Chapter 4

Nathaniel stared at me for a long time.

"Because Derek is not my son," he said.

I was shocked. "What?"

"Margaret was already pregnant with Derek from another man before I married her. I accepted it because I loved Margaret. But Derek, he was never my flesh and blood, and over the years, I watched him destroy everything I built, including you."

I swallowed hard. This huge secret felt heavy between us.

"So you never really considered him your son?" I asked.

"I considered him my responsibility, but my love for him died when he started manipulating the finances in my company and also hurting you," he said.

He moved closer again, this time I didn't step back. His warm palm touched my cheek, wiping away the remaining tears.

"You know, I've been watching you since the first day you came to this house. I saw the way you smiled even though your heart was broken. I saw the way you endured even though Derek treated you like dust, and I want to be the man who makes you happy."

I stared at him. "This is crazy. You're my father-in-law."

"And Derek is your husband who spends his nights in another woman's arms. You deserve more. You deserve a man who values you, and I'm ready to be that man."

I bit my lip. Inside my chest, a war raged. This was wrong, so wrong. But on the other hand, Derek had betrayed me countless times. Why should I stay loyal to a man who was never loyal to me?

"You only need one word," Nathaniel whispered, his face moving closer, his lips almost touching my ear. "Say yes, and Derek will lose everything, and I'll give you everything you want."

I was silent for a long time. To be honest, my mind was a mess right now, so I answered, "Yes."

Nathaniel smiled, but then he did something I didn't expect.

He kissed me.

His lips touched mine gently, warmly, and with a passion that had been hidden all this time. I was startled for a second, then somehow my body responded. My hand lifted, grabbing his jacket lapel, pulling him closer. The kiss lasted long, deep, and full of everything we'd never said.

When our lips parted, I was breathless. Nathaniel stared at me with eyes dark with desire.

"I've been waiting for this for years," he said.

I didn't answer. I just stared at him, realizing I had crossed a line that couldn't be uncrossed.

^^^

Nathaniel stepped back slowly, straightening his slightly wrinkled jacket. There was a strange glint in his eyes, not just satisfaction, something I couldn't read.

"I'll wait for you in the car," he said, his voice flat again as if nothing had happened. As if he hadn't just kissed his own daughter-in-law. "You have 15 minutes to get ready."

He turned and walked out of the dining room, leaving me alone with a pounding heart and lips still warm from his touch.

I stood there, gripping the edge of the teak table, trying to steady my breathing. Chaotic thoughts spun in my head: What had I just done? This was wrong. So wrong. But why did it feel so right?

I walked to the bedroom, opened the closet, and my hand reached for a long black dress that had been hidden all this time. A dress that was too bold, too sexy, a dress I'd bought a year ago but never dared to wear because I was afraid Derek would insult me.

Today I would wear it.

I put on the dress slowly, feeling the cool silk touch my skin. In the mirror, my reflection changed. My fat body was still the same, the folds on my stomach, wide thighs, chubby arms. But there was something different in my eyes. There was a determination I'd never seen before. There was a spark of desire and revenge that made me look alive.

I fixed my hair, applied red lipstick, and grabbed my small purse. As I walked toward the front door, my steps felt lighter. I was no longer the deceived wife. I was a wife ready for revenge.

Outside, Nathaniel's black car was already waiting. He stood by the door, opening it for me. His eyes scanned my body from head to toe.

"You look beautiful," he said.

I smiled faintly. "I know."

We drove away from the mansion. I stared out the window, watching the scenery pass by. Beside me, Nathaniel drove calmly, occasionally glancing at me.

"You don't need to be afraid. I've arranged everything. The board meeting will start at ten. Derek and Anita will be there. And I'll play all the evidence of company fund embezzlement and their affair," I said.

I nodded. "And after that?"

"After that, Derek will lose everything. His shares, his position, his reputation, and you'll get 70 percent of the marital assets. You'll be free."

I stared at him. "And us?"

He smiled, a smile that gave me chills.

"We'll see what happens, but one thing I promise, you'll never be alone again."

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding. There was something behind his words that made me unsure whether it was a promise or a threat.

^^^

We arrived at the Whitmore Group building. The blue glass skyscraper towered high into the city sky.

Nathaniel parked in the private basement. He walked beside me toward the exclusive elevator, his hand occasionally touching my back, brief touches that felt like electric shocks.

I stared at our reflection on the glossy elevator walls. Nathaniel behind me, taller, older, and more powerful. And me in front, the fat woman who'd been insulted all this time, now standing tall in a black dress that hugged every curve of my body.

The elevator stopped on the 35th floor, the boardroom.

Nathaniel stepped out first. In the hallway, several executives stared at us with wide eyes, not just because of Nathaniel's presence, but because of me beside him. I heard the whispers.

"Is that Seraphina? Derek's wife?"

"Oh my God, look at her dress. So bold. All her fat is sticking out."

I didn't care. I walked tall, chin up, and smiled. Let them gossip. Let them insult me.

The long U-shaped table was already filled with directors. At the end of the table, Derek sat in a dark blue suit, his handsome face still fresh, as if he hadn't spent all night in Anita's arms.

Beside him, Anita in a tight skirt and white blazer smiled cynically.

I stepped in, behind Nathaniel. My black dress swept the floor, my red lipstick glaring under the room's lights. Derek stared at me with a displeased look.

"Why are you here? And why are you..."

"I'm your father's secretary, did you forget?" I asked.

Derek looked at Nathaniel, then back at me.

"Father, why is Sera here? This is a board meeting."

"I told her to be here," Nathaniel said flatly, sitting in the chairman's seat. He pointed to the chair beside him. "Seraphina, sit here."

I walked to that chair, passing Derek. My perfume, the night-flower scent I'd just sprayed, hit his nose. Derek inhaled, and I saw his jaw tighten.

"Sera," he whispered sharply as I passed him. "We'll talk later."

I glanced at him briefly. "We'll have a lot to talk about later, Derek."

I sat beside Nathaniel. Under the table, his hand touched my thigh, a secret touch only we two knew. I didn't move. I just smiled at the directors who stared at me in confusion.

The meeting began.

Nathaniel opened the agenda, discussing financial reports, new projects, and I listened carefully. But my eyes occasionally stole glances at Derek, who looked restless, and at Anita, who couldn't stop staring at me with hatred.

Then Nathaniel said, "Now, before we close the meeting, there's one thing I want to share."

He pressed a button on his remote.

"A new discovery about fund embezzlement in the finance department, and I have the evidence."