Lisa Perry. Twenty-three. Graduated from a no-name college. Receptionist at Ralph's company. Unremarkable family, parents both factory workers.
The bitter irony: her hire date was exactly six months after Ralph and I got married.
She'd walked through those doors and zeroed in on a married man from day one. Calculated. Deliberate. Transparent.
I choked down the rage churning inside me, and my eyes locked on a post from three days ago. My heart seized all over again.
In the photo, Lisa was holding up a stack of design sketches, grinning like she'd already won.
The caption: Mr. Dickerson. stayed up all night helping me revise these. He says I'm the most naturally gifted designer he's ever seen, and that I'm definitely going to win the grand prize at the Eternal Love Design Competition!
The Eternal Love Design Competition was hosted by my family. I'd created it myself, a platform to encourage newlywed couples pursuing creative careers, giving young designers a real shot. The grand prize winner would partner with Henson Group to launch a new jewelry line. The whole thing had been my idea, born from what I'd believed was a genuine love story between Ralph and me.
And now it was going to become a tool for my husband to prop up his mistress?
I let out a cold laugh and closed the laptop.
Right on cue, Ralph walked in, carrying a glass of warm milk the way he always did.
He leaned in and kissed my forehead. "Morning, babe. Breakfast is ready. Still working on your designs for the competition? Don't push yourself so hard. Our love doesn't need a contest to prove it's real. Just stay home, go shopping, get some rest. I can take care of you." He straightened up and checked his watch. "Oh, I've got an important client today. Might be home late."
I looked up at him and gave him my most docile, harmless smile. "Of course. Work comes first."
A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He probably hadn't expected me to take it so calmly.
"Oh, and babe," he added, keeping his tone light, "I'll probably be busy the next few days too. Don't read too much into it."
"I know." I nodded obediently, but inside, all that remained was a cold, silent sneer.
Go on then. Rush off to escort your mistress to her prenatal checkup, tweak the design drafts, prep for the jewelry competition.
The moment Ralph walked out the door, I grabbed my car keys and drove straight to his company.