Betty’s POV

“Lucas, breakfast is ready,” I called, setting the last plate on the table.

I was already up early, frying eggs, toasting bread, and brewing his coffee just the way he liked. I wanted this morning to go right, maybe start us off on a better foot.

Last night, Lucas and I had an argument, so I wanted to make things straight for us this time.

The quiet house responded with nothing. I sighed, glancing around. My eyes landed on something unexpected—the designer bag on the sofa. My heart skipped, a glimmer of excitement bubbling up. Was this a surprise for me?

I moved closer, reaching out to touch the smooth leather, but suddenly, a sharp voice shattered the silence.

“Don’t touch it!” Lucas snapped from behind me, making me flinch.

I turned to see him standing in the doorway, his face cold and harsh. “Lucas, I just thought—”

“You thought wrong. That’s not for you.” He strode forward, grabbing the bag and holding it protectively, as if my touch would ruin it.

“Then… who is it for?” I asked, the question heavy in my chest, though I already knew the answer.

His silence was all the confirmation I needed.

“Lexi?” I forced myself to say her name, to acknowledge the twisted reality between us. “You promised me you’d change, but what is this, Lucas? Why do you keep lying to me when it comes to her?”

His gaze moved to the window, his face blank and unreadable. “I don’t need to explain myself to you,” he muttered, avoiding my eyes.

I took a step closer, my frustration bubbling over. “This is the fifth time—no, maybe the fiftieth—that her name’s come up between us! What am I to you, Lucas? Am I still your wife?!”

Lucas barely reacted, his grip tightening on the bag. “If it makes you feel any better, I arranged an event tonight for her birthday party. And you’re not invited.”

His words hit like a slap on my face. I felt my hand drop, my excitement disappearing like smoke. “W-Why?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, even as my heart shattered. “Why her, and not me?”

Finally, he looked at me, his expression twisted with impatience. “Because, Betty, you embarrass me in public. You’re difficult to be with, always nagging me about her. You’re a pain in the ass.”

The room spun, my chest tight with hurt and disbelief. “Embarrass you? I’m the one who stayed by your side, who watched your back while you built this empire! I didn’t even want this life, Lucas! You begged me to marry you, and I trusted you. I trusted you with everything.”

He scoffed, folding his arms. “Maybe you’re not cut out for this life. Maybe you were right all along—you don’t belong here.”

“Unbelievable.” I stepped closer, forcing him to look at me. “You’re letting her take over everything that was once ours. And for what? So she can parade around like she’s the queen of this house?”

“Enough!” he snapped, his eyes flashing with anger. “Don’t you dare talk about Lexi like that. She respects this life, Betty. She understands it. Unlike you.”

I let out a shaky breath, the anger replaced by a hollow ache. “Respect? Understanding? She’s using you, Lucas, and you’re too blind to see it. She’s playing you to climb her way up, and you’re letting her!”

He clenched his fists, his face a mask of cold indifference. “Get out, Betty. If you’re not happy, then leave. No one’s stopping you.”

I froze, the weight of his words pressing down on me like a stone. Was he really telling me to walk away from everything we had built together?

My voice came out a whisper. “You don’t mean that.”

Lucas turned his back on me, pointing toward the door. “I do.”

Silence settled between us, thick and suffocating. I felt like I was standing in a stranger’s home, surrounded by memories that suddenly felt like lies.

I took a shaky breath, holding back the tears burning behind my eyes. “Fine. I’ll go. But remember this, Lucas—you were the one who chased me, the one who said you couldn’t live without me. And now you’re throwing it all away… for her.”

He didn’t answer. He didn’t even look at me as I turned and left, each step tearing at my heart.

“Ms. Betty,” Tyler’s voice pulled me from my thoughts as I stood outside, staring blankly at the fading sky. “I notice you’re quite upset. Are you okay?”

I shook my head, trying to shake off the bitterness clinging to me. “I don’t know, Tyler. I don’t know anything anymore.”

He glanced back toward the house, his expression filled with concern. “The Don’s really pushing you away, isn’t he?”

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle on me. “It’s like he’s not even the same person. The Lucas I loved, the one who would’ve done anything for me… he’s gone.”

Tyler shifted, hesitating for a moment before speaking, his voice low. “Everything is going to be alright, Ms.”

I took a deep, shaky breath, feeling the sting of tears at the edge of my eyes. “I just… I never thought it would end like this. You do know something’s going on between him and Lexi, right?”

He couldn’t answer me. He just looked away and that gave me the answer I was looking for.

Lexi is now his woman, not me anymore.

Betty’s POV

“Tyler!” Lucas’s sharp voice cut through the air. We both turned to see him striding toward us, his face twisted in a scowl.

Lucas didn’t look at me, only at Tyler. “Get away from her. Now.” His voice was cold, hard.

Tyler gave me a quick look of apology before nodding to Lucas. “Yes, Don.”

Lucas glared at him, his expression filled with a mixture of anger and distrust. “I need you to check the event I set up for Lexi’s party. Now.”

With a slight nod, Tyler turned and headed back toward the house, leaving Lucas and me standing there in tense silence. Lucas finally met my eyes, his face unreadable.

I took a shaky breath, daring to hold his gaze. “You’re really going through with this, aren’t you?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

He didn’t respond. He simply turned and walked away, his silence cutting deeper than any words could have.

I watched him leave, knowing exactly where he was headed—straight to her. The hurt twisted in my chest, sharp and bitter. It felt like he was choosing her over me, again and again, no matter how much I fought, no matter how much I begged. There was no room left for me in his heart, and I knew it.

I couldn’t bear the thought of staying here, locked away while he went off with her. The urge to run was overwhelming. I took a step toward the gate, ready to leave it all behind, when I felt a hand clamp down on my arm.

“Not so fast,” a deep voice said, pulling me back. I turned to see one of Lucas’s men, his grip firm, his face impassive.

“What are you doing?” I demanded, pulling my arm free.

“Orders from the Don,” he replied stiffly. “You’re to stay inside. We’re to keep an eye on you, make sure you don’t do anything reckless.”

The words stung. It was as if he thought I was some kind of child, some fragile little thing he could control and keep under locked!

“This is so unfair!” I spat, turning and storming back into the house.

I climbed the stairs two at a time, slamming the door to our bedroom behind me. The silence was suffocating, the weight of the empty room pressing down on me. Everywhere I looked, I saw reminders of the life we had once shared, the promises we had made.

But now? It’s broken.

I collapsed onto the bed, my mind racing with thoughts of escape. But I knew there was no way out. Lucas had made sure of that. I was trapped, a prisoner in my own home, while he was out there, living his life with her.

Just as the anger and frustration threatened to consume me, my phone buzzed. I glanced down, frowning at the screen. It was an unknown number. My heart pounded as I opened the message.

“Betty, we need to meet. It’s about Lucas. This is important. Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you. You can trust me.”

I stared at the message, reading it over and over, trying to make sense of it. Who could be sending this? How did this sender knew my name? And what did they know about Lucas? Part of me wanted to ignore it, to pretend it was nothing. But another part, the part that was desperate for answers, knew I couldn’t just let this go.

My fingers hovered over the keyboard before I finally typed a quick response.

“Where and when?”

The reply came almost instantly.

“The café by the river. Midnight. Come alone.”

I swallowed hard, my heart racing. Midnight. It was a strange time for a meeting, but nothing about this life was ever normal. I knew it was a risk—Lucas had his men watching me, and if they found out I was sneaking out, I’d be in even deeper trouble. But I couldn’t ignore this. I had to know.

As the hours ticked by, I waited, the tension building with every passing minute. I could feel the walls closing in, suffocating me. I had to get out of here, had to find some kind of answer, some kind of closure.

When the clock finally struck eleven-thirty, I slipped on my coat, pulling the hood up to cover my face. I crept down the stairs, my heart pounding with every step, praying that Lucas’s men wouldn’t hear me. The house was dark and silent, the shadows stretching across the walls like specters.

I reached the front door, holding my breath as I turned the handle, inching it open just enough to slip outside. The night air was cold, biting against my skin as I hurried down the path, keeping to the shadows. I knew Lucas’s men were somewhere nearby, but I moved quickly, darting through the trees until I was clear of the property.

Once I was far enough away, I broke into a run, my feet pounding against the pavement as I made my way to the café by the river. The streets were empty, the city silent and eerie under the midnight sky.

The café was dark, its windows shuttered, but there was a figure waiting near the door, shrouded in shadows. My heart pounded as I approached, my breath visible in the cold night air.

“You came,” the figure said, stepping forward into the dim light.

But as soon as I saw who it was, my brow furrowed in confusion, and at the same time, my heart started to race, pounding so fast it felt as if it would leap out of my chest.

The person who texted me... it was none other than—

“Lexi…”

And she wasn’t alone.