Chapter 80: Painted as the Villainess

I walked out of the meeting room that evening, exhausted but satisfied with how the negotiations had gone. The freight company executives in the neighboring city had been receptive, and I'd managed to secure a tentative partnership that could save my father's company. Now I just needed to get back home and prepare for tomorrow's follow-up.

I was heading toward the exit when a voice stopped me.

"Sister-in-law?"

I turned and found myself face-to-face with one of Damien's cousins. What was his name again? One of the younger ones who'd been studying abroad and recently joined Blackwood Industries as an admin manager. I'd only seen him a handful of times, most recently at Henry's birthday party, where we'd exchanged nothing more than polite nods.

"Don't call me that," I said. "It's not appropriate anymore."

He looked startled, then embarrassed. After a pause, he tried again. "Is there really no chance of working things out?"

I met his eyes and smiled slightly. "Who exactly wants to work things out?"

He shifted uncomfortably. "Grandfather wouldn't want you divorcing Damien. He's always hoped you two could be happy together."

"Some hopes are meant to stay just that. Hopes."

He opened his mouth to respond, but the elevator doors opened behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and froze.

Grayson stepped out first, his eyes going wide when he saw me. "Miss Quinn?"

The shock in his voice practically screamed gossip.

Behind him was Caspian.

I managed a slight smile for Grayson, let my gaze drift to Caspian for half a second, then looked away fast.

"I should go," Damien's cousin said quickly, already backing up. "I won't keep you any longer. Goodbye, Miss Quinn."

He disappeared down the hall. I couldn't help glancing after him before turning back to find both Grayson and Caspian still standing there watching me.

"I'll be going too," I said. "Goodbye, Mr. Grayson. Goodbye, Mr. Vale."

I didn't wait for a response. My heels clicked against the marble floor as I headed straight for the exit.

Since I'd expected to drink tonight, I hadn't driven. I stood on the front steps of the club, pulling out my phone to call a cab, when a black sedan rolled up smoothly beside me.

The door opened. A hand reached out and pulled me inside before I could react.

The car started moving, gliding through the night streets. A privacy screen divided the front and back seats, giving us complete isolation from the driver.

I looked at the man who'd pulled me into his car and bit my lip. "You're getting reckless, Mr. Vale. Do you know how many media calls I got today? Aren't you afraid someone saw me get in your car and will drag you into this whole mess?"

Caspian looked at me steadily. "Why? Haven't I been in the middle of this mess for a while now?"

I stared at him, silent for a moment, processing what he'd just admitted. Then I let my head drop against his shoulder, too tired to hold myself upright anymore.

The car drove all the way to Moonrise Terrace.

I watched the familiar route unfold outside the window but said nothing.

When we got to his apartment, I followed him inside and collapsed onto the sofa. Finally, I pulled my phone from my bag to scroll through the messages that had been piling up all day. My reputation had already been dragged through the mud, and now that I'd filed for divorce citing abandonment and neglect, the public speculation was overwhelmingly negative.

"She'd do anything to marry Damien Blackwood. Of course, he wouldn't want to stay married to someone like that."

"Imagine having the person you love crippled by a homewrecker, then being forced to marry that homewrecker. Would you share a bed with someone like that? You'd run as far as you could!"

"A dirty woman, and he didn't kill her? Damien's being kind just by staying married to her for these two years. What does she have on him?"

"Does she really want a divorce? Or is this another play for attention? Trying to get Damien to notice her?"

"Maybe she finally realized the marriage is hopeless, so she wants to divorce him, cash out, and leave. Her father's dead, and Quinn Industries has nothing to do with her anymore. Might as well grab what money she can while it's realistic."

Before I could scroll further, Caspian walked out of the bedroom in fresh clothes and took my phone from my hands.

I didn't try to grab it back. I stayed curled up on the sofa, looking at him sideways. "I have a meeting tomorrow morning. I can't stay tonight. I didn't bring anything with me, and I'm afraid I'll be late if I stay."

"Why didn't you tell me beforehand?" He glanced at my phone screen while he asked.

I let out a breath. "I've been preparing this for a long time. I was ready before I even met you. The timing just happened to line up today, so I had my lawyer file the papers. I didn't think about telling anyone first. This has been dragging on for two years already. Every day it ends sooner is a blessing."

After I said that, he went quiet.

The silence stretched too long. I finally lifted my head to look at him.

He was still staring at my phone, the screen's glow casting shadows across his face and highlighting the displeasure there.

"Don't look at that." I sat up and took the phone from his hand. "I've seen too much of it already. I'm worried you'll start being afraid of me."

He finally turned to look at me. "Why would I be afraid of you?"

I held up my phone, gesturing to all the speculation and hatred inside, but when I met his eyes, I realized that wasn't what he'd been asking about.

After a moment of silence, I moved slowly into his arms, settling onto his lap and leaning against his shoulder. The position felt natural now, like I'd been doing it for years instead of weeks.

"Two years ago, when I married him, we didn't do anything. The so-called ceremony was just a formal wedding but that night, something happened to the woman he loved most."

My voice came out flat and quiet, like I was reciting facts that had nothing to do with me.

"You've probably heard about it. What happened to her was terrible. But the two people who caused that tragedy were two people I knew. Do you think that's a coincidence?"

I couldn't help the laugh that escaped, bitter and sharp. "It's obvious, isn't it? No room for excuses. I'd already succeeded in forcing my way into marriage with the Blackwoods, but I still wouldn't let him go. Of course, Damien hates me."

"He hates that I married him. He hates that I took the position of Mrs. Blackwood from her beloved ones. He hates that I caused the woman he loved most to have that accident and lose the ability to walk properly. And he hates me even more for making the woman he loves sad and hurt."

I spoke word by word, each one deliberate. "I'm the source of pain for three people. The person he can never forgive in his entire life."