The Marriage That Never Existed novel Chapter 10

Chapter 2

After I hung up the phone, I didn’t sleep a single minute.

With dark circles under my eyes, I dragged myself to the office the next morning.

My mind was still blank when Molly appeared at my side, already eager to dive into the gossip

from last night.

“Something definitely happened between Mr. Lewis and Victoria,” she whispered.

I frowned slightly.

Then she added, “This morning, Mr. Lewis’s shirt was covered in wrinkles… and he was still wearing the same outfit from yesterday. Doesn’t that pretty much prove he never went home?”

I nodded, too drained to even compliment her on how observant she was.

She continued, “Victoria was late today too, and she walked in like she was glowing. Normally,

she’s all sharp edges and cold professionalism, but today she looked like a brand–new woman.”

I asked, “Brand–new how?”

Molly paused, choosing her words carefully. “Brighter. Sexier. More delicate somehow… see for

yourself.”

I looked up.

Victoria walked into the office in a form–fitting pencil skirt.

I recognized that skirt–I’d seen it when I was shopping with Lewis and fallen in love with it.

It didn’t come in my size, so I paid the store to place a custom order and ship it to him once it

arrived,

Well, the skirt had clearly arrived, but the person wearing it wasn’t me.

Victoria was in such a good mood, she offered to buy drinks for everyone as soon as she walked in.

The whole office cheered.

I sat in the corner, feelings tangled into a mess.

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I tried to throw myself into work to numb the ache, but it didn’t help much.

By lunchtime, I was still dazed.

I sat at my desk, eating takeout in silence.

Victoria, on the other hand, carried several carefully packaged meals straight into Lewis’s office.

She stayed in there the entire afternoon.

When she finally came out, it was nearly the end of the workday.

Molly clicked her tongue and muttered, “This world is a mess. Out of all the men she could fall for,

she had to choose a married one.

Jack, the guy sitting closer to the CEO’s office, said Victoria threw herself right into Mr. Lewis’s

arms as soon as she walked in.

Honestly, they might as well have turned the office into a hotel room.”

After speaking, Molly sent me a photo Jack had secretly taken.

In the picture, Victoria was sitting on Lewis’s lap, feeding him lunch.

The way she looked at him, the way she leaned in close–there was no mistaking how intimate

they were.

“I can’t imagine how Mr. Lewis’s wife would feel seeing this,” Molly sighed softly.

Across from us, the manager, Thompson, frowned.

“If they’re both into it, why are you girls getting involved?”

Molly didn’t catch his tone and joked, “Well yeah, she is the side chick after all.”

Thompson’s face darkened. He grabbed a thick folder and dropped it on Molly’s desk.

“Since you’re so free, finish this before you leave. You’re not clocking out until it’s done.”

Molly deflated instantly.

I quietly messaged her, [Thompson and Victoria go way back. He’s probably on her side. Be careful what you say around him.]

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She replied with a crying emoji.

I tried to comfort her, [Don’t worry. I’ll help you finish it. Let’s knock it out fast, and I’ll treat you

to grilled lobster tonight.]

Her mood bounced right back.

By evening, we finally finished the extra work and were ready to head out for dinner.

Just as we stepped toward the elevator, Thompson called out to us.

“You two worked hard. Let’s grab a bite together.”

He didn’t give us a chance to say no.

He took us to a restaurant near the office, and after dinner, he dragged us to a KTV lounge.

We didn’t want to go, but we didn’t have much choice. As interns, our voices barely mattered.

We sat in the dark corner of the private room and started playing mobile games together to

the time.

pass

We got so absorbed in the game, we didn’t even notice when more and more people filed into the

room.

Until I heard a familiar voice.

I looked up and saw Lewis sitting in the center seat, surrounded by industry elites.

At first, they were discussing business projects.

Then the conversation turned personal–talking about kids, wives, in–laws… and of course, mistresses.

“I saw Victoria’s post this morning,” someone said with a smirk. “Something about lovers finally ending up together. So what’s the deal, man? You finally gave in and made her yours?”

I instinctively leaned in, listening closely.

Lewis replied calmly, “You guys don’t understand how things played out that night. I didn’t have

a choice.

Victoria pushed me into a corner. She said if I didn’t want her, she’d resign. And you all know-

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Victoria’s been with the company for years.

It wouldn’t survive without her. Honestly… I wouldn’t either.”

“Victoria’s willing to be the side piece? Lewis, you better not screw this up for yourself.”

“Yeah, we all remember how hard you worked to marry that girl. Whether your side affairs are stable or not, if your wife finds out, won’t she go ballistic?”

“Come on. Victoria doesn’t care, so why should that little girl?”

“After being spoiled for so long, you think she can just go back to an ordinary life? Even if she knows about Victoria, she won’t dare do anything. At least she’s got her status as Mrs. Carter. Her life is comfortable. She’s better off than most.”

One by one, they all added their two cents.

In the end, they came to the same conclusion:

As long as Victoria didn’t stir up drama, the wife would never be a threat.

Some even congratulated Lewis for managing to keep both women under control.

Molly listened in with her face all scrunched up.

She leaned toward me and whispered, “Disgusting.”

Then she added, “Lewis is trash, no doubt, but to be fair, they’re not completely wrong. That girl

hasn’t even graduated yet, no family background, no connections. If she caused a scene, it wouldn’t help her. Don’t you think?”

I nodded.

“She wouldn’t make a fuss. In today’s world, everyone wants to keep things civil. Everything can be discussed calmly… even divorce.”

Right then, Lewis set down his glass and spoke again.

“Yeah. Emily’s only value is her youth. Compared to her, Victoria’s more intelligent and mature. But Victoria’s pride is another issue. I don’t know how long she can keep pretending this is

enough.”

He gave a short laugh.

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“I’m starting to regret getting married. If I had just kept her as a girlfriend, it would’ve cost a fraction of what divorce would cost me now.”

So that was it.

He was worried about financial loss.

That makes sense because we were legally married–divorcing me would mean splitting all his

post–marriage earnings.

Well, if that was what he wanted, I’d make it easy for him.

I could walk away from the divorce with nothing.

But the price of me walking away empty–handed—that was a bill Lewis would pay, whether he

liked it or not.