Chapter 6 - The Dark Before the DawnTwo weeks after the scandal, the dust finally settled. The Moreau family’s business empire collapsed under federal investigations, and Laurent Logistics was successfully integrated into DeLuca Enterprises, with me officially appointed as the Senior Vice President of Operations.
I was no longer the "bargain dress girl." I was a respected, powerful woman in business.
But inside Roman's penthouse, the silence was deafening.
The terms of our fake marriage had served their purpose. Roman had secured his company, and I was safe. According to our agreement, it was almost time to file for our quiet divorce.
One rainy evening, I sat in the grand living room, staring at the five-million-dollar check lying on the glass coffee table alongside the divorce papers Marcus had delivered earlier that day.
Footsteps sounded behind me. Roman walked in, loosening his silk tie. He looked tired, his eyes carrying a heavy, uncharacteristic sorrow.
"You don't have to sign them today, Lena," Roman said softly, sitting on the sofa across from me. "Take your time."
"I don't need time, Roman," I whispered, holding back the tears burning behind my eyes. I picked up the pen. "You kept your promise. You saved me, gave me a career, and paid me more money than I could ever dream of. I should be thanking you."
I signed my name on the bottom line of the divorce paper. The ink felt like acid on the page.
I stood up, leaving the check on the table, and pulled a small suitcase toward the door.
Roman stood up abruptly. "What are you doing? Where is your luggage going?"
"I'm going back to my life, Roman," I said, my voice trembling despite my best efforts. "The six months aren't over, but we accomplished what we set out to do. Staying here... playing house... it’s too hard."
Roman froze. "Hard? Why?"
"Because I broke condition number two!" I cried out, tears finally spilling over my eyelashes. "I fell in love with you, Roman! I fell in love with the man who stood up for me when I was nothing, the man who stayed up late helping me read ledgers, the man who protected me! But this was just a contract to you. A business deal. And I can't keep pretending to be your wife knowing it's all a lie!"
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I turned around, grabbed my suitcase handle, and rushed toward the private elevator before he could see me break down completely.
The elevator doors slid shut, separating me from the only man I had ever truly loved.
