Chapter 2 Analise's POV I haven't spoken to Holden Vaughn for over three years . Ever since I called off our arranged marriage that our parents cooked up . I refuse to speak to him again , if at all possible . He never knew why , and as far as I'm concerned , he never has to know . If he had actually thought about it at the time or cared about me at all , he would have figured it out . But confronting him about it would destroy the friendship between him and my brother . I can handle it , I've done so this far , almost a decade since I turned seventeen . I hadn't known that Holden was back in the city , but I'm not totally rude . He did me a favor , as I would have been totally blindsided by Roger if he hadn't sent me this video . I was on my phone once I allowed myself to calm down . My first call was to my best friend , Gwen Simpson . What's up , Ana ? We just saw each other for our weekly meeting ? Did you forget to tell me something ? " Gwen asked in amusement . " I'm going to bring my newest collection of jewelry drafts over tomorrow . I need you to take them on Monday morning and have them copyrighted in my company's name . I won't be letting Roger get his grubby little hands on them , " I replied . " I thought you were letting Roger have them for his pitiful little company ? " Gwen responded . I didn't miss the mocking way she said Roger's name . " I changed my mind , and the wedding's off . I'm going to sell my shares and let his company die a slow , painfully expensive death . It's what he deserves , " I advised . " What did he do ? " Gwen asked . I could tell that she is already angry on my behalf . " Sasha is back now that I've got his company running smoothly . He is happy to offer her my position as Design Director , but I won't allow her to use my work to enhance her own reputation . That won't be happening . She can have him . I doubt she will want him after he hits rock bottom , though . She only came back because he's achieved success . He thinks she loves him , but that's his problem now . From now on , I'll only be working at Fashion Forward . I refuse to help someone who lies and cheats , " I said , my voice now starting to break . I probably should have taken some time to cry earlier , instead of just starting to line up my ducks . I just want to hit the ground running on Monday . " I'm coming over , Ana . I don't want you to be alone tonight . It will be like a sleepover when we were kids ," " Gwen insisted . " No , I'll be fine . I just found out about it , so naturally I'm upset . I need to mourn the relationship , because it was real on my end . Even if he never cared for me , I loved him . I thought he cared for me , and one day it would bloom into love for him , too . I suppose I was wrong about a great many things . I have a week to complete all the tasks I need to accomplish . Apparently , Roger is taking her to Paris for their honeymoon . Oh , but that's not the best part , Gwen . Sasha's pregnant , and according to them , it's Roger's baby , " I admitted . Hearing her gasp , just as shocked as I had been , had my tears start to fall . "I have never liked that little jackass . You can do so much betterAna . I never understood why you let Hoden O bartbeeken go . I remember the crush you had on him . Maybe it's time for you to get back with him , " Gwen suggested . " Never , I would never give him a chance . He might have helped me out tonight by sending me the video , but I can't trust him . Not anymore . " I managed to reply . " I will be there in twenty minutes . I want to see this video . So , Holden is back ? " Gwen asked . " Yeah , apparently he's back . He was the one who sent me the video , " I replied . We hung up , and I tried to collect my emotions . Gwen lives just ten minutes away , so I am sure she will be here quicker than twenty minutes , as she only needs an overnight bag . I need some comfort food , and I'm not about to cook . I ordered a pizza for myself and one for Gwen . It will be here in forty minutes , just enough time to shower , greet Gwen , and let her see that creep in action . I needed to see the video again myself . I quickly showered and threw on some comfy pajamas and a soft pair of socks . I needed as much comfort as I could get . I toweled my hair off before heading into the kitchen in search of a drink . I grabbed a bottle of water instead of wine . I was on a mission now . Operation Scorched Earth is about to commence , so I needed a clear head for my plans . I didn't feel bad for what I was about to do to Roger . If he had been honest with me instead of agreeing to marry me , we wouldn't be here . Plus , Sasha wasn't here when he agreed to the engagement . I suspect that she has a significant role to play in this . If that b *** h thinks that she is about to steal my designs , she's the delusional one . Roger can't give them to her anymore either . I pick up my phone to make the call I needed to make . I hadn't spoken to Roger about my parents . He thought that I had come into my money because I had lost my parents . I never corrected him on that . According to my bio , I'm an orphan . The fact is , I couldn't introduce him to them . They knew who he was , and because I was happy , they were happy . That's no longer the case . He actually knew who they were because everyone knows who the Caldwells are . It was the very reason ! couldn't introduce them to him . My cover would have been blown . I'm so thankful that Holden gave me a heads - up . I would have hated to have given up my virginity to a man like him . I was a late bloomer . I was overweight most of my teen and adult years . I was completely focused in college . I had school , and I had the business | created as a senior in high school . I was always busy . Fashion Forward was very important to me . I spent my time attending college and growing my fashion brand . I was the owner , but I appointed Gwen to be my CEO . My other best friend , Emily Thomas , was our primary model . I realize that the name was a little immature now , but I was eighteen when I came up with it . At twenty - seven , our name , or reputation , is already out there . It's too late to change it now , and I'm proud of my company . t year a and a Emily wore our clothing , modeled the handbag and jewelry ads , and even our shoe line . The last half , I've been busier than ever . I've lost weight , a little over fifty lbs . , but I hadn't mentioned it to Roger . I had been a 20/22 , but now I'm a 14/16 . I'm happy with where I am . I'm comfortable in my own skin now Much more than I've ever been . My parents have always loved and supported me . My older brother , Seth Caldwell , has always been a strong supporter of mine . Regardless of my size , they've always loved me . They're proud of my accomplishments . I still wear loose clothing , so no one at work has noticed my weight loss . My family and my two best friends have been the only ones who have noticed . I've been pretty busy running my own company and helping Roger grow his . Planning for my wedding was overwhelming on top of everything else . I had an episode two months 16 000 MON O < < Heartbroken ago , when Roger was out of the country . Gwen and Emily had to rush me to the hospital the day it happened . I was severely dehydrated , and my blood sugar was very low , I was in the hospital for three days . I should have realized then what a jerk Roger was . He came back from his trip , which I'm now sure was to meet Sasha . He then yelled at me for missing work . He saw that I was pale , but Dixon had told him that I had called out while he was away . I still remember the argument we had that day over it . Dixon stood behind Roger , encouraging him to deal with me . " Elizabeth , you can't just call out whenever you want to . You need to be here if I'm not here . What were you thinking ? " Roger had yelled at me . I still hadn't regained my full color . I was pale , and if he cared at all , he would have noticed that . But I took my work at Cook Custom Jewelry seriously . If I didn't , I wouldn't have forced myself to come here the day after I was discharged from the hospital . " Where were you , Roger ? You didn't take vacation time . You didn't notify me that you were even taking a trip . I had a medical emergency . It was out of my hands . You weren't traveling for business , so why weren't you here ? " I asked . I didn't feel well enough to coddle him that day , and he had been shocked by my response . I brought in all the Investors , and we had no meetings scheduled for out of the country . Once I questioned him about where he was and what he was doing , his tone changed . He started acting concerned for me . He then told Dixon to stop causing issues between us . If I hadn't been feeling so bad , I would have probably noticed something was off . I scoffed just thinking about it now . I'm too smart to have fallen for his lies , yet here I am . I picked up the phone and called my mother . My parents needed to know what happened . They will begin making the necessary calls . Just like they silently helped me grow Roger's business by investing themselves . They would now w pass on the word that they're no longer supporting Cook Custom Jewelry . Their friends would all start to pull out , too . After that , it's only a matter of time before the company is dead in the water . The problem was that as soon as my mother , Alicia , picked up the phone , my throat tightened up the moment . I heard her voice . I started to cry , despite all my efforts . I could hear her speaking to me . I could hear my father in the background , but I couldn't speak . I heard my mother say , " We will be there in ten minutes , baby . Hold on , we're coming . " I cried in the shower . I thought I had cried enough . I thought I would only feel anger from now on . I was wrong . Hearing my mother's voice brought back all the pain of what he had done . I cried for the loss of the relationship I thought I had . I thought that he appreciated me . Not just for my talent , but for everything that ! had done for him He had flirted with me . He had treated me well . I knew he didn't love me yet , but I thought that in time , he would come to love me . I had always been the one fold , while he couldn't do the bare minimum for me . I thought he was a good man . I see him for what he is now , a user . But if he thinks he's going to use me and get away with it . He's got another thing coming .