All Chapters of The Mountain Tigers Million Dollar Marriage: Chapter 11 - Chapter 17

The gala is as magnificent as one would expect, maybe even more.I am dressed in an impeccably custom designed emerald green dress that hugs and ecsanctuats my body in all the right places, my hair falls beautiful slightly covering the open back of the dress, enough to make it less scandalous without completely overshadowing it. I'm wearing a black diamond necklace and stud earring set.Next to me is Zion in a black custom three piece suit, his tye matching my dress, and trailing behind us is the hardworking secretary Jade, dressed in a simple custom white dress her hair styled beautifully into a bun.We arrive just as the gala goes into full swing and as soon as we step into the ballroom we get slammed by people. Business associates, small businesses trying to curry favor and gain connections, family friends all offering congratulations on our wedding. I smile politely accepting all the congratulations while cussing them out in my head for not even so much as sending a digital red pa

As soon as Madam Hawthorne returned to the old manor she summoned the butler. She knew something was off and that no one, not her daughter-in-law, not her son or anyone would tell her what it was which meant it was up to her to find out what it was."Madam you called for me""Find me a private investigator.""I don't care how much they charge just make sure they're good at their job.""Yes madam"The butler rushes off but instead of going straight to find an investigator he went to the Hawthorne empire to see Zion.The staff there knew him by face and by name, he had served the Hawthorne family longer than any of them and was the Madam's most trusted aid so they didn't stop him.Madam Hawthorne had always been kind to the people who worked for and with her family wether directly or indirectly so even though most of them knew what was happening they never said anything to the madam for fear that it might trigger her old ailment.After the scandal broke out earlier everyone had been on

I returned home that evening, the air crisp and quiet as I stepped into the villa. Mina was already inside, seated at the dining table with her plate of food, her brow furrowed slightly as she focused intently on something on her phone. I passed her on my way to my room, hands in my pockets, moving with careful, measured steps, the weight of the day pressing against me.“Zion,” she called casually, almost too casually, making me pause mid-step. She didn’t look up from her plate, but there was a deliberate tilt to her voice. “Your mother came by earlier.”I froze. My mind sharpened instantly. That simple statement, said in such an ordinary tone, somehow set my teeth on edge. I hadn’t expected her to visit, and my gut instinct told me that Mina had somehow brought it up to me now to provoke a reaction.“Wait,” I said, stopping in my tracks. My tone was low, controlled, but firm. “What did you say to her?”She finally looked up, her eyes meeting mine evenly. No guilt, no smirk, just t