The Wife He Replaced

Chapter11

Chapter 11: A Lie the World Believes

Rita’s POV

I should have known better than to think things would be easy. Nothing with Victor Vale is ever simple.

The conference room felt too cold and polished like him.

I sat across the glass table trying to look calm and composed with my fingers resting lightly on the documents in front of me. Inside I was tense. Because Victor was here. Of course he was.

He was sitting at the head of the table looking commanding and untouchable watching everything and everyone including me.

“Let’s get started, " Victor said smoothly, his voice cutting through the murmur in the room.

The meeting began like any other with numbers and projections and contracts. Ethan spoke beside me, confident and sharp, walking everyone through the proposal.

I focused on the numbers trying not to think about him. I could feel his presence pressing against my awareness. I could feel his gaze on me every now and then.

Stay focused, I told myself. Stay unaffected.

“…and this merger will make both companies stronger globally " Ethan concluded, glancing around the table.

A few people nodded in agreement. Then Victor leaned back slightly fingers steepled together.

“. What does your Head of Department think?" he asked. The room shifted subtly. Noticeably.

Everyone’s attention turned to me. My spine straightened a little more as I met his gaze.

Of course he would do that. Of course he would pull me into this.

“I think the proposal is strong. It’s also risky if the integration isn’t handled properly " I said calmly.

There was silence. Then Victor said, "Go on " his eyes locked on mine. I ignored the intensity behind them.

“The structure needs boundaries, " I continued. "Without that both sides could lose more than they gain.”

There was a pause. Then Victor nodded once.“ point " he said, his tone simple and professional.

Something in his tone lingered. Something I seemed to notice. The meeting continued, with voices rising and falling and decisions being debated.

Underneath it all there was something else. Something unspoken. Then the doors. A woman stepped in.

“Mr. Vale, the press is here " she said quietly. The room stilled. Ethan frowned slightly. "Press?” Victor didn’t look surprised.

“Scheduled, " he said, simply standing up.

Of course it was.Everything about him was calculated. “Let’s wrap this up " he added.

The meeting ended a minute later. As people stood up and gathered their things I reached for my files ready to leave.

Then I heard my name. “Rita.” I froze for a second before turning around.

“Yes?” Victor was already walking toward me. Too close. Too fast.

“We need to step out " he said quietly. My brows drew together slightly. "Why?”

A flicker of something crossed his face. Impatience, maybe.

“The press, " he said. "They’re expecting a front.” My stomach tightened.

“No, " I said immediately. His gaze sharpened. “No?" he repeated.

“I’m not part of your image " I replied, keeping my voice low but firm.

Then he said, "You are today.”

Control.

Authority.

The same tone he used years ago. It didn’t work on me anymore. “I disagree, " I said.

I turned slightly ready to walk past him. His hand caught my wrist. Not harsh. Firm enough to stop me. My breath hitched.

“Rita " he said, lower now. "Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” My eyes dropped briefly to where his hand held me.

Memories flickered. Unwanted. Dangerous. I pulled my hand free. Slowly.

Deliberately. “Then don’t force me into something I didn’t agree to " I replied.

For a second we just stood there. The tension between us was thick. Visible. Real. Then Ethan stepped in.

“Is there a problem?" he asked, his tone casual but his eyes sharp. Victor glanced at him. Then back at me.

“No problem, " he said. A lie. A smooth one. Ethan didn’t look convinced. He didn’t push.

“Press is waiting, " he added instead. Victor exhaled quietly.

Then he said, "Fine. Just stay close. No statements.” Stay close. Like we were something. Like we still had something.

My jaw tightened. I nodded once. Only because this was business. Nothing more.

We stepped out together. Instantly there were flashes and cameras and voices.

“Mr. Vale!”

“ here!”

“Is that your wife?”

“Are you two back together?”

My chest tightened. The word "wife" hit harder than I expected.

Victor didn’t hesitate. His hand came to rest lightly at my lower back. Possessive. Familiar. Too familiar. My body reacted instantly. Tension. Awareness. I didn’t move away. Not here. Not in front of everyone.

“Please one photo!" someone called out.

The flashes intensified. Blinding. Relentless. I kept my expression neutral.

Controlled. Even as my pulse quickened.

“Smile," Victor murmured under his breath.

I almost scoffed. Instead I did. Just enough. Just convincing enough. Because that’s what they wanted.

Because that’s what this was. A performance. “Mr. Vale, is this a reconciliation?" a reporter shouted.

Victor didn’t answer immediately. In that brief pause everything slowed. Because I felt it. His hesitation. His awareness.

Of me. Of the moment. Then he said, "We’re here for business " smoothly.

Not a denial. Not a confirmation. Just enough to feed the narrative. Just enough to keep them guessing. The cameras loved it.

I could see it. The excitement. The assumption. The story already forming in their minds. Victor. His wife. Still close.

Still together. A perfect lie. The worst part?

It looked real. His hand still rested against me.

Steady. Claiming. For a split second my body remembered. What it used to feel like. Before everything broke. I stiffened slightly. Just enough for him to notice.

His fingers shifted. Not tightening. Not letting go. Just… adjusting. Like he felt it too. Like he understood.

“Let’s go " he said quietly. This time there was something different in his voice.

Something softer. Something… uncertain.

We moved forward together past the flashing cameras. Past the voices. Past the assumptions. Until we were finally again. Away from them. Away from the noise.

The moment the doors closed I stepped away from him. Immediately. Like I couldn’t put space between us.

“That won’t happen again " I said, my voice calm but firm. Victor watched me.

Quietly. Carefully.

“You handled it well, " he said instead. I blinked. “That wasn’t the point " I said.

His gaze didn’t waver. “I know " he said.

Silence. Then I said, "The world thinks we’re still close.” His jaw tightened slightly.

“Yes " he said. “. You’re okay with that?" I asked

“It’s… convenient, " he said finally.

Convenient. Of course. Everything with him was.. I let out a breath. “Not for me " I said.

His eyes flickered. Something there. Something unreadable. “Get used to it " he said. Just like that the tension snapped again. I met his gaze. Cold. Steady.

“No, " I said quietly. "You will.” Then I walked away. Leaving him standing

Watching. Thinking

.

Because now the lie the world believed was becoming something neither of us could fully control.

That was far more dangerous than the truth.