Hidden Scientist, Betrayed Wife's Revenge

ipped crystal, reflecting off polished marble floors. A symphony orchestra played softly in the background, a luxurious hum to the murmu

Elise Morton! My dear, it's been too long!" he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with genuine warmth. "I heard you stepped back fro

ague, oblivious to my assumed identity as a "graduate st

d, forcing a polite smil

cusp of something truly groundbreaking. The youngest lead researcher at the Morton Institute, if I recall correctly. So m

concealed. He cleared his throat. "Elise has bee

et other guests. Graham shot me a furious look. "What was that all about? Young

ver gown, her hair perfectly coiffed, her smile dazzling. She looked like a Grecian goddess, radiant and confident. It was the dress Graham had

ary gala, Elise," he'd said, his voice filled with pride. "You'll be the most beautiful woman there." I had smiled, touched by his gesture, and carefully put th

tion. He squeezed my arm. "Look at her, Elise. Isn't she magnificent? She truly knows how to comman

week. A surprise, my love. Just for us." He leaned closer. "And Keeley, being the brilliant mind she is, will be joining t

elt like a shriveled prune in my chest. He was a

a kind of possessive pride that made my skin crawl. "Good. I knew you'd

to welcome the woman who had stolen my husband, who had attacked me, who had boasted ab

my lower abdomen. My breath hitched. My vision

's voice was di

ast thing I heard before the world went black was the muffled sounds of the orc

ers streamed in, their presence an immediate, jarring disruption to the elegant aff

odium, looking utterly bewildered. Her face, moments ago radiant

ce calm but firm. "You are under arrest for fraud, i

her hand reaching out for him, her lips forming a silent plea. Graham, for h

y vision flickered, blurring at the edges. I could see Graham, a silhouette against t

perate plea. My hand, seeking comfort, str

her from the officers, shielding her with his body. And then, he took a ste

t was on fire. The pain was unbearable, a white-hot agony that consumed everything. I tried

hadn't even noticed. My hope, the last fragile ember of it, flickered and died

ast, the pain a dull ache that mirrored the emptiness in my heart. A laptop hummed on the bedside table, its scree

tampered with. Maliciously. It'll take weeks, maybe months, to untangle it all." His voice was low, filled with concern. "And Gra

undercloud of fury. He snatched the laptop from my bed, sending it crashing

me. "And record a video, right now! Denouncing K

was calm, unwavering. "I'm divorcing you, Graha

u think you're getting a penny from me? You'll sign this, or you'll regret it." He pointed at the docum

plied, my

're so smart, so righteous. Why is Keeley's name linked to all these

. "Ask her about the data she changed. The dat

"What are you

The one that's supposed to save your life. It's been compromised. And

to a furious glare. "You're threatening me,

g his gaze. "A fact you chose to ignore, be

sgust. "You're a monster, Elise. A cold, calculatin

the door. "Do you remember the night of the fire?

er of something, a shadow of an em

I whispered, the words heavy with memory, wi

is lips curled in a contemptuous sneer. "You know, Elise," he said, his voice dripping with venom. "You're no

shut, the sound echo

eart leaping into my throat. Shouts and angry curses erupted from outside my room, followed b

cations. Trending topics. My eyes scanned the he

t," he said, his voice smooth and controlled, radiating sincerity. "Keeley is innocent. These vicious attacks are baseless. T

was twisting everyth

gret. "But it was a manipulated recording. Edited to paint Keeley in a false light. Elise has been obse

a pregnancy? He was denying ou

nipulated me, and now that things are not going her way, she's lashing out. I'm filing for annulment, citing fraud and emotional distre

through the mud, my very existence reduced to a series of malicious lies. My heart, a

tormed in, their faces grim. They grabbed my arms, dragging me from the bed, ignoring my cries

ant smile gracing her lips. Her eyes glittered wit

You were just a placeholder. And now, you're not even that." She gestured to the men. "Make sure she can never look like m

tug of pain as my hair was roughly shorn. My ears rang with the sound of laughter. I didn't scream. I didn't cry. My eyes,

broken. My ravaged reflection stared back from the shattered mirror.

vent at the institute next week. A final presentation for the rese

coffed, his voice dismissive. "What kind

voice devoid of emotion. "It con

y in his tone. "I'll be there. But don't think this change

hing my ruined lips. He would be