The words hit like a physical blow. My ears rang.
I stared at him, unable to process what I'd just heard.
When he had nothing, I married him against my family's wishes and told him I believed in him.
Later, my parents overruled every objection to back him, placing all of Pruitt Group in his hands.
When my parents died in the car accident, I cried myself hollow for days, and he held me and choked out a promise.
"Aileen, I'll be the one you lean on for the rest of your life. I'll protect you the way your parents would have."
Now, he stood there and told me.
Without him, I was nothing.
He didn't look at me again. He wrapped his arm around Winifred's pale shoulders and walked away.
Every gaze around me landed at once. Mockery. Pity. Secondhand embarrassment.
I didn't shed a single tear. I picked up the broken necklace and left.
Because when love dies, there's nothing left to hurt.
The next morning, I went straight to the Southgate project bidding conference.
Every seat in the venue was taken. Asher sat in the front row, radiating confidence.
Winifred sat beside him, smugness written all over her face.
The host's voice rang out, bright and enthusiastic.