Chapter 5

The night before the gala, a heavy, suffocating silence hung over our penthouse.

Ethan came home late. When he took off his shoes, his movements were unusually quiet.

My behavior over the last few days had thrown him off. I hadn't cried, I hadn't screamed, and I hadn't sent him a single angry text.

This sudden loss of control made him anxious. He was used to me worshiping the ground he walked on.

He walked over to the sofa and slid a velvet Cartier box onto the table.

"It's a limited-edition high jewelry necklace," he said, his voice carrying his usual arrogant tone of charity. "Serena's health is fragile, and she's been through a lot. I only gave her the marriage license to protect her and give her a sense of security. Just be a good girl, Vivian. To the world, you are the only Mrs. Carter."

I looked at the sparkling diamonds in the box and felt absolutely nothing.

Years ago, a single red rose from him would have made me cry with joy. Now, this multi-million dollar necklace only made me sick.

But I didn't blow up. Instead, I picked up the box with a gentle smile. I even stood up and reached out to adjust his silk tie, my fingers lightly grazing his neck.

My touch was as gentle as it had been every morning for the past five years.

Ethan relaxed, thinking I had succumbed to his wealth once again. He grabbed my hand, his grip tightening.

"I knew you'd understand. Make sure everything goes smoothly at the gala tomorrow."

I smiled softly, my voice barely a whisper.

"Don't worry, Ethan. Tomorrow, I will play the part of Mrs. Carter perfectly."

The next evening, the Carter Estate was glittering with lights. The driveway was lined with Bentleys and Lamborghinis as the city's billionaires, politicians, and socialites arrived for Grandpa Charles's 80th Birthday Gala.

Ethan, dressed in a bespoke Tom Ford tuxedo, walked in with me on his arm. I was wearing a stunning, backless crimson gown.

The moment we entered, all eyes were on us.

Ethan smirked, his ego thoroughly massaged by the envious stares of his peers.

At the peak of the night, Grandpa Charles was helped onto the stage. He took Ethan's hand and mine, smiling warmly.

"Tonight is not just my 80th birthday. It also marks the fifth anniversary of Ethan and Vivian's marriage. Vivian has been a blessing to our family. Tonight, as an anniversary gift, I am officially transferring 10% of Carter Group's core shares to her!"

The crowd erupted into applause. Helen's face went stiff, but she had to force a polite smile.

Ethan looked at me with deep, performative affection, as if we were the perfect power couple.

But just as Grandpa Charles picked up the pen to sign the transfer document, the grand double doors of the ballroom were violently slammed open!

A swarm of paparazzi and reporters rushed into the hall, their camera flashes blinding the crowd.

And leading the press pack was Serena Miller, dressed in a tragic, flowing white dress, her face pale as a ghost.

Suddenly, the giant projector screen behind the stage flickered. High-definition photos of Ethan and Serena kissing, cuddling, and entering luxury hotels filled the screen.

The reporters instantly swarmed the stage, shoving microphones into Ethan's face.

"Mr. Carter! Are you having an affair? Has your wife been kept in the dark this entire time?"

"Ms. Miller, are you trying to destroy a marriage? Are you his mistress?"

Faced with the barrage, Serena burst into tears and held up a certified document.

"I am not the mistress! I have our legal marriage certificate right here! I am Ethan Carter's legal wife! Vivian Sterling is the actual homewrecker who stole my place!"

The room fell into a dead, suffocating silence, followed by a wave of furious whispering.

Grandpa Charles shook with rage, pointing a trembling finger at Ethan.

"What... what is the meaning of this?!"

Ethan's face went completely pale under the flashing lights. He looked at Serena, then at me.

Under the immense pressure of his family's reputation and the live cameras, Ethan made a split-second decision to protect his beloved.

He took a deep breath and spoke directly into the microphones.

"Serena is telling the truth. She... is my legal wife."

With that single sentence, he officially branded me a mistress in front of the entire city.

Ethan turned to look at me, his eyes pleading, silently begging me to play along and help him clean up this mess.

But I just smiled. It was a radiant, breathtaking smile, entirely devoid of pain.

I slowly opened my luxury clutch, pulled out a thick envelope of documents, and took the microphone from the stand.

"Don't worry about signing those shares over to me, Grandpa Charles," my voice rang clear and steady through the speakers, echoing in every corner of the ballroom.

"Since the legal Mrs. Carter has come to claim her title... I think my part in this play is officially over."