Second Marriage, The Billionaire's Planned Love novel Chapter 101

101 Chapter 101 Snake in the Garden

Ivy’s POV

The anticipation burning in Ruby’s emerald eyes made my pulse quicken beneath the silk blouse I wore to today’s family meeting. Whatever question she wanted to pose carried weight that could shift the delicate balance of power within our syndicate, implications I wasn’t prepared to confront just yet.

“What kind of question are we talking about?”

Ruby’s gaze swept across the other wives gathered in the opulent conference room of Thorne Manor, their curious expressions focused on our hushed exchange. The mahogany table still bore traces of the heated discussion we’d just concluded about expanding our money laundering operations through the luxury boutiques. She leaned closer, her diamond earrings catching the amber light from the crystal chandelier.

“The kind that requires privacy and absolute discretion. Are you available for dinner tonight?”

Before I could formulate a response, my phone vibrated against the Italian leather of my purse. Caleb’s name flashed across the screen with a message that read: “Hope the family council went smoothly, tesoro. Cannot wait to have you in my arms tonight.”

The timing felt like fate testing my resolve. Here I stood, attempting to navigate the treacherous waters of syndicate politics alongside my husband, and now his most trusted female ally wanted some mysterious conversation that could potentially alter our carefully constructed world.

“I would love to discuss whatever this is, but Caleb and I have plans this evening.”

“Perfect.” Ruby’s smile transformed into something almost predatory, the expression of a woman who had learned to survive in our blood–soaked empire. “He absolutely should be present for this conversation. Actually, I believe his participation is essential.”

The weight of her words settled over me like expensive perfume, heady and suffocating. In our world, when someone insisted that the Don himself needed to hear something, it usually meant life or death decisions were on the horizon. The other wives had begun to disperse, their designer heels clicking against the marble floors as they made their way toward the manor’s grand entrance, but I caught the way their

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eyes lingered on Ruby and me.

Ruby waited until we were alone before speaking again. “There are things happening within the organization that you need to understand. Patterns in the financial reports that don’t align with what we discussed in today’s meeting.”

My blood chilled. Financial irregularities in our syndicate could mean only one thing – someone was either skimming from the family or preparing for betrayal. The specter of past betrayals still haunted the halls of this manor, and I had learned to recognize the subtle signs of internal corruption.

“What kind of patterns?”

“The kind that suggest certain members of our inner circle might not be as loyal as they appear.” She moved closer, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper. “The kind that could destroy everything Caleb has built if we don’t address them immediately.”

The conference room suddenly felt too large, too exposed. Even within the heavily fortified walls of Thorne Manor, paranoia was a necessary survival tool. I glanced toward the security cameras discretely positioned in the corners, wondering if our conversation was being monitored by friend or foe.

“How long have you known about this?”

“For some time now. I’ve been conducting my own investigation, cross–referencing the legitimate business accounts with our underground operations. Someone has been very clever about covering their tracks, but money always leaves a trail if you know

where to look.”

Her expertise in financial matters rivaled my own, which made her concerns all the more legitimate. Ruby had proven her loyalty during past crises, standing beside me when bullets flew and bodies dropped. If she detected something amiss in our operations, it demanded immediate attention.

“Who else knows?”

“Just me. For now.” She straightened, smoothing the fabric of her designer dress. “But secrets like this have a way of surfacing at the worst possible moments. We need to control the narrative before it controls us.”

The familiar weight of responsibility settled across my shoulders. As Caleb’s wife and the unofficial queen of our criminal empire, protecting our family’s interests had

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become second nature. But the thought of another betrayal, another traitor lurking within our trusted circle, made my chest tighten with familiar rage.

“Tonight then. My private dining room this evening.”

“I’ll bring the documentation. Everything I’ve discovered, every discrepancy, every red flag.” Ruby gathered her purse, a sleek black creation that probably cost more than most people’s cars. “And Ivy? Come armed. If my suspicions prove correct, we might not be the only ones interested in having this conversation.”

The casual way she mentioned weapons sent a chill down my spine. In our world, dinner discussions that required guns usually ended with someone bleeding out on expensive carpets. I touched the concealed holster beneath my jacket, reassured by the familiar weight of my Glock.

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