Chapter 8 - THE NIGHT HE REALIZED HE'D BEEN USED
Adrien Moretti stared at the photograph as though it had become poisonous.
"You're saying this isn't real?"
I looked at him.
"I was in Boston that day."
He frowned.
"What?"
"At the Carter Foundation's annual audit."
Vivian opened a folder.
"Travel records and meeting attendance confirm Elena was in Boston."
Adrien sat back.
His expression changed.
For six weeks, he'd believed his wife was secretly meeting someone who threatened his business.
Victoria had provided photographs.
Emails.
Financial summaries.
And a story designed to exploit his greatest weakness.
His fear of betrayal.
I watched him struggle to understand.
"You trusted her over me," I said quietly.
Adrien lowered his eyes.
"Yes."
The honesty hurt.
But at least it was honest.
"Why?"
He swallowed.
"Because she told me what I was already afraid of."
I frowned.
"What were you afraid of?"
"That you would realize you didn't need me."
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Adrien looked at the table.
"You handled the finances. The contracts. The partnerships."
He laughed bitterly.
"I was the man everyone feared, but you were the person who made everything work."
I stared.
"Then why humiliate me?"
His voice broke.
"Because I wanted to hurt you before you could leave."
The room went silent.
I felt tears gather.
For six years, I'd tried to make our marriage safe.
I'd softened conflicts.
Managed crises.
Protected Adrien from financial mistakes.
And he'd rewarded me by publicly destroying our relationship.
"Adrien," I whispered, "that's not love."
He closed his eyes.
"I know."
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then he looked up.
"Can you forgive me?"
I took a breath.
"Maybe someday."
Hope flickered across his face.
"But forgiveness doesn't mean I'm coming back."
His expression collapsed.
I continued.
"You didn't make one mistake. You chose to humiliate me."
He nodded.
"I know."
"And you allowed another woman to become more important than your wife's voice."
He looked down.
"Yes."
I stood.
The meeting was over.
But before I reached the door, Adrien spoke.
"Elena."
I stopped.
"There's something else."
I turned.
"What?"
He hesitated.
"Victoria told me she was pregnant."
My heart stopped.
For a moment, the room spun.
"Pregnant?"
Adrien nodded.
"She claimed the child was mine."
I gripped the doorframe.
Then he continued.
"But I found out yesterday that she lied."
I stared.
"What?"
"She admitted there was no pregnancy."
Silence.
Another manipulation.
Another reason Adrien had rushed to end our marriage.
But that wasn't the final revelation.
Adrien looked at Vivian.
"Victoria also admitted she's already married."
I froze.
"Married?"
He nodded.
"To a man named Daniel Hail."
Vivian's expression changed.
"Daniel Hail?"
I stared.
Then remembered something Thomas told me.
Harrison Hail had two children.
Victoria.
And a son who disappeared from public records years ago.
But Daniel wasn't Victoria's brother.
He was her husband.
May you like
A corporate attorney.
And according to Adrien, the man who prepared the documents transferring my family's assets.
