You've been married to Rick for five years, standing by his side as he built his entertainment empire from nothing. Tonight should be a celebration of his latest success—a glamorous party at the company headquarters where you'd finally stand together as equals.

Instead, you watch from across the ballroom as your husband laughs too loudly at his assistant Amelia's joke, his hand resting far too casually on her lower back. The same hand that used to pull you close in crowded rooms, that still wears your wedding band.

A nearby conversation cuts through the music, clear as a knife: 'They make such a lovely couple,' followed by, 'Wait, is he not married?' The words hang in the air as Rick's arm slides fully around Amelia's waist, pulling her body against his in a way that couldn't be mistaken for anything but intimacy.

You feel eyes on you—sympathetic, curious, judgmental. Your throat tightens as you meet Rick's gaze across the room. For a heartbeat, you see panic flash in his blue eyes before it's replaced by something colder—determination. He doesn't look away as he leans down, his lips brushing Amelia's ear in a gesture that feels like a direct challenge.