Betrayed by One CEO, Married to Another

Michelle’s throat tightened, and she let out a faint, humorless laugh.

How ironic.

She had always been the one using money to make people go away, yet tonight she was the one being bought off.

“Does Sigmund know you’re making decisions behind his back?”

Emily smiled. “You probably have no idea how close Sigmund and I were. We almost got married once.

“He used to take me to a different island every year because I loved the ocean. He bought a private restaurant just to recreate the food I missed from my childhood.

“There’s a tattoo on his chest—a rose ring. I inked it myself. It was meant to be our wedding ring.

“Do I need to tell you more about his background? You’ve been with him for three years and still don’t even know who he really is. Do you honestly think he loves you?”

A chill spread through Michelle’s body.

So, everything he liked and did have been because of Emily.

“Miss Lowe, you think you were keeping him, but in truth, he’s been using you as my substitute.”

Emily’s smile brightened, her tone almost teasing. “Do you believe me when I say that if I call him right now, he’ll come straight to me? Want to bet on it?”

A storm of emotions flashed through Michelle’s chest, but eventually, they all settled into calm.

She remembered the first birthday they spent together.

Sigmund brought her a cheap, ugly cake that tasted awful, yet she thought it was the best one she’d ever had.

That day, he held her close as she made a wish.

She said, “I hope you’ll still be with me for my next birthday.”

Sigmund had smiled and promised, “I’ll spend every birthday with you from now on.”

And once, when she’d been drunk and nearly assaulted, Sigmund had shown up just in time.

He held her trembling body in his arms and vowed, “From now on, I’ll always come for you first. I’ll never let anyone hurt you again.”

To him, those promises meant nothing. But back then, she believed every word.

Michelle clenched her hands, forcing a smile. “I’ll do as you wish. I’ll leave him, but not because of anything you said tonight.”

Hearing the answer she wanted, Emily didn’t waste another word.

With the air of a victor, she stood and walked away.

Over the next few days, Michelle was busy arranging her engagement, and Sigmund never once tried to contact her.

It wasn’t until she returned to the club that she saw him again, sitting at the bar.

Sigmund seemed distracted all evening, his gaze constantly drifting elsewhere. He didn’t even notice when Michelle arrived.

Following his line of sight, she realized he’d been watching Emily the whole time.

Men surrounded Emily, drawn to her like moths to a flame.

“Ah, what are you doing? Don’t touch me!”

Her sharp cry broke through the noise.

Sigmund’s face darkened as he stormed forward, grabbing a bottle and smashing it over one man’s head.

He pulled Emily into his arms, his presence so cold and commanding that no one dared move.

Michelle’s heart nearly stopped.

She had never seen him lose control like that, but tonight, he was furious because of Emily.

The man who had dared touch Emily had his arm broken within seconds. No one else dared utter a word.

When Sigmund finally left with his people, the troublemakers were all thrown out of the club.

As Michelle walked past one of the private rooms, she heard a woman’s soft, teasing voice.

“Sigmund, don’t be so nice to me. You’re forgetting you have a girlfriend. What if she finds out and gets upset?”

“I don’t have a girlfriend. She was just your replacement.”