The Architect of Her Own Ruin

The Architect of Her Own Ruin

Gavin

5.0
Comment(s)
120
View
11
Chapters

Matthew Scott, my fiancé and business partner, looked at me with that serious expression I used to find charming. He told me our architecture firm, our shared dream, was on the verge of bankruptcy. I didn't hesitate when he asked me to invest every dollar of my life savings – the down payment for our future home – into the company. It was for us, he said, to protect our dream. The very next day, I saw an Instagram post from our office manager, Sabrina. It was a photo of a deed for a brand new condo. And on it, clear as day, were the names: Matthew Scott and Sabrina Todd. My savings, gone, for their secret purchase. Before I could even process the betrayal, Sabrina faked a breakdown, accusing me of bullying her for merely 'liking' her post. Matthew, my fiancé, publicly sided with her, demanding I apologize and pay her moving expenses for emotional distress. He called an emergency all-hands meeting, grandstanding about family values while humiliating me in front of the entire office. He even tried to illegally garnish my salary, claiming it was for Sabrina' s brother' s education. The shock, the disbelief, the sheer audacity of being betrayed and then publicly pilloried by the man I loved and trusted with everything. How could he do this? How could he use my hard-earned money and then try to destroy me professionally and financially? That moment, watching him stand there with her, delivering his sick performance, something inside me snapped. I didn't argue. I didn't cry. I simply picked up my phone and called the Texas Workforce Commission to file an illegal wage claim.

Introduction

Matthew Scott, my fiancé and business partner, looked at me with that serious expression I used to find charming.

He told me our architecture firm, our shared dream, was on the verge of bankruptcy.

I didn't hesitate when he asked me to invest every dollar of my life savings – the down payment for our future home – into the company.

It was for us, he said, to protect our dream.

The very next day, I saw an Instagram post from our office manager, Sabrina.

It was a photo of a deed for a brand new condo.

And on it, clear as day, were the names: Matthew Scott and Sabrina Todd.

My savings, gone, for their secret purchase.

Before I could even process the betrayal, Sabrina faked a breakdown, accusing me of bullying her for merely 'liking' her post.

Matthew, my fiancé, publicly sided with her, demanding I apologize and pay her moving expenses for emotional distress.

He called an emergency all-hands meeting, grandstanding about family values while humiliating me in front of the entire office.

He even tried to illegally garnish my salary, claiming it was for Sabrina' s brother' s education.

The shock, the disbelief, the sheer audacity of being betrayed and then publicly pilloried by the man I loved and trusted with everything.

How could he do this?

How could he use my hard-earned money and then try to destroy me professionally and financially?

That moment, watching him stand there with her, delivering his sick performance, something inside me snapped.

I didn't argue.

I didn't cry.

I simply picked up my phone and called the Texas Workforce Commission to file an illegal wage claim.

Continue Reading

Other books by Gavin

More

You'll also like

I Slapped My Fiancé-Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis

I Slapped My Fiancé-Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis

Jessica C. Dolan
4.9

Being second best is practically in my DNA. My sister got the love, the attention, the spotlight. And now, even her damn fiancé. Technically, Rhys Granger was my fiancé now-billionaire, devastatingly hot, and a walking Wall Street wet dream. My parents shoved me into the engagement after Catherine disappeared, and honestly? I didn't mind. I'd crushed on Rhys for years. This was my chance, right? My turn to be the chosen one? Wrong. One night, he slapped me. Over a mug. A stupid, chipped, ugly mug my sister gave him years ago. That's when it hit me-he didn't love me. He didn't even see me. I was just a warm-bodied placeholder for the woman he actually wanted. And apparently, I wasn't even worth as much as a glorified coffee cup. So I slapped him right back, dumped his ass, and prepared for disaster-my parents losing their minds, Rhys throwing a billionaire tantrum, his terrifying family plotting my untimely demise. Obviously, I needed alcohol. A lot of alcohol. Enter him. Tall, dangerous, unfairly hot. The kind of man who makes you want to sin just by existing. I'd met him only once before, and that night, he just happened to be at the same bar as my drunk, self-pitying self. So I did the only logical thing: I dragged him into a hotel room and ripped off his clothes. It was reckless. It was stupid. It was completely ill-advised. But it was also: Best. Sex. Of. My. Life. And, as it turned out, the best decision I'd ever made. Because my one-night stand isn't just some random guy. He's richer than Rhys, more powerful than my entire family, and definitely more dangerous than I should be playing with. And now, he's not letting me go.

Chapters
Read Now
Download Book