Chapter 5

Nicole, standing in the shadows of the staircase, took in the entire scene. Her heart felt as if it had been brutally crushed in an instant. Pain surged through her senses, her vision darkening as she nearly lost her balance. She bit down on her lip so hard that the metallic tang of blood filled her mouth, yet she felt no pain. She spun around and stumbled back to her room. Pressing her back against the door, she sank to the floor as a violent tremor shook her body. Her tears had long since run dry, leaving behind nothing but an endless chill and despair. … The next morning, when Nicole opened her door, she found a mountain of extravagant gift boxes piled outside. Maverick was waiting at the end of the hallway. The moment he saw her, he rushed over. "Nicky, please don't stay mad at me, okay? I promise I'll look after you from now on. I won't ever let you get hurt again." He searched her face for a reaction. "It's your birthday. I'll throw a grand birthday banquet for you. Let's go together, alright?" Nicole had no desire to go, but Maverick was relentless. He practically dragged her along until she had no choice but to follow him to the venue. The gala was the epitome of luxury, packed with the city's elite. Maverick played the part of the devoted partner to perfection, keeping Nicole's hand firmly in his and parading his devotion and affection before every guest. He even went so far as to publicly announce that he was transferring a portion of his shares in Pitt Group to Nicole as a birthday gift. The announcement sent ripples of shock and envy through the crowd. Nicole moved like a marionette, playing her role in his performance with an elegant smile, though her heart had long since gone numb. As the ceremony reached its peak and the cake was about to be cut, Nicole keenly noticed a sudden shift in Maverick's expression. His gaze cut through the crowd and locked onto a corner of the ballroom. Nicole followed his gaze and saw her—Chloe. She wore a simple dress, her face pale, standing alone in the corner, completely out of place among the lively crowd. Her sorrowful eyes were fixed in their direction. Maverick's grip on Nicole's hand tightened instinctively. "Nicky, I have something I need to take care of." Without waiting for a response, he dropped her hand and strode directly toward Chloe. Nicole remained frozen in place, watching his retreating back as a familiar chill settled in her chest. She watched as he pulled Chloe into a secluded corner, his voice low and full of suppressed fury as he demanded, "What are you doing here?" Chloe's eyes welled up instantly, her voice thick with sobs. "I'm your wife! You're throwing a grand birthday banquet for another woman, giving her company shares, and proclaiming your love for her to the whole world. Am I just supposed to stay away?" Maverick pressed his lips together and looked at her with an unreadable expression. After a long moment, he said indifferently, "You're my wife in name only. You know very well where my heart lies. Don't humiliate yourself here." Tears streamed down Chloe's cheeks. She bit her lip hard and choked out, "Maverick, all these years… have you ever, even for a single moment, loved me?" Maverick watched her cry in silence, his Adam's apple bobbing. Eventually, he looked away, his voice chillingly clear as he answered, "No." That single word was like a shard of ice. It didn't just shatter Chloe but also sent a bone-deep chill through Nicole, who was watching the exchange from afar. His acting was truly flawless. If she hadn't overheard his confession last night and seen him kiss Chloe so passionately, she might have believed he really felt nothing for Chloe. Chloe looked utterly defeated. She swayed on her feet, forcing a smile that hurt more than any sob as she whispered, "I see. I get it now." She didn't say another word. She gave Maverick one last, lingering look before turning and stumbling out of the ballroom. Maverick stood rooted to the spot, staring at the doorway where she had disappeared. He remained motionless for a long time, his silhouette rigid and tense. It took several minutes before he finally smoothed his expression and returned to Nicole's side. But Nicole could feel that his mind had already left the room. As the party began to wind down, Dennis hurried over and whispered something urgently into Maverick's ear. Maverick's expression shifted abruptly. "What?" Without a word of explanation to Nicole, he bolted, following Dennis toward the guest suites upstairs. Nicole hesitated for a moment, then followed them. She went up to the second floor and followed the sounds. There, through the narrow crack of a half-open door, she saw a scene she would never forget for the rest of her life.