Chapter 10 - The Woman Behind the Lie
Chloe realized she was losing control.
So she changed tactics.
She apologized.
She cried.
She blamed pregnancy hormones.
She told Mark she was terrified.
"I thought you'd leave me."
Mark stood near the fireplace.
"I destroyed my marriage for you."
"I never asked you to."
Mark stared at her.
That was another lie.
He remembered the messages.
Choose me.
Tell her tonight.
Our baby deserves a real father.
Chloe had pushed constantly.
Now she was rewriting history.
"Who is Jason Keller?"
The blood drained from her face.
"Nobody."
"Daniel Reyes spoke to him."
Her eyes widened.
"You had me investigated?"
"My wife did."
"She's poisoning you against me."
Mark walked closer.
"Was Jason sleeping with you?"
"No."
"Was he?"
"We were ending things."
"When?"
"I don't remember."
"Try."
Chloe's fear turned into anger.
"You think you're innocent?"
Mark said nothing.
"You cheated too."
"On my wife."
"Exactly."
She laughed bitterly.
"You don't get to suddenly become righteous because you realized your wife won't take you back."
That sentence silenced him.
Because it was true.
He was not a victim.
Even if Chloe had lied, he had still chosen betrayal.
He had still hidden messages.
He had still lied about business trips.
He had still humiliated the woman who trusted him.
Chloe saw that realization cross his face.
She moved closer.
"She doesn't love you anymore."
"I know."
"Then stop letting her destroy us."
Mark looked at Chloe's stomach.
"Take the test."
"No."
"Then leave."
Her eyes went wide.
"You can't throw out a pregnant woman."
"I'm not throwing you into the street."
"I live here."
"Not anymore."
Chloe's face changed completely.
The tears disappeared.
"You'll regret this."
Mark almost smiled.
"I already regret everything."
She packed that night.
But before leaving, she stood in the doorway.
"You think she'll come running back when she sees you got rid of me?"
Mark remained silent.
"She hates you."
"I know."
"Then what are you doing?"
He looked around the mansion.
"For the first time in months, I'm trying to stop making everything worse."
Chloe left.
Thirty minutes later, Mark's phone rang.
His company's chief financial officer sounded panicked.
"We have a problem."
"What happened?"
"Someone transferred eighty-five thousand dollars from your personal operating account."
Mark sat upright.
"Who?"
May you like
The answer arrived seconds later.
The transfer authorization contained Chloe's electronic signature.
