Married to the Billionaire Who Betrayed Me novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5 Trapped By High Society Queens

Charlotte Bennett took a step forward. Her crimson dress swept across the white carpet like spilled blood. Behind her, three other

women moved in perfect synchronization to block my path. Victoria Hawthorne, Sofia Delgado, and Elena Navarro. The undisputed

queens of the financial district’s social scene.

“I thought security tightened the guest list this year,” Charlotte said. She let her gaze travel from the hem of my emerald dress up to

my unadorned neck. A sneer twisted her pristine features. “Yet here you are. Floating around the VIP section like you belong.”

I straightened my spine. I forced my breathing to slow. “I belong here as much as anyone else, Charlotte.”

Sofia let out a sharp laugh. She leaned closer to Victoria. “Look at her. She even uses our first names. She thinks she is one of us

“She is confused, Victoria replied. She swirled the champagne in her glass. “Tristan spoiled her. Let her ride in the private jets.

Bought her a few nice dinners. Now she thinks she is the lady of the house.”

They knew.

Of course they knew. Tristan told me we were a secret. He told me he kept me hidden to protect me from the press, from the board, from the stress of his world. I believed him. But these women knew about me. They knew I existed in the margins of his life. They

just did not know the truth. They did not know about the courthouse.

“I saw her last month, Elena chimed in. She pointed a manicured finger adorned with a massive sapphire. “Outside the Kensington charity auction. I was leaving through the private exit. Tristan’s driver was waiting in the alley. She was sitting in the back seat.”

Elena paused for dramatic effect. The women leaned in.

“Tristan walked out the front doors alone, Elena continued. “He posed for the cameras. He gave interviews. Then he slipped out the

back and got in the car with her. Like a man sneaking out of a brothel.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. My stomach churned. I remembered that night. I remembered wearing a beautiful gown he bought me, excited to attend my first event by his side. But halfway to the venue, his phone rang. He spoke in hushed tones. When he hung up,

he turned to me with an apologetic smile.

We cannot walk in together, Mina. The Investors are inside. It will cause a distraction. Walt in the car. I will make it up to you.

I waited for three hours in the dark. I waited because I loved him. I waited because I thought I was his wife, making sacrifices for

our future.

“I have to go, I said. My voice sounded thin. The edges of my composure began to fray. I stepped to the right, aiming for the gap

between Charlotte and Sofia.

Charlotte moved, cutting off my escape. She held out her hand. “Show me your invitation.”

“Get out of my way.”

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Chapter 5 Trapped By High Society Queens

“Show me.” Charlotte reached forward. Her fingers snagged the small gold-tasseled escort card protruding from my clutch. She

yanked it free before I could stop her.

She held the card up to the light. A mocking smile broke across her face. “Table forty-two. General admission. Section D. She

lowered the card and looked at me with pure pity. “That is the overflow seating. Next to the kitchen corridor. Did you beg an intern

to give you this?”

“Give it back, I demanded.

“Tristan did not even put you in the main hall, Victoria noted. She shook her head. “He put you by the kitchen. And you still

showed up.

“A woman like her has no shame, Sofia said. Her voice grew louder. The surrounding guests began to turn their heads. The music

played on, but a pocket of silence formed around our confrontation. Eyes tracked the drama. “She saw the headlines about the

merger. She knew he was proposing to Celeste tonight. She came here to cause a scene.”

“I did not come here to cause a scene,” I said. My chest heaved. The platinum ring burned under my dress. It rested heavy against

my skin, begging to be revealed. I wanted to reach into my neckline. I wanted to pull the chain, snap the silver links, and throw the

wedding band onto the carpet.

I wanted to scream the truth.

I am Minerva Johnston.

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