Chapter 5 Analise's POV My parents left an hour later , but it wasn't soon enough . My father was sitting next to me , helped me outline the next steps I needed to take . So he was there when Roger's text came . They all looked at me after Dad growled out seeing ' Husband ' on my screen . I quickly changed the title to " Roger- do not answer " and he seemed happier about that . I clicked on the text as I already expected to see the creative way he planned to lie to me this time . Roger [ Babe , I'm flying to Paris Monday morning . Hoping to strike up a deal with another designer to bring them into the fold . This should help you , as you won't be so busy anymore . I don't want you to pass out again , and you'll be my wife soon . You got us here , you don't have to work so hard anymore . ] Ana [ Which designer are you going to be speaking to ? ] Roger [ I don't know who they are just yet . I'd heard about an up - and - comer here , so I wanted to speak to them . I'd like to get them into place before we leave on our honeymoon . I don't want anything cutting our time together short when we go to Paris . I would like them to be up to speed on what we need them to do . ] Ana [ OK ] Roger [ Love , I may end up letting them use your designs after they arrive . It would bring them and our company a great deal of attention . Attention is beneficial for all of us and will help drive up sales . I know that they're your designs , but as co - owner , you've always allowed me to use them before . It's profitable for both of us , don't you think ? I don't want our clients to think that when you step down , our company will struggle . I believe that doing this will help our business grow . ] Ana [ I'll think about it ] Roger [ Are you upset with me , Love ? You don't seem like yourself tonight . ] Ana [ I have a headachel Roger [ As long as you don't have one when we're on our honeymoon ] The nerve of him , putting a wink emoji after he said that . As if I would ever let him touch me again . I know where his hands have been now . I know Sasha , and what she is capable of doing to get what she wants . Now that I know that he had been flying to Paris to see her and had slept with her . Nothing could possess me to change my mind . He made his choice , I'm happy to let him live with it . I was angry at his blatant favoritism , but I tried to act calmly . I knew Mom had told Gwen and Emily to keep an eye on me . They were worried about me , but Dad knew I would be fine . I was just like him . Once I was crossed , I was done . As a Caldwell , the wedding invitations had been sent out to all the prominent families . We had a reputation to uphold . That was the biggest issue : the wedding was three weeks away . Something was going to have to give because the invitations had been sent out long ago.. Despite my name being noted as Wade on the invitations , those in the know knew exactly who I was . They 16 DODOMANDERSONO © He Brought it on Himself knew who this wedding was for , as this had happened before when my mother married my father . The elites of the city wouldn't be giving the Cook family a heads - up . A number of them looked down on the Cook family . I've witnessed it in person myself . They were not the wealthy family they aspired to be . They have no claim to being part of the upper crust of society . They could have achieved it with me , but not anymore . A smile came to my face at that thought . That is the only thing that makes me happy out of all this . Roger's mother and sister have always looked down on me and talked badly about me . We had gone out to eat dinner two months ago , and that was the day I discovered just how badly they looked down on me . They're loud and abrasive . They had no etiquette . They liked to pretend , but anyone watching them could tell in an instant they didn't fit in . I had been sitting quietly , waiting for Roger to arrive so we could order , when it happened . At first , I was worried , as Erika Carrington was a friend of my parents and she was here for a dinner meeting . She saw me as she passed and nodded at me . She didn't speak , knowing that my identity was to remain hidden until after the wedding . She was friends with my mother and had been warned what was happening . I had just nodded back to her to acknowledge her when Roger's mother started to yell at me . " How dare you try to act as if you know Mrs. Carrington ? She was acknowledging us , not you . You're nothing compared to us . Now that Roger's business is now being publicly traded , more people are starting to notice us . You have nothing good about you , Elizabeth . You're a lowly orphan . You have no class or common sense . I will never know why Roger agreed to marry you , but please be assured that we do not support your marriage . You're beneath our family , and can only bring us down in the future , " Joyce Cook announced . " Pathetic , how dare you try to ride on our success . You've clung to my brother for years . I can smell your desperation from here . Roger can do so much better than you . I wish he would cast you away and put you back in the gutter where you came , " his younger sister , Regina , spat out . " Excuse me , but you're both wrong . I was acknowledging Ms. Wade . I've known her for years , as she is an you , excellent designer . Maybe you two are the ones who need some common sense . I don't know either of but I've never seen anyone be so disrespectful to an innocent woman in public before . You need to be aware of your surroundings before launching into such a vicious diatribe . You're not at home , you're inside an upscale restaurant , act like it ," Erika advised . She had come back to the table when she heard Mrs. Cook laying into me for nodding at Erika . " What's going on ? " I heard Roger's smooth voice come from behind me . Erika immediately replied , " These two women were going off on my friend Elizabeth for no reason . I nodded at her to acknowledge her in passing . Apparently , it bothered these women a great deal . " " I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding , Mrs. Carrington . Please don't hold them responsible for responding out of turn . I can tell that they're both regretful for it now , " Roger tried to be the voice of reason . He can't afford to offend her ; it could have dire consequences for both his company and his father's company , too . She was the owner of one of the largest finance houses in the country . Roger's mother immediately understood where he was going with his comment . " Yes , Mrs. Carrington . I just didn't want you to be insulted by Elizabeth's actions . I didn't know you knew her . It's completely my fault . I'm sorry , " Joyce advised . " Do you think that I'm unable to speak up for myself ? I nodded to her first , and she replied in kind . She was 16 ND He brought it on Himsed + Pont > using manners , which I think you and your daughter are lacking . There was no excuse for what you did , despite your son's attempts to smooth it over . I'm known for many things , Mrs. Cook , but being a pushover is not one of them . I know what I saw here today . I didn't misunderstand anything . Excuse me , I have to leave . Elizabeth , please let me know the next time you're free . I would enjoy getting to speak to you privately , preferably before your wedding , " Erika said as she slid her eyes over the women , before finally resting them on Roger . Her expression said it all . She didn't have to say out loud what she was thinking about them . The flush of color on Joyce and Regina's cheeks showed that they got her message . Eliza then turned and walked away with her group . That's what made it even more embarrassing . They got their dressing down in front of a crowd of important businessmen , and it made Roger , and his father look bad . I had hoped that Roger would defend me , but instead , he sat down and grabbed my wrist tightly . "What did you do ? " he hissed at me . " Mrs. Carrington nodded at me , and I nodded back . She said it clearly herself . I know her professionally . I didn't say a word . She was referring to what your mother and sister had had said , if that wasn't clear to you ," I replied , my voice laced with sarcasm . What made him assume I caused any of this ? I never cause a scene . His mother , on the other hand , lives to cause drama . He had been so nice to me , up until that time . He still hadn't apologized , nor had his family . How had I allowed myself to ignore the warning signs ? His tight grip had bruised my wrist that night . I had to wear a brace for over a week because of it . He ended up taking me to the hospital after dinner , but he never admitted any fault . He had told the doctor that my injury was an accident . That I had tripped and fallen , and Roger had just grabbed my wrist to save me , which explained his fingerprints on my wrist . I feel like the biggest i *** t . He was more concerned about his reputation than he was about my well - being . Yet , I stillclung to him . I suppose I taught him that I was willing to accept anything he gave me , just to be with him . What A fool I was . Which reminds me that I needed to take Erika out for a meal . I knew what she wanted to say to me , so had been avoiding her . There's no need to avoid her anymore . I need to discuss business with her anyway . Now that I'm no longer going to help Roger out , I need her to put his debt in his name only . I had given him several million to get us up and started . He borrowed money to get our latest designs made . He never puts his money into the company . I know that if Roger realizes that I'm out , he won't sign the loan paperwork . I've already figured that out . I will secretly sell my shares to recoup my investment . I'll wait to quit until he brings Sasha in to take my place . on what I also won't be correcting any of the flaws that the design team makes this next week . Roger has the final say goes to production anyway , so it will all be on him and Sasha . I'm taking myself out of the equation . I'm going to let Roger see just how much help I have been to him over the years . He needs the wake - up call that he's about to go down with the ship . Just the thought of that makes me smile . He took advantage of my love for him . He was kind and caring when we were alone or texting me . I let myself fall for it because I wanted it to be true . The only thing I feel for him now is disgust . Wait , that's incorrect . I feel a great deal of anger , and dare I say , some hate , mixed in there with it . My emotions should help me carry through with my plans , I don't owe him anything except what he deserves because he brought this all on himself .