Leaving the Divorce Papers After Overhearing His French

Chapter 4

Two days later, the Sterling Estate hosted a massive family charity gala. The guest list included the board, major partners, and mainstream media.

I wore the starry-night gown Arthur had given me.

I stood on stage, ready to give the opening speech.

Just as the room fell silent, the side doors burst open.

Chloe walked in. She was wearing heels and the exact same custom gown as me.

An uproar rippled through the hall. Eyes darted between us, accompanied by shocked whispers.

I stared at her dress. Every embroidered line was identical. My blood turned to ice. Arthur had played the devoted husband, gifting me a "one-of-a-kind" dress, only to turn around and have the designer rush a replica for his mistress.

He even let her wear it here.

This wasn't just betrayal. This was stomping my dignity into the dirt for everyone to see.

Arthur's face shifted at the head table. He clearly hadn't expected Chloe to crash the party so loudly. But his panic passed in a flash. More than guilt, he was terrified she'd drop the pregnancy bomb in front of everyone.

Chloe marched right up to me.

Under the eyes of the entire room, she put on an innocent face. "Elena, you've been so tired prepping for this. Why don't you let me take over the opening speech to share the load?"

The entire room turned to Arthur.

He stood up stiffly and forced himself onto the stage. To cover his tracks, he pasted on a smile and pressured me. "Elena, Chloe has been eager to learn the family business. Since she's offering, be the bigger person. Let her have a try. It'll show sisterly solidarity."

It sounded so noble. But he was publicly forcing his wife to step aside for his mistress.

I looked at him, suppressing a cold smirk. I'd known she'd pull something like this.

"Sure." I stepped aside, handing over the cue cards and microphone. "Since you want to do it so badly, the floor is yours."

Chloe snatched the mic, looking smug, and walked to the podium. Arthur exhaled in relief and hurried off the stage.

Chloe cleared her throat and looked down at the guest list I'd prepared.

The smugness vanished from her face.

We had VIPs from Europe tonight. The list wasn't in English. It was in Italian.

Everyone knew I was fluent in Italian. To Chloe, it was complete gibberish.

Sweat beaded on her forehead. The whole room was waiting. She choked out the first name with a grotesque pronunciation. She butchered a core Italian board member's noble surname into a vulgar street slang.

Laughter erupted from the crowd. The Italian board member's face went dark. He slammed his glass down.

Chloe panicked. She butchered title after title. The laughter turned into grumbles of protest. Camera flashes went off like lightning, immortalizing the disaster.

Offstage, Arthur's face was livid. His fists were clenched tight. He didn't even dare look at the furious board member.

I watched Chloe on the verge of tears, then gracefully stepped up and pulled the mic from her hand.

In flawless Italian, I apologized to the board member, then introduced the rest of the VIPs. Every pronunciation, every title was perfect.

Thunderous applause broke out. The angry board member smiled and raised his glass to me.

I stood at the podium and looked down at Chloe, who had slunk away to the side. They wanted to stomp on my pride with a copycat dress. I made them the laughingstock of the city's elite.

The banquet dragged on. The second we got off stage, Arthur claimed Chloe was "unwell" and had security drag her to a second-floor lounge.

I slipped away to "change" and stood outside their door.

Through the wood, Arthur's roars bled through. "Are you out of your mind?! Coming out dressed like that! Are you trying to ruin the Sterling name?!"

"Arthur, it's not fair..." Chloe wailed. "I'm carrying your child. Why can't I—"

"Shut up! You show Elena so much as a hint, and you will never step foot in this house!"

I sneered. That was the real Arthur Sterling. A hypocritical coward who only cared about his power and reputation.

A few days later.

Arthur walked into the living room, wearing his perfect husband mask again.

"That European merger hit a snag. I need to fly out for two days." He looked down at me apologetically. "Sorry I can't be with you."

"It's fine." I smiled. "Work comes first."

I watched him rush out. He wasn't going to Europe. He was going to comfort the mistress he'd made cry.

The helicopter blades were still chopping the air when my phone buzzed on the coffee table.

A 15-second video from an unknown number.

I hit play.

Chloe was lying in bed. Arthur was beside her, his ear pressed against her slightly swollen belly. His eyes were full of fatherly devotion as he mouthed, "Baby, it's Daddy."

Chloe giggled at the camera, stroking his hair.

A text popped up.

Chloe: It's a boy. Arthur says he'll name him Sterling VII. If you know what's good for you, pack your bags and get out.

I saved the video into an encrypted folder and named it "Evidence 04."

Then I emailed my lawyer.

Elena: We have everything. Initiate the divorce immediately. Leak all the evidence of his illegal asset transfers to the prosecutors and the press. Burn it all down.