Betrayal's Echo: A Husband's Resolve

Betrayal's Echo: A Husband's Resolve

Gavin

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I had everything planned for the Starlight Foundation Gala. A new suit for me, a tiny dress for our daughter, Lily, and a stunning gown for my wife, Scarlett Hayes. Lily was buzzing, clutching her dress. "Daddy, is Mommy coming with us?" she asked, her eyes wide with hope. Then the call. Scarlett' s voice, cold and distant: "Promises can be broken when a career is on the line." She hung up, leaving Lily's hopeful gaze to dim into familiar sadness. My heart sank, but I vowed she wouldn' t ruin another night for our daughter. Later, at the glittering gala, the host introduced a woman who represented "family, success, and pure talent." My blood froze. Scarlett She emerged, radiant, on stage. But not alone. Jake Peterson, her ex, held her hand. And a boy, Lily' s age, held his. The host gushed, "Scarlett, you and your partner Jake are an inspiration! How do you balance such a successful career with being such a devoted mother and partner?" Scarlett laughed, looking at Jake. "It's all about priorities. They are my world." My world. The words echoed, a punch to my gut. Lily whispered, "Daddy, why is Mommy with them? Who is that little boy?" Rage, cold and sharp, cut through my shock. This wasn' t a last-minute shoot. This was a calculated, public betrayal. I stood up, ready to confront her, my daughter clutching my jacket. "Scarlett." I demanded, "Who are these people? What is this?" Her brief panic vanished. "I have no idea who you are," she said, dripping with false sympathy. "Security, please escort this man and the child out. He's scaring my son." The crowd erupted, jeering at me. My wife had erased us. As guards moved in, her lips formed two silent words: "The clause." Then my phone buzzed. A text from Scarlett: "This is for the show. Play along." A bitter laugh escaped me. Play along? No. She had chosen fame over family, a lie over love. She had crossed a line. And I was no longer heartbroken. I was resolved. She wanted a scene? I would give her a war. I would burn her fake world to the ground.

Introduction

I had everything planned for the Starlight Foundation Gala.

A new suit for me, a tiny dress for our daughter, Lily, and a stunning gown for my wife, Scarlett Hayes.

Lily was buzzing, clutching her dress. "Daddy, is Mommy coming with us?" she asked, her eyes wide with hope.

Then the call. Scarlett' s voice, cold and distant: "Promises can be broken when a career is on the line."

She hung up, leaving Lily's hopeful gaze to dim into familiar sadness.

My heart sank, but I vowed she wouldn' t ruin another night for our daughter.

Later, at the glittering gala, the host introduced a woman who represented "family, success, and pure talent."

My blood froze.

Scarlett

She emerged, radiant, on stage. But not alone.

Jake Peterson, her ex, held her hand. And a boy, Lily' s age, held his.

The host gushed, "Scarlett, you and your partner Jake are an inspiration! How do you balance such a successful career with being such a devoted mother and partner?"

Scarlett laughed, looking at Jake. "It's all about priorities. They are my world."

My world. The words echoed, a punch to my gut.

Lily whispered, "Daddy, why is Mommy with them? Who is that little boy?"

Rage, cold and sharp, cut through my shock.

This wasn' t a last-minute shoot. This was a calculated, public betrayal.

I stood up, ready to confront her, my daughter clutching my jacket.

"Scarlett." I demanded, "Who are these people? What is this?"

Her brief panic vanished. "I have no idea who you are," she said, dripping with false sympathy.

"Security, please escort this man and the child out. He's scaring my son."

The crowd erupted, jeering at me. My wife had erased us.

As guards moved in, her lips formed two silent words: "The clause."

Then my phone buzzed. A text from Scarlett: "This is for the show. Play along."

A bitter laugh escaped me. Play along? No.

She had chosen fame over family, a lie over love.

She had crossed a line. And I was no longer heartbroken. I was resolved.

She wanted a scene? I would give her a war. I would burn her fake world to the ground.

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His Secret Son, Her Stolen Fortune

His Secret Son, Her Stolen Fortune

Short stories

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I found the document by accident. Aiden was away, and I was looking for my mother' s old earrings in the safe when my fingers brushed against a thick, unfamiliar file folder. It wasn't mine. It was the "Herrera Family Trust," and the primary beneficiary of Aiden' s massive fortune wasn't me, his wife of seven years. It was a five-year-old boy named Leo Herrera, and his legal guardian, listed as the secondary beneficiary, was Haven Herrera-my adopted sister-in-law. My family lawyer confirmed it an hour later. It was real. Ironclad. Established five years ago. The phone slipped from my hand. A cold numbness spread through me. Seven years. I had spent seven years justifying Aiden's madness, his rages, his possessiveness, believing it was a twisted part of his love. I stumbled through the cold, silent mansion to the east wing, drawn by the sound of laughter. Through the glass doors, I saw them: Aiden, bouncing Leo on his knee, Haven beside him, her head resting on his shoulder. And with them, smiling and cooing at the child, were Aiden's parents. My in-laws. They were a perfect family. "Aiden, the final transfer of the Knox assets into Leo' s trust is complete," his father said, raising a glass of champagne. "It's all airtight now." "Good," Aiden replied, his voice calm. "Charlotte's family money should have always belonged to a true Herrera heir." My inheritance. My family's legacy. Transferred to his secret son. My own money, used to secure the future of his betrayal. They had all known. They had all conspired. His rage, his paranoia, his sickness-it wasn't for everyone. It was a special hell he had reserved just for me. I backed away from the door, my body cold as ice. I ran back to our bedroom, the one we had shared for seven years, and locked the door. I looked at my reflection, at the ghost of the woman I used to be. A quiet vow formed on my lips, silent but absolute. "Aiden Herrera," I whispered to the empty room. "I will never see you again."

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