My Husband Betrayed Me, I Took His Company

"Ms. Ross, I heard your son is really sick. Here's a little something from me. You should get to the hospital and be with him." Serena handed over a bank card. "Don't worry about coming in for a while. Take a long break and spend time with your kid. The PIN is your birthday. Once he's through the rough patch, you're always welcome back here." Tears welled up in the maid's eyes instantly. Her hands trembled as she took the card. "Ma'am... you're too good to me... I'll never forget this kindness..." "You've taken such great care of me and Liam all these years. I should be thanking you. Now go on, don't waste another minute. Get to the hospital and pay for that surgery." Ms. Ross nodded. Right as she was about to get in the car, she hesitated and glanced back at Serena. Then she lowered her voice and said, "Ma'am, you... you ought to take a look in Mr. Bennett's study. There's... a hidden compartment in there. Go see for yourself. You'll understand everything." Serena furrowed her brow, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. The study? She and Liam had been married for five years now. As Liam's company grew bigger, he got busier and busier, always locking himself away in that study. He was always saying he was handling important business in there and no one was allowed to disturb him. She remembered one time she'd just wanted to bring him a cup of tea, and he'd yelled at her like she'd committed a crime. Come to think of it, she hadn't set foot in that study in three whole years. The maid's words stirred up a storm inside her. Watching Ms. Ross drive off, she took a deep breath and headed upstairs. But the study door was locked. That was when it hit her: she didn't even have a key. A chill shot up from her feet straight to her heart. She went back to her room and made a phone call. Half an hour later, she showed up at the villa with a locksmith. The guy was a pro. It didn't take him long at all to get the door open. The study was immaculate. The desk was spotless. Everything was perfectly in its place. Nothing seemed off, but the maid's warning made her search every corner. Where the hell was this hidden compartment? And since when was there one in the study? It wasn't until she twisted an antique vase that the wall behind it slid open to reveal a dark opening. Serena's breath caught in her throat. Inside was a narrow passage, not very long, with another door at the end. Behind that door was the study of the villa next door. She remembered the neighbor, a woman named Chloe Price. Three years ago, Chloe had moved in with a baby in her arms, all meek and soft-spoken, saying her husband was always away on business trips and had bought her this place. Her heart went out to her. Over the years, she'd looked out for her nonstop—dropping off food, babysitting her kid, treating her like blood. Her mind was still reeling when she heard footsteps and laughter coming from the other side. She ducked back behind the passage door, leaving just a c***k to peek through. Liam walked in with his arm wrapped around Chloe, all cozy and close. They plopped down on the couch like no one else existed. Chloe pouted and melted against him, all clingy and whiny. "Ugh, you ditched us last night. The baby and I couldn't sleep at all." Liam gave her that adoring smile. "You mad at me?" He pulled her in by the head and kissed her. Serena went completely cold. Her blood felt like it had turned to ice. She bit down on her lip so hard it hurt. Liam pulled back, still smiling, and tapped her on the nose. "Alright, you little tease. Tonight, once that old hag is asleep, I'll come over." Chloe's face crumpled, her eyes getting all teary. "We've been sneaking around like this for five years, Liam. When are you finally going to give me and our son a real place in your life? I can't keep living like this." And then the tears started falling. Right at that moment, a little boy, maybe three or four years old, ran in and grabbed Liam by the leg, calling out in that cute little baby voice, "Daddy! Are you picking on Mommy again?" That "Daddy" hit Serena like a branding iron. Her heart shattered into a million pieces right then and there. So Chloe's son was... Liam's. Liam scooped up the boy and patted Chloe on the back, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it. "Oh, please, your tears break my heart." "Not much longer, babe. I've got the paperwork for Serena's share transfer and the asset division just about ready. Next week is the company anniversary gala. I'll announce the divorce in front of everyone." With that last word, Serena felt like an invisible hand had clamped down on her heart, squeezing so tight she could barely breathe. Her vision went dark. Her knees buckled. If she hadn't grabbed the wall, she would have collapsed right there. Five years... So from the very start of their marriage, they'd already been... The husband she'd loved with her whole heart had had another family next door all along. Even a son. And she, his wife, was nothing more than a pawn in his business empire. An "old hag" to be tossed aside whenever it was convenient. She stumbled back through the passage like a ghost, numb and broken. The grief and humiliation hit her so hard her whole body shook. She wasn't going to let this slide. She pulled out her phone and called her best friend, Tina Ford. "Hey, Serena? What's up? I just got back from Valdoria. Was gonna call you." Serena took a shaky breath. "Tina... you free? I need you... to do something for me..." She braced herself against the wall and made her way out of the study. "I'm getting a divorce." Then a voice cut through the air behind her, cold and menacing. "Did you say... divorce?" Serena froze. She turned around. Liam was standing right there, staring her down.