Chapter 2

Turning my phone back on was like detonating a bomb.

The screen was plastered with layers of red notification badges.

Texts, 99+.

Missed calls, 136.

Half from Kelly.

Half from an unknown number, likely Leon Miller.

A few more from Kelly's parents.

I opened my voicemail.

The latest one, from Kelly, a minute ago.

"Mason! You lunatic! You've ruined me! Do you have any idea what you've done?!"

Her voice was sharp, hoarse, and tearful, like a rusty saw grating wood.

"You sent the photo? In the company group chat?! Are you out of your mind?! What about the company's stock price?! How am I supposed to face anyone?!"

"You're just a useless freeloader who hides at home! What else can you do besides these low-down tricks?!"

"I'm telling you, you retract that message right now! You tell everyone it's a Photoshopped picture! That you were drunk and joking! Do you hear me?!"

"If you don't do as I say, I'll make sure you don't get a single penny! You just wait!"

The voicemail ended.

I deleted it expressionlessly.

Next.

Still her.

"Honey… Honey, I'm sorry… I'm really, truly sorry… Please, just give me another chance, okay…?"

Her voice had done a complete 180, becoming soft, pitiful, punctuated by sobs.

"He seduced me… He drugged me… I wasn't willing… You're the only one I love, Mason…"

"Have you forgotten about us? Our love, our past…?"

"Please, come home, okay? Let's talk face to face, resolve this, don't let outsiders laugh at us…"

"Where are you now? Turn your phone on! Say something back to me…"

I continued deleting.

She was a good actress, always had been.

In front of the board, the media, her parents.

The perfect boss, the perfect daughter, the perfect wife.

Unfortunately, I was the only, and the most sober, audience.

I opened the company SnapChat group.

Overnight, the group name had changed from "Carter Tech Group" to "CEO's Husband Job Opening."

The group was in an uproar.

Thousands of messages had already scrolled by.

Some were shocked, some were gossiping, some were cursing me, and some subtly supported me.

The company's Vice President, Jayden Wells, a protégé I had personally promoted, posted a message in the group: "Mr. Carter, we all believe in you."

Dozens of "+1"s followed.

I smiled faintly.

My phone started vibrating wildly again.

Caller ID: Kelly's Mother.

I answered.

"Mason! You animal! Do you want to live or not?! What did you do to Kelly?!"

On the other end of the line was Kelly's mother's familiar, booming roar.

I held the phone away from my ear a bit.

"I didn't do anything," I said calmly.

"You didn't do anything? You sent those pictures everywhere! How is your wife supposed to live with herself?! How are we supposed to face anyone?!"

"I didn't take that photo."

"I don't care who took it! Can't you, as a man, just be a little more accommodating to your wife? It's so hard for Kelly, a young woman, to fight her way up out there! Do you know how much pressure she's under?! So what if she made a mistake? Did you have to go to such extremes?!"

Her logic was as twisted as ever.

"So, if she makes a mistake, I'm supposed to take the fall?" I asked.

"Otherwise, what? You're her husband! If you don't cover for her, who will?! I'm telling you, Mason, right now! Immediately! Go apologize to everyone! Say the photo was fake, that you were jealous of Kelly's success and mentally unstable!"

I fell silent.

On the other end, Kelly's mother thought I was intimidated and softened her tone.

"Mason, listen to my advice. Married couples always work things out in the end. Kelly truly cares about you. Just give in a little, and this whole thing will blow over. We're still family."

I cut her off.

"You're right. I'm her husband, and I should cover for her."

Kelly's mother immediately brightened: "That's right! You should have thought that way from the start!"

I paused, then spoke each word distinctly.

"So, I've prepared a big gift for her. Soon, you and she will both receive it."

With that, I hung up.

And blocked her number.