Chapter 1
Drugged Wife Watches Her Husband Present His Mistress as Mrs. Albright Before Their Son Opens a Sixty-Eight-Million-Dollar File.
Vivian Albright woke in her Beverly Hills bedroom with her mouth dry, her body weak, and the taste of betrayal already waiting on her tongue.
The cream bedding twisted around her legs.
Warm lamplight glowed across the nightstand.
Beside a glass of untouched water sat the black chess queen her son had given her years ago.
Then Luke came through the bedroom door holding a tablet.
He was only eighteen, but his face looked older than it had that morning.
Controlled.
Sharp.
Protective in a way no son should have to become.
“Mom,” he said softly, “you need to see this.”
Vivian turned toward the screen.
The Grand Horizon charity gala glittered inside the tablet.
Photographers shouted.
Champagne glasses rose.
Crystal chandeliers burned gold over a Los Angeles ballroom she was supposed to be attending.
At the center of it stood her husband, Christopher Albright, in a black tuxedo.
His arm rested around Brenda Vance’s waist.
Brenda wore Vivian’s champagne-colored evening gown.
Vivian’s diamond earrings.
Vivian’s wedding ring.
Vivian’s inherited gold bracelet.
Vivian covered her mouth.
Luke leaned closer and looked directly into her eyes.
“She didn’t just steal your dress. She drugged you.”
Vivian’s hand slowly lowered.
On the tablet, Christopher smiled for the cameras as if his wife were already gone from the story.
Vivian reached toward the bedside table.
Her fingers closed around the black chess queen.
Her tears stopped falling.
“Open the sixty-eight-million-dollar file.”
Luke nodded once.
On the live broadcast, a reporter asked why Vivian was absent.
Christopher lifted his champagne glass.
“Vivian was too ill to attend.”
Brenda smiled proudly.
Then Luke tapped the tablet.
The ballroom music cut off.
Brenda’s champagne glass trembled.
“What is happening?”
Luke spoke into the gala audio system.
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“From now on, you can support my father yourself.”
Read Chapter 2 👉 Because Vivian had not been too ill to attend the gala—someone had made sure she never reached the ballroom.
