’t it obvious, Natalie? I don’t give a damn."

I gasped in shock, my eyes wide with disbelief. I couldn’t believe the words that had just come out of his mouth.