Chapter 10
Anthony’s hands trembled as he picked up the papers, his eyes scanning the document. The charge listed was unmistakable: Infidelity.
“Mr. Harris,” the butler began hesitantly, “is there anything else you require?”
Anthony did not respond immediately. His gaze remained fixed on the divorce papers, the weight of them heavier than he could have anticipated.
“No,” he said finally, his voice low and clipped. “That will be all.”
The butler bowed and quietly left the room, leaving Anthony alone with the
remnants of what he had lost.
Sitting at his desk, Anthony opened the divorce agreement and reread it carefully. I had asked for nothing–not money, not property.
40% 12:34
1/9
Chapter 10
case.
When he found the footage of me entering the building, his heart tightened. He watched as I made my way toward his office, stopping briefly at the elevator.
Then came the scene that changed everything: the elevator doors opening to reveal him and Julie locked in an intimate kiss. My shocked face was caught clearly on the camera.
Anthony froze the frame, his stomach twisting in regret.
“That’s when she found out,” he whispered, his voice heavy with disbelief.
He replayed the footage, following my movements as I left the building. The more he watched, the clearer it became.
I had been close to confronting him, but I had walked away instead.
His hand ran through his hair in frustration. “How did I not notice her?”
40% 12:34
3/9
Chapter 10
The truth settled like a stone in his chest. At the office, Anthony had felt
untouchable.
Everyone knew about his relationship with Julie and treated it as normal, so he never thought to hide it. That sense of freedom. had backfired in the worst way.
Then he saw the ultrasound photo attached to the divorce papers. It was Julie’s baby, the child he had carelessly created in the midst of his lies.
Anthony leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling as the weight of his actions. crashed down on him.
“This wouldn’t have escalated if Julie hadn’t provoked her,” he murmured to himself.
Julie‘ s smugness, her audacity to taunt me, everything about her behavior had worsened the situation.
For the first time, Anthony questioned her intentions. Was Julie truly the innocent,
40% 12:34
4/9
Chapter 10
adoring woman she pretended to be?
Or had she been fueling the fire, ensuring that the fracture in his marriage became irreparable?
He slammed the papers down on the desk, frustration surging through him. The pieces of his life were crumbling around him, and the person he once loved was then out of reach.
As Anthony sat brooding in his study, his thoughts tangled in regret and realization, a knock at the door startled him.
“Sir,” the butler called hesitantly from the other side. “Miss Osborn has arrived. and is asking for you. She has been insistent about knowing your whereabouts.”
Anthony’s jaw tightened as he quickly hid the divorce papers, the note, and the evidence of Julie‘ s provocations in a locked drawer. “Never let her into my study,” he instructed firmly.
40— 17:34
5/9
12:34
Chapter 10
“Yes, sir.
Taking a deep breath, Anthony smoothed his expression and exited the study.
As soon as Julie saw him descending the stairs, she ran toward him, throwing her arms around his neck.
“Honey,” she exclaimed, feigning a hurt expression. “They kept me waiting downstairs. Why couldn‘ t I see you? It felt so lonely.”
Anthony‘ s features remained stoic as he gently untangled her arms from his neck.
“They just don’t know you yet,” he replied smoothly. “Don‘ t take it personally.”
Julie pouted, playing up her innocent act.
“But you promised we’d finally be together here. I thought this place was supposed to be our home now.”
Anthony forced a smile, his mind already calculating his next move. “Of course, it is. Let’s go to the bedroom and unpack
6/91
Chapter 10
your belongings.”
He led her upstairs, but instead of taking her to the master bedroom, the one we had once shared, he opened the door to a guest
room.
Julie did not know about that yet, so she was so happy when seeing broad bedroom,
“It’s so lovely, honey.”
Anthony offered her a brief kiss on the forehead, his lips barely brushing her skin.
“Take your time unpacking,” he said, stepping toward the door. “I’ll take care of a few things and join you for dinner later.”
Julie beamed at him, completely unaware of the tension simmering beneath his calm exterior.
As soon as Anthony closed the guest room door, his face darkened. He motioned for the butler to approach.
“Assign someone discreet to keep an eye on Miss Osborn,” Anthony said in a low
40 12:04
7/9
Chapter 10
voice.
The butler blinked in surprise but nodded.
“Yes, sir. What should they be monitoring?”
“Everything,” Anthony replied curtly. “I want to know her activities, her communications, her connections- anything she’s hiding. And send someone to investigate her background. Spare no detail.”
The butler inclined his head.
“Understood, sir.”
“Search for Daisy‘ s whereabout too, I want the answer within a week,” he added. Then, Anthony turned back toward the hallway with racing mind.
Julie‘ s audacity, her provocations toward me, and her apparent overconfidence had planted a seed of doubt that he could not longer ignore.
“If she’s hiding something,” he muttered under his breath, “I’ll find it.”
8/9
Chapter 10
The Manor felt colder than ever as Anthony walked back to his study, each step echoing with the realization that his once–perfect world was unraveling, and Julie Osborn might not be the partner he thought she
