Chapter 4: The Truth Behind the Marriage
I didn’t sleep that night.
Not because I missed Dominic.
Because I remembered everything.
The first time I met Victoria.
The first dinner.
The first insult disguised as advice.
“You’re lovely, Audrey,” she had said.
I smiled.
“Thank you.””
She stirred her coffee.
“But beauty doesn’t build a family.””
I didn’t understand then.
Now I did.
Victoria wasn’t welcoming me.
She was warning me.
The next morning, Sophia placed a folder on the table.
“What’s this?””
“Everything.””
I opened it.
Photos.
Financial records.
Messages.
Evidence.
“Where did you get this?””
Sophia looked serious.
“Your husband has been planning a divorce.””
I froze.
“What?””
“He started preparing documents six months ago.””
My hands went cold.
Six months.
While I was trying to save our marriage.
While I was secretly protecting his company.
While I was carrying his child.
Sophia continued.
“He was going to accuse you of financial instability.””
I almost laughed.
“Me?””
“He planned to make it look like you depended on him.””
The irony was almost painful.
Then Sophia showed me another document.
A bank transfer.
To Paige Bennett.
A large amount.
“Dominic paid her?””
“Yes.””
“For what?””
Sophia looked at me.
“That’s what we need to find out.””
At the same time, Dominic was discovering the same truth.
Only much too late.
He confronted Paige in the mansion.
“You knew?””
She looked confused.
“Knew what?””
“That Audrey owned everything.””
Paige’s expression changed.
Just slightly.
Enough.
Dominic noticed.
“You knew.””
Paige crossed her arms.
“I suspected.””
“And you still stayed with me?””
She laughed.
“Dominic, don’t pretend you didn’t do the same thing.””
“What does that mean?””
“You married Audrey because of her connections.””
His face hardened.
“That’s a lie.””
“Is it?””
Paige stepped closer.
“You told me yourself. You said marrying her gave you access to investors.””
Dominic stared at her.
Because he remembered.
The words he had spoken casually.
Words he thought nobody would ever hear.
Paige continued.
“You said she was perfect because she was quiet.””
Every word cut deeper.
“She never asked questions.””
Dominic looked away.
Because that part was true.
I never asked questions.
I trusted him.
That was my mistake.
Later that afternoon, Dominic came to the office building where Sophia worked.
He waited outside for hours.
When he finally saw me walking out, he froze.
I looked different.
Not because my clothes had changed.
Because I had.
“Audrey.””
I stopped.
For a moment, I saw the man I loved.
Then I remembered the empty hospital chair.
“What do you want?””
His eyes were red.
“I didn’t know.””
I stared at him.
“Didn’t know what?””
“About the baby.””
My expression didn’t change.
“Would that have changed anything?””
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
That was my answer.
He stepped closer.
“I’m sorry.””
The old me would have broken.
The old me would have reached for him.
But she was gone.
“You’re sorry because you lost something.””
His face tightened.
“That’s not fair.””
I laughed quietly.
“Fair?””
I stepped closer.
“I lost my child.””
He looked down.
“I lost my future too.””
“No.””
My voice was calm.
“You lost your fantasy.””
He looked confused.
“You thought I was powerless.””
Silence.
“You thought I needed you.””
I held up my hand.
“The truth is, Dominic, I was the only person in this marriage who never needed anything from you.””
His face fell.
Then my phone rang.
Sophia.
I answered.
Her voice was urgent.
“Audrey, you need to come back.””
“What happened?””
A pause.
Then:
“We found out why Dominic married you.””
I looked at Dominic.
He looked terrified.
Sophia continued.
“Your husband didn’t discover your money by accident.””
My heartbeat changed.
“What are you saying?””
May you like
Her voice dropped.
“Someone told him.””
