He Called Me the Other Woman,So I Walked AwayChapter 1

"Your mother was the other woman. So what does that make you?"

Adam Sanchez slid the custom ring onto my finger, then asked me that out of nowhere.

I stared at him, stunned. "Adam, what are you talking about?"

"It makes you the other woman too, babe."

I didn't understand. His expression was dead serious. "I want you to become my secret lover."

"There's a new secretary at the company. She's sharp, she's beautiful, and I want to marry her."

"Then what am I?"

He arranged his face into something resembling regret. "Your mother knew she was a mistress and chose to be one anyway. Why can't you?"

——

It took me a long time to speak. "My mother is my mother. I'm me. I won't be anyone's mistress."

"Is that so?"

He let out a mocking laugh. "Then we're done."

"Fine. Done is done." I had sworn to myself a long time ago that I would never be the other woman. Not in this lifetime.

But Adam didn't know that.

He reached over and stroked my hair, gentle as ever. "Don't be silly. Stop throwing a fit. Without me, how would you even survive?"

"Your mother was cyberbullied until she killed herself. Your father won't even acknowledge you. I'm the only reason nobody dares laugh at you."

I let out a quiet laugh. Who said he was the only reason nobody dared laugh at me?

I had an aunt. Aunt Caroline. Her business had grown enormous, and overseas, she answered to no one.

Last week she'd tracked me down and asked if I wanted to go abroad with her.

I'd said no because I couldn't bear to leave Adam.

Now...

I pulled out my phone and sent Aunt Caroline a message.

Auntie, I've made up my mind. I'll go with you.

She replied instantly: Wonderful. I'll send a private jet for you in three days.

It should have been good news. But the tears slid down my face before I could stop them.

My chest ached, a sharp, venomous sting, like something poisonous had sunk its teeth in.

I had been planning to tell Adam about Aunt Caroline as a surprise.

There was no point now.

Adam saw me crying and assumed I couldn't bear to lose him. He reached over and wiped my tears with his thumb. "See? The second I mention breaking up, you're in tears. If I ever actually left you, you'd probably fall apart completely."

"Throwing tantrums with me won't get you anywhere. The only way you don't end up alone again is if you keep doing as I say."

I sniffled and said nothing.