Chapter 4: She Isn’t Your Wife

Chapter 04

By 7:00 PM, the Grand Metropole ballroom was full of press, investors, and corporate executives.

I walked in on Liam’s arm, wearing an emerald dress his team had brought to the suite. My hair was pulled back, and the diamond ring on my finger caught the light as we moved through the room.

Photographers started taking photos near the entrance. Whispers spread quickly—Liam Blackwood rarely came to these events, and he never brought anyone with him.

"Keep your eyes forward.” Liam said softly, his hand resting on my back. "Let them speculate."

I looked across the room and spotted Julian near the investor tables.

He looked terrible. His suit was slightly rumpled, and he was sweating as he tried to pitch to two senior venture capitalists.

"...just a temporary server issue.” Julian was saying, his voice nervous. "We'll be back online by tonight—"

"Your servers aren't coming back online, Julian.” I said, stepping up to the table.

Julian stopped talking. He turned and stared at me in shock.

"Allison?" He snapped, keeping his voice low. "What are you doing here? How did you get in?"

The two investors looked between us, confused.

Julian grabbed my arm, trying to pull me away from the table. "Look, if you came here to make a scene about the divorce, do it somewhere else. I'm in the middle of securing five million dollars. Go back to whatever cheap motel you're staying in, and I'll talk to you tomorrow."

I looked down at his hand on my arm, then back up at his face. "Touch me again, and you'll lose the hand.”

Before Julian could answer, Liam stepped up beside me, placing a hand on my waist.

Julian’s eyes moved from Liam’s face to his hand on my waist, and then to the diamond ring on my finger. The color drained from his face.

"Mr. Blackwood?" Julian stammered, stepping back. "I... I don't understand. Why are you with my wife?"

"She isn't your wife.” Liam said flatly. "And she doesn't work for you."

A few reporters wandered over, listening in. Cameras started clicking.

"Miss Montgomery owns the software architecture you've been pitching tonight.” Liam said clearly, making sure the reporters heard him. "As of today, she is the head of Blackwood Group’s software division—and my fiancée."

Julian blinked. "What? That's impossible. She doesn't own—"

"I own all of it.” I said, looking right at him. "Every line of code and every master key. I wrote them while you were sending company money to your secret wife in London."

Flashbulbs went off around us. Julian turned red, looking completely panicked as reporters moved closer with voice recorders.

"Because of this, Blackwood Group is officially pulling out of any deal with Apex Media.” Liam added. "Our legal team is issuing a cease-and-desist for the unauthorized use of Miss Montgomery’s property."

The two investors Julian had been pitching to immediately pulled their cards off the table.

"We're out, Julian.” One of them said cold-shouldered. "Good luck."

"Wait, please!" Julian begged, but the investors walked away.

Julian turned back to me, his hands shaking.

"Allison... please.” He said, his voice loud enough for the news crew's microphones to pick up. "Five years…we built that company together. You can’t do this to me.Think about Leo—"

"Leo has his mother, Elena.” I said calmly. "And you have forty-eight hours before the bank takes your house."

I turned and walked away with Liam. We moved past the flashing cameras, leaving Julian standing alone in the middle of the room as reporters swarmed him.