Chapter 8

ROOSEVELT’S POV

“As soon as this Gala is over, and the press calms down, I will have my lawyers draft the divorce papers. I promise, I am bringing you home.”

The audio played again, and again, and again.

I sat on the sofa, my hands covering my mouth to muffle my sobs. The pain felt like a heavy stone crushing my chest. He was leaving me, he was going to divorce me and bring Mina back to take my place.

I felt so weak. I wanted to pack my bags and run away into the night. I wanted to protect my baby from this toxic, cruel family.

But as the audio looped for the sixth time, I forced myself to stop crying. I wiped my wet cheeks and stared at the phone.

Something was wrong.

I played it one more time, closing my eyes to listen to the sound of my husband’s voice.

"...draft the divorce papers."

I opened my eyes slowly. The sadness in my heart was suddenly pushed aside by a thought.

Zyran was a proud, possessive man. He liked to own things and hated losing what belonged to him. In the four years we had been married, he had always treated me like his permanent property. Even when we fought, he never used the word "divorce." He would never ask for one. He wanted his obedient wife at home and his fragile ex-girlfriend on the side, now he probably wants to keep us both.

I grabbed my phone and dialed Nixie’s number. My hands were shaking terribly

"Rose?" Nixie answered, her voice full of worry. "It is late, are you okay?"

"Nixie, I am going to send you an audio file," I said quickly. "I need you to listen to it right now and tell me what you hear."

I sent the file, I waited on the line while she played it. I could hear the faint sound of Zyran’s voice coming through her end of the phone.

When the audio stopped, Nixie gasped. "Oh my god, Rose. He is divorcing you? That bastard! I am coming over there right now—”

"Wait, Nixie, stop," I interrupted her. "Listen to it again. Closely. Listen to the way he says the word 'divorce.' listen to the background."

There was a short silence. I heard the audio play again over the phone.

"It sounds... flat," Nixie said slowly. Her voice changed from angry to confused. "There is no breathing. Zyran always takes a deep breath before he says something serious and the background is completely silent. It doesn't sound like he is in a room."

"Exactly," I said, my heart beating fast. "Nixie, Zyran gave a speech at the Tech Innovation Summit last month. It is all over the internet. Mina has been sitting in her penthouse all day with nothing but her phone."

"You think it is fake?" Nixie gasped loudly.

"I am not sure of it," I said, my voice growing stronger. "He didn't send this to me. She did. She wants me to break down. She wants me to throw a tantrum and ask Zyran for a divorce because maybe she knows he will never do it himself so she is trying to push me out."

"That crazy witch!" Nixie shouted through the phone. "She is playing psychological game with you! What are you going to do, Rose? You have to show this to Zyran!"

"No," I said firmly. "If I show him, she will just cry and say I faked it to make her look bad. He will believe her because he always protects her."

"Then what is the plan?" Nixie asked.

I looked at the tiny white box on the table that held the baby socks. I carefully picked it up and put it safely into my purse. No one would know about my baby not until I was ready.

"The plan is simple," I said fiercely. "She wants me to hide at home like a good, invisible girl. But I am the Lady of the King family and I am going to remind her of that."

Saturday evening arrived. The night of the Annual King Foundation Charity Gala.

I sat on the edge of the bed in my silk robe. Zyran stood in front of the mirror, fixing his black bowtie. He looked incredibly handsome in his custom tuxedo.

He turned to me. His eyes showed a small flash of guilt, but his face remained hard.

"I am leaving now," Zyran said. He walked over and kissed my forehead. It felt like a kiss of betrayal. "The press will be crazy tonight. It is better for you to stay here, Roosevelt. I will be back by midnight. Get some rest."

"Okay, Zyran," I said softly. I gave him a small, polite smile. "Have a good night."

He looked relieved that I wasn't fighting him. He grabbed his keys and walked out of the room. A minute later, I heard his car engine roar as he drove away from the mansion.

As soon as he was gone, I stood up and walked to my closet.

Nixie had arrived earlier through the back door. She walked out of my walk-in closet holding a heavy garment bag. She had a massive, excited smile on her face.

"If Mina wants to wear your green dress," Nixie smirked, unzipping the bag, "then we are going to make sure she looks like a cheap imitation."

She pulled out the dress, It was a breathtaking, fiery crimson red. It was made of pure silk, with a daring slit up the leg and a beautiful open back.

For the next two hours, Nixie helped me get ready. When I finally looked in the mirror, I didn't recognize the sad, crying woman from Thursday night. My hair was styled in elegant, loose waves. My makeup was beautiful and flawless. The red dress hugged my curves perfectly, hiding the tiny bump of my pregnancy. I looked like a queen.

"You look dangerous, Rose," Nixie whispered, handing me my diamond earrings.

"Good," I said, putting them on. "Let's go."

The Grand Plaza was blinding. Hundreds of paparazzi were lined up outside the massive glass doors, their cameras flashing like lightning.

My private car pulled up to the red carpet.

"Wait here," the driver said, opening the door for me.

The moment my red stiletto touched the carpet, the cameras went wild.

"Mrs. King! Mrs. King is here!" the reporters shouted, pushing against the security barriers. "Roosevelt! Over here! Look at this dress!"

I kept my head high. I didn't rush, I walked down the red carpet with slow, confident steps, giving them perfect angles. I smiled warmly at the cameras, letting the world see the true Lady of the house.

I reached the grand doors and walked into the main ballroom.

The room was filled with the richest, most powerful people in the city. Soft classical music played in the background.

At the far end of the room, standing in front of a giant wall of white roses, was Zyran. Next to him was Mina.

Mina wore the emerald green dress I had designed. But next to Zyran’s sharp black tuxedo, the green looked dull. She held onto his arm tightly, smiling for a private photographer.

Then, Zyran looked up.

His dark eyes found me across the crowded room.

He froze completely. The polite smile vanished from his face. His eyes widened in shock. He stared at me in the red dress, his gaze dropping to the slit, then back up to my face. For a brief moment, he looked completely captivated by me. He looked like a man who had just remembered what he was missing.

Mina noticed his distraction, she followed his gaze and saw me.

Her face instantly turned pale. The fake, sweet smile dropped. Her grip on Zyran’s arm tightened, her eyes flashing with panic and anger.

Zyran pulled his arm away from Mina without even looking at her. He took a step toward me. He looked angry that I disobeyed him, but he couldn't take his eyes off me.

"Roosevelt," he muttered, his voice carrying over the soft music as I walked closer. "What are you doing here? I told you to stay—"

I didn't let him finish. I didn't even look at Mina.

I walked right up to my husband, the red silk of my dress brushing against his black tuxedo. The flashes from the paparazzi's cameras were blinding, lighting up the room like fireworks. Everyone was watching.

I raised my hands, resting them flat against his broad chest, and then slid them up to wrap around his neck.

"I am doing my job as your wife," I whispered, my lips just an inch from his.

Before he could respond, I pulled him down and pressed my lips hard against his.

For a brief moment, Zyran stiffened. Then, as the cameras flashed around us, he didn't push me away.

Instead, his large hands dropped to my waist. He pulled me close and kissed me back. It was deep, hungry, and possessive. He kissed me like he was starving, completely forgetting where we were and who was watching.

I heard gasps from the crowd. I heard reporters shouting our names. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mina. She stood there, completely humiliated, her face burning red as she watched the man she wanted publicly claim his wife.

I slowly pulled away from him, leaving a smear of my red lipstick on his mouth. Zyran opened his eyes. He looked breathless, completely under my spell.

I smiled sweetly, turning my head just right so the cameras could catch my perfect, happy face. Then, I leaned in close to his ear and whispered softly, so only he could hear.

"I loved the voice note you sent Mina about our divorce, darling. But if anyone is leaving this marriage, it is going to be you."

I pulled back and watched as the spell broke. Zyran's eyes widened in confusion. The passion in his face turned to shock.

"What?" Zyran said, his brow furrowing. "Roosevelt... what voice note?"