Chapter 9 - The Mistress Oversteps
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The brutal reality of Evelyn’s words hung in the air, suffocating the last remnants of Dominic’s pride. He was a fraud. Every business deal, every terrified rival, every multi-million dollar acquisition was built on money that never belonged to him.
Vanessa, however, did not understand the intricate, deadly politics of the underworld. She only understood the corporate ladder, and she refused to let her golden ticket slip away without a fight.
She stepped forward, pushing past Dominic, her crimson dress swishing aggressively.
“This is absurd!” Vanessa shrieked, her voice shrill and desperate, shattering the quiet terror of the room. She pointed a manicured finger directly at Evelyn. “I don't care what kind of mafia fantasy you're trying to spin here, Evelyn. You're a bitter, dumped housewife! Dominic filed the divorce papers an hour ago! He controls the holding company, not you. You can wear all the rented jewelry you want, it doesn't change the fact that he chose me!”
Gabriel’s eyes darkened. He moved his hand toward his jacket, a subtle gesture that made Marcus Thorne and the other syndicate bosses in the room instinctively reach for their own hidden weapons.
But Evelyn raised her hand, stopping Gabriel without even looking at him.
She focused her cold, gray-green eyes on the trembling mistress. Evelyn walked forward, closing the distance until she was mere inches from Vanessa’s face.
Vanessa tried to hold her ground, but the sheer, overwhelming presence radiating from Evelyn made her shrink back.
“Vanessa,” Evelyn said softly, her tone entirely devoid of anger. It was worse than anger. It was pity. “You think you won a prize tonight. You think you secured your future by sleeping in my bed and wearing Dominic’s ring.”
Evelyn slowly reached out and tapped the heavy diamond necklace resting against Vanessa’s chest.
“Do you know where he bought this?” Evelyn asked quietly. “He didn't buy it. He took it from the estate of the Rossi family after he foreclosed on their shipping docks. He gave you the spoils of a ruined family. That is the man you are defending.”
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Vanessa paled, looking down at the diamonds as if they had suddenly turned into snakes.
“You can have him, Vanessa,” Evelyn whispered, stepping back. “You can have the liar. You can have the cheat. But you cannot have my money. And as of exactly three minutes ago, Dominic Vale is bankrupt.”
