Chapter 10 Atlas had never truly forgotten her . He had merely played his part pretending to love me , pretending to be the devoted husband while his heart had always belonged to someone else . 1 had underestimated just how deeply he loved Ivy . The sharp clatter of a phone hitting the hardwood floor snapped me out of my thoughts . Atlass phone had slipped from his pocket , skidding to a stop at my feet . I bent down to pick it up , and just as my fingers brushed against the sleek screen , a message popped up . Atlas , thank you for taking drinks for me tonight . And the necklace … I cant accept it . Its far too precious . A cold wave swept through me . The next notification was worse . A social media post from Ivy Monroe . Love is priceless . Attached was a photo a breathtaking diamond necklace , radiant under the soft glow of candlelight . I recognized it instantly . The worlds only one of its kind , recently auctioned for an astronomical price one billion dollars . A mysterious bidder had outspent everyone to claim it . Now , I knew who that bidder was . And Ivy ? She had posted it for me to see . She wanted me to know . Just last week , Atlas had been so busy that he barely had time to eat . He had collapsed from stomach pain and been rushed to the ER . I had been beside myself with worry , torn between anger at his negligence and heartache that he would push himself so hard . Yet the moment he opened his eyes , he boarded a flight to England . I had thought it was for work . I had been furious at him for putting his job above his own health . But now , I knew the truth . He hadnt gone for business . He had gone to that auction . Even in agony , doubled over from pain , Atlas had flown across the world to bid on the rarest necklace in existence for her . 19:41 Divorced From The Pretender 5.9 % Chapter 10 A dull ringing filled my ears . Before I could think better of it , my fingers moved on their own , typing in his passcode . The lock screen flashed open . It worked . His passcode wasnt his own birthday , not mine , either . It was hers Ivys birthday . A bitter laugh bubbled in my throat , but I swallowed it down . Atlas had always refused to let me see his phone , insisting that we needed personal space and boundaries . Now I knew why . The moment the home screen appeared , I was greeted with her facelvy smiling bright , radiant , breathtaking . No wonder his expression softened every time he unlocked his phone . My heart pounded as I tapped into his photo gallery . Every album had the same format : Ivy , age 10. Ivy , age 11. Ivy , age 12. All the way up to Ivy , age 25. Hundreds thousands of photos . Every stage of her life , carefully documented . And in all of them , she was smiling . I swiped through frantically , my breathing growing shallow . Not a single picture of me . Not even one of him . Only her . Just like his heart his entire being had revolved around her , from the very beginning . My hands trembled as I clicked into his notes . And then I saw it . His diary . 19:41 Divorced From The Pretender 6.1 % Chapter 10 [ 20XX ] Ivy scraped her knee today climbing a tree . Its my fault I never shouldve planted them in the yard . [ 20XX 1 Ivy got married today . As long as shes happy , nothing else matters . My life exists to make her smile . [ 20XX ] I got married today . When I saw Ivy sitting in the crowd , I wished God , I wished that she was the one standing beside me . I couldnt breathe . My hands went numb , the phone slipping from my grip and landing on the car seat beside me . At that moment , the vehicle turned into the long driveway of our estate . The garden came into view . Or what used to be a garden . I stiffened . Bare earth stretched before me , empty and lifeless . Once , two beautiful peach trees had stood here trees Atlas had specially transported from my fathers old estate . My father had planted them for me when I was ten . They had been my connection to him , a reminder that he was still with me . Then , one day , their roots had inexplicably rotted , and they had withered away . I had been devastated . Atlas had held me for three days and nights as I sobbed , whispering soothing words , stroking my hair , promising he would always be there . Now , staring at the barren ground , realization clawed at my chest . It had also been him . The one thing my father had left me Atlas had destroyed it . Tears blurred my vision as a final notification appeared on the phones screen . A message from his assistant . Whitmore , as per your instructions , your will has been finalized . All assets will be left to It had also been him . The one thing my father had left me Atlas had destroyed it . Tears blurred my vision as a final notification appeared on the phones screen . A message from his assistant . Whitmore , as per your instructions , your will has been finalized . All assets will be left to Miss Ivy Monroe . 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