CHAPTER 4 - BETRAYAL BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

I didn’t bother going to the main boardroom to look for Gale. After saving the displayed contact and staring at the screen for close to a minute, I turned on my heel and headed straight back to his office. I had seen enough for one day, and I had just stumbled upon a lead that might finally bring me to my son.

If everything kept moving this smoothly, I would be free from this living nightmare much sooner than expected.

I hadn’t been back in the office for more than a few minutes when the door opened and Gale walked in, holding a stack of folders.

“How did your meeting go?” I asked casually as he pulled his chair out and sat down.

“Pretty well. I selected an investor like I was supposed to, even if it wasn’t the candidate everyone assumed I’d pick,” he replied with a smug smirk.

“Are you talking about the three men you turned down?” I asked, keeping my tone light and unbothered.

He raised an eyebrow. “You heard about that already?”

“I overheard the secretaries talking about it in the hall,” I replied with a small, innocent nod. “Why did you reject them? From what I gathered, they represent a massive corporation.”

“That’s exactly why I rejected them,” he interrupted coldly. “What legitimate, high-yield corporation wastes resources on public goodwill projects like orphanage initiatives? They’re far too clean for my comfort, especially with a project of this scale and current inflation rates.”

I bit my tongue to keep from telling him how utterly pathetic he sounded. The truth was obvious: he was rejecting them because he couldn’t manipulate people who actually had principles, people who were too clean to dirty their hands with a scheming, fraudulent bastard like him. But I immediately reminded myself that I was no longer the naive Evelyn who lived only to support her husband.

His arrogance had just handed me an opportunity I never expected, and I had every intention of using it against him. My husband’s enemies were about to become my allies—I just needed to figure out how and when to reach out to these familiar strangers.

Where did I even begin? As Evelyn Ashford, the obedient wife standing beside the man they despised? Or as Evelyn Croner—the woman I intended to become again the moment I broke free of this marriage?

“We should head home now,” Gale said suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts. “Ronald is sleeping over at a classmate’s house tonight, so we’ll have the whole place to ourselves.”

I gave a silent nod, asking no questions.

We packed up and headed down to the private garage. The chauffeur pulled onto the main road, and a few minutes into the drive, my phone buzzed inside my handbag. I pulled it out expecting a notification from Daniel, but my heart skipped a beat when I read the caller ID: Chloe.

On my way over to your place, bestie! It’s about time we had another sleepover. The spare key is still in the hiding spot, right?

I read the text three times, unable to bring myself to type a response.

“Everything okay, Evelyn?” Gale asked, reaching over to rest his hand on mine where it lay on the leather seat.

I flinched internally but forced myself to pull my hand back naturally to hold the phone with both hands. “I’m fine,” I lied smoothly. “It’s just Chloe. She’s asking to sleep over tonight, and I wasn’t sure how to reply since you mentioned having the evening to ourselves.”

A brief laugh escaped him, a little too eager. “Chloe is family, Evelyn. She’s welcome to drop by whenever she likes.”

It instantly clicked. This was why he had been so eager to leave work early. He wasn’t making time for his wife. He was making time for his mistress.

A bitter, silent laugh echoed in my chest, but I forced a soft, compliant smile. “I’ll tell her she’s welcome, then. I’m feeling pretty exhausted from the office today, so I’ll probably turn in early tonight. I hope you don't mind keeping her company for me, honey.”

“Of course not. I’ll keep her company,” he replied smoothly.

I turned my gaze out the tinted side window. How had I been so blind to their dynamic in my past life? Looking at him now, the signs were blindingly obvious.

When we arrived at the mansion, Chloe’s high-pitched voice echoed through the room before the front door even clicked shut behind us.

“Welcome home, power couple!” she sang out cheerfully, gliding over to throw her arms around me.

I couldn't bring myself to return the embrace, my arms hanging limply at my sides.

“It’s so good to see you again, Chloe,” I managed to say as she pulled back.

“What do you mean, Eve? We just saw each other last week!” she giggled.

My fingers clutched the fabric of my skirt. “Right... slip of the tongue. My mind has been everywhere today.”

She turned her attention to Gale. “Good to see you, Mr. Ashford.”

“Likewise, Chloe,” he replied with a curt, formal nod.

I watched them interact—acting so refined and innocent in front of me while their biological child slept under my roof.

Then my eyes landed on her outfit, and my breath hitched. She was wearing the exact same designer dress she had worn three years ago. In my past life, I had innocently retired to bed early after dinner, trusting them completely.

Karma. The universe was handing me the exact conditions I needed to trap them.

“I’m going to take a quick shower and turn in for the night, Chloe,” I announced. “The office drained me today.”

“Sounds wonderful, sweetie! Rest up!” she called back with a bright smile.

I went upstairs, showered, and climbed into bed. A short while later, Gale entered the master bathroom. After his shower, the mattress dipped under his weight beside me. He stayed perfectly still for nearly twenty minutes, waiting to ensure I was fast asleep before slipping out of bed. The door clicked shut without a sound.

The moment his footsteps faded down the hall, I threw off the covers and followed him.

Just as I anticipated, Chloe was standing outside the private guest suite waiting for him. My blood ran cold as my eyes locked onto what she was wearing: the exact same silk robe Gale had given me for my last birthday, swearing it was custom-made and unique.

I took a shaky step back into the shadows as they wrapped their arms around each other, sharing a deep, passionate kiss right outside my door.

I couldn't watch another second. I slipped back into the master bedroom, grabbed my phone off the nightstand, and dialed the number i saved earlier.

“This is Mrs. Evelyn Ashford,” I said, my voice cold and unwavering. “I am requesting a private meeting with Mr. Blackwood. I possess highly sensitive intelligence regarding Gale Ashford and his corporate assets.”

“It is currently past business hours, ma’am,” a professional voice responded, “but I will flag this message for executive review and follow up with you first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you.”

Across the city, a sharp ping broke the silence of the top-floor penthouse suite.

Darren Blackwood lowered his glass of scotch and reached for his phone.

Sir, an urgent request just came through the executive line. Evelyn Ashford is requesting a private audience. She claims to hold leverage against Gale Ashford.

Darren sat up straight, his gaze locking onto her name.

“Evelyn...” he murmured softly.

Without a second thought, his fingers flew across the screen: Clear my schedule. We meet her first thing tomorrow morning.

He tossed the phone onto the table and looked up at the two men lounging across the room.

“We have a meeting tomorrow,” Darren said, his voice dangerously smooth. “With someone very unexpected.

Evelyn Ashford.”