Chapter 3

Eleanor

Arthur didn't come home that night.

I didn't call him frantically. I didn't cry and promise to play nice with Chloe like I used to.

Lily didn't ask about her dad, either. While I packed our suitcases, she quietly took the framed photo of her and Arthur off her nightstand and threw it in the trash.

Silence fell over the house.

A week later, Lily's school needed a second parent's digital signature for an upcoming museum field trip. It required an in-person sign-off on the school's tablet.

I tried calling Arthur, only to find out my number had been blocked.

Left with no choice, I took the tablet and drove to his firm.

When I stepped off the elevator, I saw Chloe walking right into Arthur's private office.

When I stepped off the elevator, I saw a familiar figure walking right into Arthur's private office.

His assistant gave me a guilty look. "Mrs. Sterling... Arthur gave orders that Ms. Harrington has unrestricted access."

Ironically, I was the reason Chloe had that privilege.

I used to bring Arthur lunch. He always told his staff absolutely no interruptions while we ate.

One day, Chloe showed up unannounced. Because of our lunch, security wouldn't let her up. No one dared to report it. Chloe and Mason waited in the freezing lobby for over an hour.

When Arthur and I finally came downstairs, he saw them shivering. He immediately turned on me.

That was the first time he ever screamed at me. He blamed our lunch for wasting his time and causing Chloe to suffer. The security guard was fired on the spot.

From that day on, everyone knew Chloe was untouchable. And I never stepped foot in his office again.

I gave the nervous assistant a faint smile and pushed the office doors open.

Arthur was reading over some documents. He glanced up, clearly surprised. "Why are you here?"

Chloe was perched on the armrest of his leather chair. They were so close their shoulders brushed.

Arthur quickly cleared his throat and shifted away. "Eleanor, don't misunderstand. Chloe just knows a bit about this project, so..."

I didn't care. I just nodded and slid the tablet across his desk. "Lily has a field trip. She needs your signature."

He frowned. "You came all the way down here just for a signature?"

"What else would I be here for?"

Arthur's face darkened. I knew his ego was bruised by my total indifference.

Chloe let out a soft, mocking sigh. "All this hassle for a field trip? Arthur, she is clearly just using this as an excuse to see you."

She touched his arm. "You've been staying at my place for days. Give her what she wants. You really should go home and see Lily."

Arthur's frown disappeared. His ego restored, he tossed the tablet back onto the desk and leaned back.

"So you're using our daughter as an excuse now," he sneered. "Apologize to Chloe for blocking her, or I'm not signing it."

Once, that would have crushed me. I would have screamed at him for putting a mistress's feelings above his daughter.

But today, I felt nothing.

I was only thinking about Lily. If he didn't sign, she couldn't go on the trip. She would be the only kid left behind.

I looked at Arthur, acting like a king in his chair, and at Chloe posing next to him.

Without a word, I turned to leave. I would just tell the teachers Lily didn't have a father anymore.

I hadn't even reached the door when a cold, steady voice cut through the room.

"If you don't mind, Eleanor, I'll take care of it."

I stopped.

For the first time, I noticed a man sitting on the dark sofa in the corner of the office.

"I think I've watched enough of this family drama," he said flatly.

I looked at him. He wore a crisp black suit. His face was sharp, his eyes cold and uninterested. He looked exactly like what he was—pure, arrogant old money.

He stood up. He walked right past a stunned Arthur and picked up the tablet off the desk.

With a few quick motions, he signed the digital form himself.

The screen flashed green. The signature read:

[Julian Cross]