Chapter 18 MASKS OFF ~ RICHARD'S POV ~ The restaurant is all glass and steel , where conversations happen in whispers and every smile costs extra . Monica chose it , of course . She loves places where she can perform . I watch her across the white tablecloth , her red nails drumming against her wine glass . She's beautiful in the way expensive things are lovely - shiny , perfect , and completely hollow . " You look tired , " she says , not bothering to hide her irritation . " My friends are talking about your company issues . " Since when did Monica give a fuck about my business ? I take a sip of water , letting the silence stretch between us . " Since when do you care about anything beyond your credit card limit ? " Her smile is as sharp as broken glass . " I care because it affects me too . " " You mean it affects your cash cow . " The mask slips for just a second . I see the flash of rage in her eyes before she smooths it over with gifted lightheartedness . " However you want to see it , " she says , cutting into her salad with violent accuracy . " I won't watch my perfect life crumble because you got careless . " My hand tightens around my water glass . The urge to throw it against the wall , to watch something shatter for once , nearly overwhelms me . " Careful , " Monica purrs , noticing my white knuckles . " You might actually break the glass . " The waiter appears with our entrees , all rehearsed smiles and silent efficiency . As he sets down my steak , the restaurant's television catches my attention . Good Morning New York . The anchor's voice floats over the dining room chatter . " ... and here with us today , Manhattan's newest power couple , billionaire Alexander Hayes and his fiancée Claire Winfred ... " The fork freezes halfway to my mouth . There she is . My Claire .... no, not mine anymore ..... sitting next to Alexander Hayes on a cream - colored sofa . She's wearing a soft blue dress that brings out her eyes . Her hair falls in waves over her shoulders , and when she smiles ... God , that smile used to be mine . " They're perfect together , aren't they ? " Monica's voice cuts through my thoughts like acid . " Alexander really seems taken with her , though I don't know what he sees in a woman like Claire . " She keeps cutting her steak , each slice deliberate and violent . " I suppose he's attracted to her pretty face and body . Claire always did have the kind of figure that made men weak in the knees . Lucky witch . " Monica pauses , her knife stopped over her plate . She looks up at me , studying my face like she's searching for cracks in armor . I force myself to lean back in my chair , to look relaxed . Unaffected . But my eyes drift back to the screen where Claire is laughing 1/4 Chapter 18 +15 Bonus at something the anchor said . " Tell us , " the host is saying , " what's the most romantic thing Alexander has done for you ? " Before Claire can answer , Alexander's hand finds hers on the sofa arm . His fingers intertwine with hers ..... possessive , claiming The camera catches it all . " Every day with Claire is romantic , " Alexander says , his voice smooth as silk . " She makes ordinary moments extraordinary . " He lifts their joined hands and presses a kiss to her knuckles , never breaking eye contact with her . The studio audience practically melts . I want to put my fist through the television . The woman who used to beg for my attention , who once told me she would rather have five minutes of my time than a lifetime with anyone else , is giving her smiles to another man . Her touches . Her body . And the bastard is my father's illegitimate son . " Look at them , " voices from nearby tables drift over . " So beautiful together . " " You can tell they're really in love . " " Goals , honestly . " The sharp noise of metal striking porcelain catches the attention of everyone within a ten - foot range . Monica's fork and knife bang against her plate , the sound reverberating through the lavish environment . " Sorry , " she says to the other diners , her cheeks flushed . " It slipped from my hand . " Liar . Monica's hands never slip . Everything she does is planned . " You should be careful , " I tell her , my voice low . " I wouldn't want my lovely wife to get hurt . " She gives me that look .... the cold , sickening expression I've come to hate . It's the look that says she owns me , that I'm trapped in this joke of a marriage with no way out . " You don't look happy , " she says , nodding toward the television . " About Claire marrying Alexander , I mean . " I shrug , forcing disinterest into every line of my body . " She looks pitiful , actually . Desperate for attention , as usual . " But even as the words leave my mouth , I'm remembering the engagement party . The way Claire looked in that white dress . The fire in her eyes when she stood in front of me against that conference table , her hand gripping my tie like she owned me . ' Is she everything you thought she'd be ? Is your marriage everything you dreamed of when you were fucking her behind my back ? ' The memory strikes me with an overwhelming force . The way she smelled - not the cloying perfume Monica wears , but something unpretentious and warm . The way her body fit against mine was like it was made for me . The way she looked at me was like she could see straight through to my soul . Pitiful ? No. Claire was many things that night , but pitiful wasn't one of them . 2/4 Chapter 18 +15 Bonus Monica is still watching me , those calculating eyes missing nothing . But I don't care anymore . Let her suspect . Let her wonder . I pick up my water glass and take a slow sip , meeting her gaze over the rim . " Aren't you going to eat ? " I ask , nodding toward her untouched steak . " You were the one who suggested lunch . Though I'd rather be anywhere else than here , pretending to be something we're not . " Her jaw tightens , but she doesn't answer . God . I'm tired of pretending . The house is silent when we get home , the kind of oppressive quiet that feels like a held breath . Monica storms upstairs without a word , her heels clicking angrily against the marble . The bedroom door slams hard enough to rattle the windows . I don't follow her . Instead , I head to my study and close the door . The room smells like leather and whiskey ..... familiar , comforting scents that remind me of my father's office . Back when I thought I knew what I wanted from life . I pull out my phone and dial a number I know by heart . " Victor , " I say when my private investigator picks up . " I need everything you have on Alexander Hayes . And Claire . Every detail , every connection , every secret they think they're hiding . " " How deep do you want me to dig ? " " To the center of the earth if necessary . I want to know what Hayes wants with my company , what he wants with my ex - wife , and how long this has been planned . " " I will have preliminary information by tomorrow . " " Make it tonight . " I hang up and pour myself three fingers of whiskey . The city sparkles like scattered diamonds , and somewhere out there , Claire is probably planning my destruction with my half - brother . The mockery would be funny if it didn't feel like swallowing glass . My computer chimes with an email notification . I almost ignore it , but the subject line catches my eye : ' Foundation Proposal - Hayes Corp Partnership . ' I click it open , and my blood turns to ice . It's a detailed proposal for a children's foundation ..... Claire's signature is neat and precise at the bottom . But it's the letterhead that makes my vision blur : Hayes Corp. She's not just engaged to Alexander ; she's working with him . The foundation would provide support for families dealing with loss , trauma , and rebuilding . Noble causes can make anyone look good in the news . But when I look at the financial details , I see it . Projected donors include several of my biggest investors . Partners who are already nervous about the company's stability . This isn't just about winning Claire back or even about revenge . This is a planned business decision meant to ruin everything I have built . I read the proposal twice , memorizing every detail . Claire was always brilliant , but I just never realized how dangerous that brilliance could be when turned against me . 3/4 Chapter 18 +15 Bonus I pick up my phone again , this time calling my assistant . " Jennifer , I need you to set up a meeting with Miss Claire Winfred . Tell her I'm very interested in discussing her foundation proposal . " " Of course , Mr. Blackwood . When would you like to schedule it ? " I smile , and it feels like breaking . " As soon as possible . Tell her I believe we have a lot to discuss . " I hang up and lean back in my chair , staring at Claire's signature on the screen . Two can play this game , sweetheart . And I've had more practice at being ruthless than you know .