Chapter 9: Cooked up Lies.

LUTHOR ENTERPRISES

Lena burst through Andrew’s glass-walled office, her heels clicking like a metronome of confidence. Behind him, sunlight streamed through the windows, but Andrew remained oblivious, glued to his tablet.

“Lena, I’m busy,” he mumbled, not bothering to look up.

“Good thing I’m not here to argue,” she shot back, a gleam of mischief in her eye. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed a thick envelope onto his desk. It skidded to a stop, inches away from him.

Andrew narrowed his eyes, snatched the envelope, and ripped it open.

Photos.

His stomach dropped.

The first: Sarah, his wife, outside a hospital, clinging to some sharply dressed stranger, the concern on his face unmistakable. She looked lost, fragile, and too friendly.

Next: the moment she stumbled forward, caught by the same man. The angle was perfect—too perfect.

And the killer shot: their faces inches apart, warmth and intimacy radiating off the page.

“What the hell is this?” Andrew’s voice was laced with fury.

“Just what it looks like,” Lena purred, sprawled on his couch like she owned the place. “Your beloved wife, flirting with a stranger. Caught in the act.”

He slammed the photos onto the desk. “Where did you get these?”

“Oh, I just happened to be at the hospital. Lucky me, right? A friend of mine had a camera,” she replied, a wicked smile spreading across her face.

Andrew's hands trembled, fists balled tight. “She told me she was visiting a friend.”

“And you believed her?” Lena laughed, crossing her legs. “Blinded by love, poor Andrew. Don’t forget who she really is—her family nearly sank their company before they died. Maybe she’s picking up where they left off.”

Anger roared within him, a storm threatening to unleash.

“Picture the headlines,” she whispered, leaning closer, her tone conspiratorial. “’ Mrs. Luthor Caught in Compromising Position.’ Think of the fallout.”

He turned away, a whirlwind of rage and doubt swirling inside. The city skyline sprawled out before him, but all he could see was Sarah, deceiving, smiling, falling for another man.

No way this was a coincidence.

He whipped around to the phone. “Get me, Carter. Now.”

The line buzzed, and he barked, “I want a full report on Sarah. Why was she at that hospital? Who did she talk to? Who’s that man? In two hours.”

He slammed the phone down, cutting off Carter mid-sentence.

Lena clapped slowly, satisfaction radiating from her. “There’s the ruthless Andrew I know. So calculating.”

“Get out,” he growled.

Lena stood, smoothing her blouse with a nonchalant grace. “Just remember, I warned you. She’ll drag you down. Just like her family nearly did.”

As she slid toward the door, she paused, a glint of triumph in her eyes. “And when she does—don’t worry. I’ll be here to pick up the pieces.”

The door clicked shut behind her.

Andrew’s gaze locked on the photos, fury coursing through his veins, but a nagging doubt tugged at his gut. Was she lying? Was Sarah plotting something deeper?

His eyes zeroed in on the stranger in the picture.

No more waiting.

**He needed answers. Fast.**

And if Sarah was playing a dangerous game...

**She’d soon realize—she wasn’t the only one holding cards.**

---

In the hallway, Lena stepped into the elevator, brimming with triumph.

“Soon, Andrew will hate her more than he ever loved her,” she whispered to herself, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips.

As the floors ticked down, she leaned back, relishing her reflection staring back at her.

Let the chaos begin.

… … .

Mai’s Apartment – Later That Day

The moment Sarah stepped into Mai’s apartment, an invigorating blast of citrus and lavender enveloped her, a stark contrast to the whirlwind in her mind.

“It’s been ages,” Mai said, handing Sarah a glass of chilled juice. She dropped onto the couch, her gaze piercing through Sarah’s tense facade. “You look like you’ve been through hell. Talk to me—what's up?”

A heavy sigh escaped Sarah, like a balloon deflating. She grabbed the glass, peering into the juice's swirling depths, searching for answers she didn’t have.

“I… I don’t know where to start,” she admitted.

“Anywhere. Just spill it,” Mai urged, concern etching her features. “You look like you’re carrying a hundred-pound secret.”

Heart racing, Sarah fished a crumpled envelope from her handbag and thrust it toward Mai, eyes locked on her friend’s expectant gaze.

Mai snatched the envelope, unfolded it, and read with wide eyes. “Wait… you’re pregnant?”

Sarah nodded, lips forming a thin line, dread pooling in her stomach.

“Girl, that’s huge!” Mai exclaimed, excitement slicing through the tension. “You should be happy! But you look like someone died. What’s going on?”

“Because he doesn’t know,” Sarah’s voice trembled as the truth spilled out.

“He doesn’t know?” Mai’s expression hardened. “Are we talking about Andrew?”

“Yeah.”

Sarah’s words hung in the air, heavy with weight. “I can’t tell him. It’s complicated.”

“Complicated?” Mai’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“Because my marriage isn’t real, Mai.” Her voice snapped, raw and vulnerable. “It’s a transaction. Cold, strategic. We share vows like business partners—not lovers.”

Mai’s confusion deepened. “But this changes everything.”

“No!” Sarah shot back, desperation creeping in. “To him, I’m just a nuisance—an imperfection in his pristine world. If I tell him about the baby, he’ll think I’m using it as leverage.”

Mai’s expression softened. “You’re not alone in this.”

“I can’t trust him with this—not now. I need to figure out what he’s capable of first. Right now, he’s an enigma. A vault I can’t crack.”

Mai gripped Sarah’s hand, urgency radiating from her. “You’ve fought hard for your life. But you can’t face this alone.”

A tense silence fell between them, heavy with unspoken fears.

“What if telling him shatters the fragile peace we’ve managed?” Sarah whispered, dread pooling in her chest.

“And what if hiding it destroys you?” Mai shot back, her voice steady.

The air thickened with unresolved tension, the weight of their conversation suffocating.

“Breathe, Sarah,” Mai urged, squeezing her hand like a lifeline. “You don’t have to do this alone.”

A flicker of gratitude surfaced on Sarah’s lips, but doubt still loomed. “Thanks, Mai. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Probably explode in a fit of ugly crying,” Mai teased, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

For a brief moment, Sarah laughed—weak but genuine. The weight felt a tad lighter, if only for a heartbeat.

But as silence reclaimed the room, reality crashed in again. The truth was a ticking bomb, and every second brought it closer to detonation.

A shiver prickled down Sarah’s spine; she felt the inevitability in her bones. This game had no easy answers, only consequences that loomed just out of reach. Adjusting her grip on the glass, she steeled herself, ready to plan for whatever lay ahead. This was just the beginning.