On Friday evening, Chloe hosted a lavish dinner party at the mansion, inviting a dozen of her most superficial, high-society friends to flaunt her lifestyle. She wore a diamond necklace Marcus had bought her for their anniversary. The dining table was set with crystal, the champagne was flowing, and Chloe was holding court, laughing loudly.
“Marcus is just so busy,” Chloe bragged to her friends, twirling her wine glass. “But he knows that taking care of the estate—and dealing with his… difficult family—is my burden to bear. A wife’s duty, you know?”
Marcus stood at the head of the table. He tapped his spoon against his crystal glass. The room fell silent. All eyes turned to the powerful, self-made millionaire.
“I want to thank you all for coming,” Marcus began, his voice dangerously smooth. “Chloe is right. I have been very busy. So busy, in fact, that I almost missed what was happening under my own roof. But thankfully, I came home two days early.”
