Prologue
Katya
The longer I waited, the more dismal my thoughts became. The saying of a seven-year itch didn't apply to me since we had only been married six years. Yet here I was, thirty years old, and tonight, my resolve was unstoppable. He was so wrapped up in his merger that he’d forgotten our sixth wedding anniversary.
I must be a masochist because I was flicking through our wedding album. It felt as if he had squat down and shat on all of our happy memories. His PA reminded him about his business and personal life, yet Seth still managed to fuck things up. I didn't want to be forty and be in this position. All his promises meant nothing to him because I was nothing in his eyes.
I picked up the phone and dialled Eliza’s number. She had a spare bedroom in her apartment. I didn't want to be alone. My parents lived several hours away, and I didn’t want to stress them out because, at times, it felt as if they loved Seth more than me. The last thing I wanted was to involve the family in my mess.
Seth could do what he pleased because I was done, and I wanted out.
Chapter 1
Seth
I took a large gulp of my Scotch after Warner left. Their solicitors firm earned every penny of their fees after saving our merger at the last minute. This was the pinnacle of our business, and this deal would ensure our billionaire status.
“Why do you work me so hard?” Saul groaned and rested his head on my couch.
“Because this is the Winthorpe legacy. Our children will be running our company one day,” I said as Gloria walked into the office with her coat on.
I looked at her sheepishly since I’d snapped at her for interrupting us earlier.
“I've left flowers and jewellery on my desk for Mrs Winthorpe. She called three times,” she said with a look of disdain on her face.
“It must be bad if you are buying both,” Saul commented, but the fact was Gloria picked them out of her own accord.
“As I tried to remind you earlier, today is your wedding anniversary. I will see you in the morning,” Gloria said with a hoity-toity sniff before she walked out of my office.
I rubbed a hand over my face before I grabbed my phone so Raymond could bring the car around.
“Who are you going to pass your legacy onto?” Saul said with a smirk on his face. “It might be a tad difficult when you keep pissing your wife off.”
I grabbed my suit jacket to put it on before checking my phone. There were six missed calls from Katya.
“This deal was the last major move we needed. I can focus more on my marriage and future children now,” I said before I stuffed some files into my case. I could look them over once Katya was asleep.
“No, now that the merger has been completed, we will implement everything we agreed to with Warner. Before you know it, you will find another amazing company. You're a workaholic,” he said as he stood up.
We were identical twins, but I was twenty-one minutes older. He was a shittier version of me, but he had a point. I kept telling myself one more deal, and then I would focus on fatherhood. I’d let Kat down too many times.
“Shit, you look as if you're about to cry. Do you want me to come with you for moral support? I can back your story up,” Saul said disingenuously.
“Stay out of my marriage, dickhead,” I snapped at him and began to walk out of my office.
I should have strangled him with his umbilical cord when we were in our mother’s womb. His laughter followed me down the corridor. My stomach lurched. The last time I felt this amount of dread was when I smashed my mother’s expensive vase. I was only seven, but I never forgot the feeling of fear waiting for my parents to come home.
What was the point of having everything if I fucked up with Kat?
Raymond was waiting for me, and as soon as I got into the car, I rang Kat’s number. It went straight to voicemail. Texting her an apology wasn't enough.
“Fuck! Ray, turn back to the office,” I said when I realised I had left her flowers and jewellery on Gloria’s desk.
That was my antagonistic brother’s fault.
I was utterly fucked.
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