جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 20

Lucas’s POVAfter reading through every page of the evidence Alessandra had gathered, I felt a strange sense of clarity settle over me — a clarity that had been missing for months. There was no more confusion, no lingering doubt, and certainly no trace of affection or sympathy left in my heart. All I felt was a cold, unshakable realization: Chloe Bennett was not the person I thought she was. Every sweet word she had spoken, every comforting gesture she had made, and every story she had told me had been nothing more than a carefully constructed act. Now that the truth was laid out before me, my only goal was to end everything between us completely, leaving no loose ends that could later harm my wife, my family, or my reputation.I sat behind my desk at the Valeriano Group headquarters, my fingers resting firmly on the folder containing all the facts. Earlier that morning, I had sent Chloe a message requesting a meeting at a private conference room in one of the city’s most reputable ho

Lucas’s POVIn the weeks that followed, everything around us seemed to be settling into a new kind of order. The rumors had faded, the business was running smoothly, and Alessandra had reclaimed her place not just as my wife, but as a respected and influential figure in her own right. Watching her walk into meetings, speak with confidence, and handle every situation with such grace filled me with a deep sense of pride — but it also left me with a growing feeling of restlessness.I had expected that once I restored her rights, defended her name, and removed Chloe from our lives, things would naturally go back to how they used to be. I thought that with the obstacles gone, Alessandra would slowly soften, that the warmth and affection she once gave me would return without effort. But as the days passed, I realized that this was not the case at all. She was polite, she was dignified, and she fulfilled her duties perfectly — but she remained distant, like someone standing on the other side

Alessandra’s POVWhen the news broke early that morning, I did not react with shock, tears, or anger — though I felt all of those things deep inside. I had expected Chloe to lash out when she realized she could not win through charm or threats; it was only a matter of time before she tried to use whatever she had saved to cause maximum damage. What I had not expected was how quickly and widely the story would spread, turning a private mistake into a public spectacle within hours.As I sat in the living room scrolling through the headlines and reading the comments, I knew that panic would only make things worse. If we allowed the media to set the narrative, if we remained silent or gave vague answers, people would believe the worst. They would see Lucas as a careless, unfaithful husband, Chloe as the heartbroken victim, and me as the foolish, deceived wife who stayed only for money. That was the story Chloe wanted them to believe — and I was determined not to let it happen.Lucas retur

Lucas’s POVIn the weeks following Chloe’s departure, the storm finally began to fade. The headlines stopped, the reporters stopped camping outside our gates, and the whispers in society circles slowly died down. People went back to their own lives, and the scandal that had shaken our name seemed to become just another chapter in the city’s memory — something talked about for a few days, then gradually set aside.On the surface, everything appeared to be returning to normal. The mansion was quiet again, business operations ran smoothly, and our social calendar resumed its usual pace. But beneath that calm, I could feel the tension lingering in the air, thick and unspoken. We had survived the crisis, we had protected our reputation, and we had sent Chloe away in disgrace — but the distance between Alessandra and me remained as wide as ever, perhaps even wider than before.We were polite to each other, respectful, and we worked together seamlessly whenever it was required. We attended e

Lucas’s POV In the months since Alessandra joined the Valeriano Group, everything around us had shifted in ways I could not have predicted. On paper, it was perfect — the company was running more smoothly, decisions were being made with greater care, and the board and staff were more united than ever. But privately, I found myself dealing with a strange, unfamiliar feeling: insecurity.For most of my life, I had defined myself by my success, my wealth, and my authority. I was the head of the family, the leader of the company, and the one who provided security and status for everyone around me. Even in our marriage, I had always assumed that in some way, Alessandra relied on me. I gave her the home, the name, the comfort, and the standing in society. That dynamic had always felt natural to me — I was the provider, and she was the one who benefited from what I had built.But now, that balance had changed completely. Watching her move through the company with confidence, listening to he