His Wife's Secret

silk the color of wine. He stood at the bar of the gala like he owned the place-which, technically, he did. The event was h

igned interest, fake laughter. But her best friend, Marcie, had insisted. "Yo

ngered in Naomi's head

and slipped into the lion's den. She hadn't expected to draw

a Persian rug worth more than her entire college debt. The taste of Julian's kiss still lingered on her lips, intoxicating

up. Emergency mee

ed at th

eting? It wa

e was

eduled even his affairs down to the minute. The "emergency meetings"

t was part of the unspoken contract between them. Don't ask about

in a sprawling brownstone guarded by stone lions and private security, she was waiting. The wom

ia T

. Elegant

he wasn't, appar

itter laugh. What

ce-wild curls were now sleek and straight. Her thrift store wardrobe replaced by silk and cashmere. She lived in a

-

he'd once said, was just chemistry with a shelf life. What mattered was cont

e after the gala, away from the crowd, hidden under moonlight and red maples. He'd looked at her with eyes

et him kiss her. And once she tasted him, she couldn't sto

-

the buzz of the intercom. She groggily p

es

Miss Blake," a

ned. "Fr

idn't

tied in black ribbon sitting on the mat. Inside was a dress-dark gr

PM. Wear

t night, Naomi walked into the private dining room of Aurelio's, one of the most exclusive restaurants in Manhattan. Julia

over her in that signature way of his-po

ul," he said, pul

," she repli

l, knowing smi

around her wine glass

smile v

rules," he sai

ometimes I like to remember that I'm not

, eyes dark.

what

r, the air taut wit

ng that makes me fee

e that, she

-

t she had agency. That she could end it. But the truth was uglier. Every time she tried to walk, he pulled her back with a word, a look, a to

hursday when the

Billionaire's Wife Dis

iling image of Sophia. Her stomach dropped. She called him. No answer. Called again. Voicemail. Her hands tremble

ake?" a v

es

We'd like to ask you a few questi

hy

was a

secondary residence. And because his wife was last

lent. The floor of

d, voice sharper now, "is there

swal

whispered.

hatever secrets Julian had been keepi

ng in. She rolled down the window, desperate for air, the cold wind biting at her skin. Outside, New York bl

one man the entire city would so

had her life

er biggest ambition was getting her portfolio into the hands of someone who mattered. That night at the gala, when Juli

with her coat clutched tight, heels clicking against the marble floor. Her hand

leaving Julian's se

that apartment jus

been paying attention. She was usually too consumed by Julian-

there? Was she try

t made her

as pacing, heart pounding in her chest like a

iend answered,

need to talk

rustling on the other en

about Julian's involvement in Sophia's disappearance. They showed clips of th

d quietly. "I think I might know so

went de

-

ill in pajamas and a trench coat. Naomi

, storming into the living room. "And it better

self. She collapsed onto the couch

t, it was just... attraction. Then it became something else. He

yes narrowed. "Julian Thor

kno

is wife is

police called me. They know I'

. First things first-did you

lone what she sounds like. I've never heard her voice. Julian said she lived in their main

u belie

d down. "I

d between them,

ie? What if I've been sleeping with a man

g," Marcie said gently. "You

s voice cracked. "What if I know t

paled. "You

e's more. That night, the last time I saw him-he was tense. Distant. I tho

drawer and pulled out

hat?" Mar

aid it was just old design drafts he want

k it's co

." she paused, "...or if he was setting me u

-

front of Naomi's laptop, staring at a f

eadsheets. Bank transfers. Confid

e vide

inger over the trac

want to open thi

replied. "Bu

clic

ked like a private hallway-high-end, lined with expen

He looked furious. Disheveled.

phia ap

breath

ressed in a white coat and black heel

lian stepped forward, gesturing. Sophia threw so

rabbed h

t back. Shou

hand against the w

flin

She just stared up a

e feed

s ches

hat I see?" s

s pale. "That wa

d. "Three n

Sophia d

e," she murmured.

-

to her chest as the city blinked beneath her window.

ever raised his voice. He had been patient, attentive, genero

, she was putting herself in direct opposition to one of the most powerful men in

hone

ee you. Tomorrow.

r reflection once again staring back at her in the glass. But this time, she didn't see a broken woman. She saw someone who could