Chapter 7 Jack knelt there in the schoolyard dust , his expensive suit collecting dirt as he called me his wife . The scene froze every parent in place . Their smartphones hung forgotten in mid - air . The crowd that had been so sure of everything moments ago now stood in stunned silence . Ashley's perfectly crafted world cracked . " What ... what's happening ? " " Did he just call her ... his wife ? " " That can't be right . There must be some mistake . " The parents swarmed Ashley with questions she couldn't answer . Their certainty crumbled like a house of cards . The color drained from her face . The confident socialite facade shattered , revealing the desperate woman beneath . When she finally found her voice , it came out as a shriek . " Jack ! What the hell is this ? Why are you calling that whore your wife ? " Her designer handbag hit the ground as she grabbed his shoulders . " You told me our marriage was just paperwork ! You promised we'd have a real wedding once you took over the company ! " Her voice cracked with hysteria . " We have a son together ! And now you're kneeling to ... to her ? " The carefully maintained composure of the CEO's wife dissolved completely . " You said I was the love of your life ! Was that all lies ? Answer me ! " She shook him violently , mascara running down her cheeks . Jack shoved her away with enough force to send her stumbling . " Just shut up ! " " Can't you see you're ruining everything ? " Ashley staggered back like she'd been slapped . This wasn't her charming , devoted Jack . This was a stranger wearing his face . The man she'd built her dreams around had vanished in an instant . But Jack was already focused on me , his only thought now self - preservation . Still on his knees , his voice turned pleading . " Baby , please . I know I screwed up badly . Give me one more chance . Just one . " The polished CEO was gone . In his place knelt a desperate man who'd lost his script . 9.2 % MATAY Chapter 7 I looked down at him , feeling nothing . Five years of love had turned to ash . " You remember what happened to my mother , don't you ? How my father's affair drove her to suicide ? " " I told you betrayal was the one thing I could never forgive . " " You stood there on our wedding day , swearing I was your everything . Look how that turned out . " I gestured toward Ashley . " You didn't just cheat . You built a whole second life . " " And now I see everything clearly . That ' rescue ' at Murphy's Bar wasn't chance , was it ? You made sure those guys didn't face charges . You didn't even blink when you learned who my family was . " " This was all planned from the start , wasn't it ? " " You used my family's money to play big shot CEO , funding your little side family the whole time . " " Quite the long con , Jack . I have to give you that . " The reality hit me like a physical blow . Every tender moment , every loving gesture - all carefully orchestrated steps in his master plan . Emma and I had given him our complete trust . We'd believed he was our rock , our protector . " Sarah , please ! " His hands clutched at mine, eyes wild with fear . " I swear I love you ! This was a mistake . It'll never happen again ! " Ashley still couldn't grasp what was happening . " Jack , why are you begging her ? Even if she is your wife , you're the one with the power . You run Walker Corp ! " - Jack whirled on her , face contorted with rage . " Because I married into HER family ! Everything - the money , the position , all of it - it's all HERS! " Chapter 8 Chapter 8