Neglected Wife: Hidden Heiress's Cold Revenge

not wake up in the Vargas estate. She hadn't slept there. She had slept in a small, s

ers. She drove a nondescript Audi sedan, a car she had bought wit

Upper East Side. There was no sign on

The door c

desk that was cluttered with files. Talia was sharp-featured, with a bob cut that looked like it c

ked up an

ike a spy,"

with red, not from crying, but from lack of sleep.

Eliana said.

eached into a drawer and

for six months, Eli

ened the

ting clause. If we can prove emotional infidelity-which, given the pho

Eliana

aused.

quiet but hard. "I don't want the estate. I don't w

the dutiful wife to that man-child. You were his nurse, his PR

pulled out a sealed medical enve

ned. "What

en

document. It was a gynecological report

. She looked up, her

ispered. "You... a

night. He said the marriage was just business, a merger between his father and the board. He

hat is constructive abandonment. That is fraud. We c

hands clasping together. "Listen to me, T

room changed. T

"If I drag this out with a messy divorce trial, if my face is on the cover of the tabloids fighti

e knew. She was the

ed him to think he's winning. If I ask for nothing, if I leave with just my clothes

then at Eliana's determined face.

greement. Mutual separation, no alimony, no a

ce of freedom

on the desk. A

r tonight. D

n. She typed: Received. Th

"Have it ready

the Audi three blocks away, walked to the

es Hayes liked-something soft, unthreate

ed on the

Eliana had curated with minima

d commissioned. In their place, they were hanging larg

Leo at the beach. Felicity and Leo at Dis

d like a

the center of the room,

ructed a worker. "It blocks th

emaining steps. Her heel

e lit up with a smile th

e you don't mind. I just felt this place was so.

ing, a moody seascape, used to hang. It was now oc

se," Eliana said. "Though som

She bit her lip, her eyes i

ted to make

He saw Felicity's face and immedia

icity is a guest. Can you tr

sual sweater, looking every bit the subur

"Then why is she redeco

na. And Felicity is trying to make it comforta

n't look like a home anymore. It look

ight," El

surprised by he

continued. "Soon, it w

d walked towa

a strange itch at the back of his neck. Usually, she w

e give up

to Felicity, who w

wrapping an arm around her. "She