Part 3The Day I Jumped for My Cheating Husband, I Woke Up with a System That Taught Me Revenge

The look of sheer delight on Mrs. Harrison’s face when I gave her the “Heart of the Deep” was everything. Just as I’d predicted, the deal between Apex Corp and Hawthorne Industries was finalized within the week. And Mr. Harrison personally requested that I be appointed the lead project manager.

The days that followed were a blur.

I threw myself back into the corporate world I had abandoned three years ago, soaking up information like a sponge. Meetings, spreadsheets, client dinners… my calendar was a solid wall of appointments.

[YES, BOSS LADY! GO! LET HIM SEE HOW INCREDIBLY HOT YOU ARE WHEN YOU’RE FOCUSED ON YOUR CAREER!]

[THAT’S RIGHT! DON’T PAY HIM ANY ATTENTION! MEN ONLY SLOW DOWN THE GRIND!]

The comments were my personal cheerleading squad. I could feel Ethan’s eyes on me whenever we were in the same room, a mixture of confusion, awe, and something else I couldn’t quite decipher.

But I had no time to respond.

Partly because the comments told me not to, and partly because I was just too damn busy.

On the night of the celebration gala for the Apex deal, I was, as project lead, expected to attend with Ethan.

I chose a champagne-colored, mermaid-style gown that hugged every curve. When I stepped out of the bedroom, Ethan was leaning against the wall, waiting. The moment he saw me, his breath hitched. The look in his eyes was one of pure, unadulterated shock and admiration.

A spark of triumph lit inside me, but I kept my face a mask of cool indifference. “Are you ready to go?” I asked flatly.

He swallowed hard and moved to open the door for me.

Just as we were about to leave, a cloying voice cut through the air.

“Ethan, honey? Ava? Where are you two going?”

Tessa appeared out of nowhere, holding a glass filled with dark purple grape juice. She feigned a stumble, lurching directly toward me.

The icy liquid soaked the front of my gown, blooming into a hideous, dark stain.

“Oh my god! I’m so, so sorry, Ava!” Tessa shrieked, tears instantly welling in her eyes. “I didn’t mean to… I tripped! What are we going to do? The gala is so important tonight, and now you don’t have a dress. I guess… I guess Ethan will have to go by himself…”

Every word of her apology was a carefully aimed dart.

Ethan stared, first at the ruined dress, then at me. A flicker of indecision crossed his face. After a few seconds of tense silence, he actually opened his mouth and said it. “Maybe… Ava, maybe you should just go change. There isn’t much time. I can take Tessa with me to the event.”