The Billionaire's Forsaken Wife

Chapter nine

ROOSEVELT’S POV

"What voice note?" Zyran asked, his dark eyebrows knitting together in confusion. The intensity from our kiss still shone in his eyes, but it was mixed with shock. "Roosevelt, what are you talking about?"

The cameras flashed around us heavily. The reporters shouted our names, pleading for another kiss or pose.

But I didn't smile at them anymore. I focused on my husband.

"The audio message," I said, my voice steady despite my broken heart. "You promised her that as soon as this Gala was over, you would have your lawyers draft divorce papers to bring her home."

Zyran went pale. He stared at me as if I had spoken a different language.

"Divorce?" he echoed. The word sounded strange and harsh on his tongue. "I never said that. I have never even thought about divorcing you. Roosevelt, I would never—"

He stopped mid-sentence. He looked past my shoulder, his eyes finding Mina a few feet away. She was clutching her small purse, looking like a frightened deer caught in headlights.

Zyran took my hand, his grip was tight, but not painful.

"Come with me," he said softly.

He didn't wait for a reply. He pulled me away from the wall of white roses and the blinding lights of the paparazzi. He led me down a quiet, dimly lit corridor to the VIP lounge. The doors shut behind us, blocking out the noise of the Gala.

Zyran released my hand and ran his fingers through his perfectly styled hair, making it messy. He paced for a moment before turning to face me. He took in my red dress, and a look of deep conflict crossed his handsome face.

"Explain this to me," Zyran demanded, his voice low and serious. "Who sent you a voice note?"

"Mina did," I replied simply. "On Thursday night, after you told me I couldn't come to the Gala. She sent me a picture of herself in the penthouse, wearing my dress design and the $250,000 eternity ring you bought her."

Zyran flinched. A flash of guilt appeared in his dark eyes when I mentioned the ring. He opened his mouth to respond, but I interrupted.

"And then," I continued, my voice shaking slightly, "she sent an audio file. It was your voice, Zyran. It sounded just like you, you told her I was just a responsibility and you promised her a divorce."

"I never said those words," Zyran responded immediately, stepping closer. His voice was firm, definite. "Roosevelt, listen to me, I swear I have never had that conversation, I don't want a divorce. You are my wife."

"I know you didn't say it," I replied, lifting my chin. "Nixie and I later figured it out. It was an AI-generated voice clone. She used a clip from your Tech Innovation speech to create it. She faked it, Zyran, she sent it to me to break me down, to make me so insecure that I would stay home tonight and let her take my place."

I waited for him to realize the truth. I wanted him to see that the woman he was protecting was manipulating him and trying to destroy our marriage.

But Zyran just stared at me.

Slowly, the confusion on his face turned into a deep frown. He shook his head.

"Mina?" Zyran asked. He let out a disbelieving breath. "Roosevelt, listen to yourself, you are not making any sense."

I felt a chill run down my spine. "What do you mean?"

"Mina barely knows how to use a modern smartphone now," Zyran said, his voice taking on that familiar protective tone he always used for her. "She has been trapped in an abusive relationship for three years. She is traumatized, she jumps at loud noises. Do you really expect me to believe she sat in her apartment, downloaded AI voice cloning software, and engineered a fake audio clip just to taunt you?"

"Yes!" I shouted, my hands balling into fists. "Because that is exactly what she did!"

"Stop it, Roosevelt," Zyran warned, his voice growing stern. He stepped closer, looking down at me. "I know you are hurt that I gave her the Foundation Director position. I know you are angry about the ring—which, by the way, was just a welcome-home gift, not a promise ring. But you cannot make up these wild lies about her just because you are jealous."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I gasped, stepping back as if he had slapped me.

"You think I am lying?" I whispered, heartbreak piercing my chest. "You think I made this up?"

"I think you are letting your insecurities cloud your judgment," Zyran said gently. He reached out, touching my cheek. His eyes showed a mix of deep affection and pity. "I love you, Roosevelt. The kiss out there... you know I felt it. There is a fire between us but Mina is fragile. She is an old friend who needs my help. She doesn't have the capacity for this kind of plotting."

He looked right at me, holding me, telling me he loved me. But his words felt poisonous. He loved me, but his blind faith in Mina was stronger than his trust in his own wife.

"Zyran..." I started, a tear escaping and running down my cheek. I wanted to pull out my phone and play the audio for him right then.

But before I could reach my purse, the heavy wooden doors of the corridor swung open.

"Zyran?" a small, shaky voice called out.

We both turned.

Mina stood in the doorway, looking tiny in her big green gown. Her brown eyes were filled with tears, and her bottom lip trembled.

"I'm sorry," Mina sniffled, glancing down at her shoes. "The event coordinator is asking for you. It's time for the Foundation Director to give the opening speech. But... if you want Roosevelt to do it, I can just go home, I don't want to cause any more trouble."

She looked up, a single tear rolling down her cheek. "I just wanted to make you proud, Zy-Zy. Like we used to be."

Zyran’s jaw tightened. He looked at Mina, like seeing a broken, helpless woman. Then he looked at me, seeing a strong, fiercely dressed woman who had just accused that "helpless" girl of an evil scheme.

But then, he sighed heavily and dropped his hand from my face.

"I will be right there, Mina," Zyran said gently.

Mina nodded meekly and stepped back into the ballroom.

Zyran turned back to me. His eyes were now completely shut off. The passionate husband who had kissed me on the red carpet was gone, replaced by the cold, dutiful billionaire.

"You made your point tonight, Roosevelt. You looked beautiful, and the press got their picture," Zyran said quietly. "But this is her night, please, just go home before you cause a scene we will both regret."

He didn't wait for me to respond. He turned his back on me and walked out the door, leaving me standing alone in the dim hallway.

I stood there for a long time. The faint sound of clapping echoed from the ballroom as Mina took the stage.

He chose her again, I thought, feeling a hollow emptiness spread through my body. Even when I shine, he chooses her darkness.

I turned and walked toward the back exit. I needed to get to my car and needed to call Nixie.

But as I pushed the heavy exit door open and stepped into the cool night air, a sudden, sharp pain ripped through my lower abdomen.

It was a violent, stabbing pain that stole my breath.

"Ah!" I gasped, grabbing the brick wall of the building to hold myself.

I looked down at my dress, panic taking hold of my heart.

The pain hit again, stronger this time, and I felt a rush of warm wetness slide down my inner thigh.