Chapter 1
My mind raced as I ran down the stairs in my ex-husband’s company. I was only in my pajamas and my eyes were sore because I had barely slept.
Marvin and Rosa walked up the stairs. Both of them were impeccably dressed despite the alarming situation going on.
A man in white shirt rushed up to him. I recognized him to be Marvin’s personal assistant.
“Welcome boss. All of the board members are already upstairs. Your parents— I mean, the chairman and chair lady are here as well.”
“And what about the cybersecurity experts? Are they here already?” Marvin asked.
“Oh yes! It seemed they arrived the same as Mr. Gareth.”
Rosa clings closer to Marvin’s arm, her sweet voice carrying, “Honey, this sounds bad. I think someone is trying to hurt us. Thinking about it makes me upset.”
Marvin caressed her belly smoothly. “Don’t stress yourself darling. Don’t worry because of your condition. Everything will be sorted. I’ve even hired the most prominent cybersecurity experts in the country.”
The man’s eyes widened. “Oh wow, I had no idea. Congratulations ma’am. Congratulations sir.”
Marvin nodded curtly. He clearly wasn’t in the mood.
Watching them together felt strangely distant, like watching characters in a show I had stopped following years ago.
My chest ached with exhaustion, knowing I was going to face them, but time was running out; I had to grab my baby’s toy and leave.
“Thank you. But let’s focus on the situation at hand first. How exactly did this happen?”
“I have no idea sir,” the PA answered honestly. “It looks like a coordinated attack, but I’m pretty sure someone from the company leaked confidential information.”
Marvin motioned to climb the stairs, but Rosa leaned closer to him, clutching her stomach.
Marvin’s expression shifted quickly from determination of saving the company to fear and worry for Rosa.
“Are you okay? Maybe you should just relax in the lobby, while I go handle this.”
Rosa shook her head. “No. You’re my fiancée and I’m carrying your first child. Anything we do, we do together. Okay?”
I frowned. Fiancée? First child?
So that means they didn’t get married or give birth after all these years.
Four years ago, Marvin and I divorced. He decided to end our two years marriage because his childhood love had come back around and was seeking his attention. It had been four years since then, so it seems odd that they still haven’t married or given birth yet.
Suddenly, a lady in a tailored suit walked up from behind. “Excuse me, who are you?”
“I’m actually the—”
She cut me off sharply. “This is an official building. You can be prosecuted for wandering and evading security.”
I just arrived through the underground parking garage.
I just woke up to the bad news, so we came here as quickly as possible. I was wearing only pajamas and my hair was disheveled, so I guess didn’t look like an important official.
I explained quickly. “I’m sorry, but I actually came through the underground parking garage. My daughter dropped her fidget toy. She’ll get anxious if I don’t get it on time. I’ll head back into the SOC once I get it…”
She cut me off again, her patience clearly shortened. “Someone dressed like you can’t possibly be an official here. Get out now. Or else, I’ll call security.”
She didn’t bother lowering her voice, so Marvin and Rosa easily heard our exchange.
Marvin looked up and we made eye contact. Rosa glanced up as well.
“Is that Summer?” Rosa spoke first.
Marvin’s personal assistant looked confused. “Mrs Rosa, you know that woman?”
Rosa straightened her back, lifted her chin and looked away. “No. Not really.”
She then nudged Marvin with her elbow. “Right, honey?”
Marvin nodded and his gaze lingered on me for a second longer, then he quickly looked away, matching Rosa’s indifference.
With that, they walked past me with their chins lifted. Marvin acted like I was invincible—the exact way he acted throughout our marriage while he accused me of extorting money from his company.
His indifferent attitude prompted the secretary to shove me:
“I know people like you—always sneaking into executive spaces and acting homeless so you’ll receive money. Get out now!”
I dodged her hand and lashed out angrily:
“I told you, I want to get my daughter’s toy first. I’m expected to return up there very soon.”
She let out a sharp, scornful laugh.
“Are you joking? You?” She pointed her thumb upward.
“Do you even have any idea what’s going on up there? That room is filled with billionaires and tech geniuses. You think you are bright enough to be in there?”
“Watch your tongue. A homeless person like you can’t fathom the brilliance it takes to enter a room like that.”
She then motioned to push me again.
“Stop. That’s enough!”
Marvin, who was already at the top stairs, turned around. He marched over with a stern face, his eyes cold and detached.
“What is it that you want, huh? You want money? Tell me how much and I’ll give it to you.”
“I don’t want you anymore. So you can stop all these ridiculous attempts to get my attention.”
“Marvin, baby, please calm down,” Rosa rubbed her palm smoothly over his chest.
She then turned to me and smiled sweetly. “Have some decency for yourself, Summer. I know the divorce hurt your feelings, but Marvin doesn't love you, okay?”
She flashed a diamond ring on her finger. “Look, he proposed to me two days ago. We are already engaged.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, so I gave a faint smile and said:
“Good for you. But I actually have no interest in either of your life choices.”
Although the diamond caught the fluorescent stairwell light, it definitely didn’t bother me in the slightest way.
My fingers twitched slightly. Marvin’s pity felt suffocating, yet it is entirely predictable.
Without saying anything more, I continued down the stairs to search for my daughter’s toy.
“Summer, stop being so arrogant. It’s obvious that you’re mad about me selling your shares from my company.”
Marvin scoffed before pulling out his phone, his finger flying rapidly across the screen.
“Look, the portal is still active. I will transfer one million dollars to the alimony account right now. Take it. Add it to the rest and use it to start a new business or something. I don’t care.”
All of a sudden his finger stopped and he frowned.
“The account is showing zero balance? Summer, are you crazy? How did you recklessly waste an alimony of fifty million dollars?!”
