Chapter 2

When I got home, the first thing I saw was the wedding photo hanging by the entryway.

The smiles we shared in that picture now felt like knives to my chest.

When I first moved in with Madelyn, I redecorated the entire house out of love for her. I removed everything and replaced it with enlarged wedding photos, hanging them in nearly every room.

When she saw it, she called me childish, scolding me for wasting time and money. She demanded I put the house back the way it was.

I’d stubbornly refused, throwing small tantrums until she reluctantly gave in.

Looking back now, I was pathetic.

Barefoot, I kicked aside the matching slippers by the door and began taking down every photo from the walls. I carried them all downstairs and tossed them into the trash.

Sweaty and exhausted, I stood in the now-barren house. The emptiness echoed the void in my chest.

I thought back to college when I’d fallen in love with Madelyn at first sight. After a month of persistence, she finally agreed to be my girlfriend.

We were inseparable, blissfully happy.

I’d promised to love her forever.

But after graduation, she became someone I no longer recognized.

Madelyn grew ambitious, classifying friends and colleagues by status. She craved luxury and fine dining.

To meet her demands, I worked tirelessly, pulling in clients and hustling for success.

While I struggled, Madelyn maintained her flawless image, enjoying the fruits of my labor.

When the company finally stabilized, I stepped into the background. To the world, Madelyn Grant was the face of Grant Enterprises, while I became invisible.

I accepted this role willingly.

Until Carter Hayes emerged as Hollywood’s rising star, everything changed the moment Madelyn saw him on screen.

She’d once looked down on the entertainment industry. But one drunken night, Carter brought her home. That’s when I learned she’d spent the evening hosting a lavish party for the cast and crew to secure Carter a supporting role.

I remember Carter’s smug expression as he handed her over, the suspicious marks on her neck, and how she clung to his arm even as I tried to take her inside.

As I cared for her that night, she murmured Carter’s name in her sleep.

Through careful questioning, I discovered Carter had been her first love.

Their connection ran deep, dating back to childhood.

Once Madelyn felt she was finally “worthy” of him, she pursued him with abandon.

I’d known for a while that she loved Carter. I just hadn’t been willing to admit it.

I thought our years together would make her turn back to me.

But it was all wishful thinking.

Finally, I understood.

Better late than never.