Sham Marriage Quit Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 8

hapter 8 Your Husband’s Here

Julian was still fuming.

Finished

“Go get my phone,” he barked at his wife. “I’m calling Richard myself. I need to ask him what kind of daughter he raised. And the Hawthornes–what kind of heartless trash did they raise?”

“Julian, I’m fine.” Elena rushed to wipe her tears, afraid the stress would affect his health. “I can handle this. Please don’t worry about me.”

After much coaxing, Julian finally calmed down. He looked at her kindly. “You’ve always been too soft. That’s why they think they can walk all over you.”

He’d watched Elena grow up. She had the looks, the smarts, the temperament–everything. And yet that blind Nathan had tossed away a diamond and clung to glass.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let them get away with it.”

They chatted for a while longer, and Elena left. She never once brought up Victoria’s condition or asked for a house call.

It was the weekend. She and Chloe had lunch plans. By 2 p.m., she still hadn’t heard a word from Victoria. Which was strange.

Curious, she checked her phone, politely declined Chloe’s invite to go shopping, and drove back to the Hawthorne estate.

The moment she stepped inside, she heard violent retching from the living room. Elena blinked.

And there was Julian. He sat stiffly on the couch, face stone–cold. Nathan, Camille, and Victor all looked like they’d rather be anywhere else.

As for Victoria? One glance and Elena burst out laughing.

Victoria was holding a bowl bigger than her face, full of some murky black soup. Her face was twisted as she gagged between sips.

The air stank of something bitter and sour.

She took two big gulps, her lips now stained black, and whined to Julian, “Do I really have to drink this? Weren’t the needles enough before?”

Julian kept his eyes shut, looking every bit the sage. “Your condition was milder then. Now it’s worse. You need both acupuncture and this formula. I made it myself. It’s for asthma.”

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hapter 8 Your Hustand’s Here

“It tastes awful. Ugh-”

พรUL

Finished

Victoria dry–heaved again. Camille rushed to hold the trash can for her. Julian scowled. “If you can’t even handle a little bitterness, then don’t bother drinking it.”

I’ll drink it! I’ll drink it!”

Victoria clutched the bowl and chugged like her life depended on it. When she finally finished, she turned to Victor and croaked, “Water, I need water.”

A wave of foul–smelling air followed. Victor instinctively covered his nose. “You smell like you ate garbage.”

Victoria’s face turned pale, but the medicine had drained her strength. All she could do was glare.

Once Julian left, Elena came back to the living room. Victoria lay limply on the couch, still grimacing at the aftertaste. “You. Stop right there.”

She called out to Elena, who was heading upstairs.

Elena turned. “What is it?”

“Why didn’t you come with Julian? Didn’t you invite him?”

Victoria narrowed her eyes at her.

Elena, trained journalist that she was, didn’t flinch. “I did. But right after, my friend needed me. Don’t believe me? Fine. I just won’t invite him again.”

“Sweetheart, Mom didn’t mean it like that,” Nathan jumped in.

“Oh? Then what did she mean?”

Nathan had nothing to say.

Victoria suddenly sat up, energized by fury. She startled Victor, who had been texting someone.

“That’s how you talk to your husband? Don’t you know a wife should obey her man? You really are a wild child raised out in the sticks!”

Elena had just been looking for a reason to leave. Now Victoria gave her the perfect excuse.

“You’re right. Obey your man. Yours is over there flirting with his side piece. Why don’t you go roll out the red carpet for your future daughter–in–law instead of bothering me?”

The room went silent. Victor roared, “Elena! What kind of nonsense is that?”

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Chapter 8 Your Husband’s Here

CD

Finished

“Oh, come on,” Elena said, arms crossed. “Everyone in Grayhaven knows you’re funding some D–list model. Probably texting her right now.”

“Shut up!”

Nathan raised his hand.

Elena tilted her chin defiantly. “Go ahead. Try it. If you so much as touch me while we’re still married, Nathan, we’re done.”

He froze, jaw clenched. Then slowly lowered his hand. But Victoria wasn’t done. She snatched Victor’s phone when he wasn’t looking. He hadn’t even closed the chat window with his

mistress.

She saw everything. “Baby girl“? Victor! You’re really cheating on me? I’m going to kill you!”

“Have you lost your mind? That’s just being polite! Every guy does that in business!”

“I’ve wasted my life on you! Nathan, look at your father! He’s chasing after a model half his age!”

Victoria collapsed onto the couch in a puddle of tears. Nathan rushed to comfort her, ignoring Elena entirely. Elena stood there, unmoved.

Victor had been careful about his affair. She only found out from a friend in entertainment news. She hadn’t planned on revealing it—but they had brought this on themselves.

Watching Victoria panic and spiral, Elena found it oddly satisfying. Sometimes, people had to get burned to understand pain.

With chaos behind her, Elena left the Hawthorne estate. They wouldn’t bother her for a while.

It had been a pretty good weekend.

Monday, Elena arrived at Swiftline and immediately sensed something was off.

Her coworker Hannah leaned over, whispering, “Andy’s been holed up in his office for over thirty minutes.”

“Someone getting chewed out?”

Elena asked, lowering her voice. Hannah gave her a strange look. “You seriously don’t know?”

“What?”

“You’re not gonna believe this… your husband’s here. And he brought Camille with him.”

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Chapter 9 Camille Gets the Interview

Finished

Now it all made sense. No wonder the others at the Swiftline had been giving her odd looks since she arrived.

So Nathan had brought his little sweetheart over.

Elena’s expression must have darkened, because Hannah looped an arm around her shoulder. “Elena, are you okay?”

“We’re fine.” Elena gave her a faint smile.

Just then, the office door opened, and Andy walked out from his office, his receding hairline shining under the lights. “Elena, come in for a minute.”

In her heels, Elena walked into the meeting room.

Just like Hannah had said, Nathan and Camille were both there. Nathan was in a dark tailored suit, wearing the exact same tie Elena had picked out for their fourth anniversary. When she walked in, he avoided eye contact–guilty, clearly. Camille, on the other hand, greeted her with a bright smile.

“Elena, good morning.”

Elena ignored her completely. She looked straight at Andy. “What is it? I’ve got work to do.”

Elena was one of Swiftline’s top reporters. Andy usually wouldn’t risk upsetting her. But then again, Nathan had just put in a word…

He forced a smile. “So, Camille is starting here at the Swiftline today. Since you two are good friends, I’d like you to show her around.”

Camille stepped forward and looped her arm through Elena’s.

“Elena, my parents were so happy when they found out I’d be working with you. Now we can see each other every day.”

Elena didn’t respond to her enthusiasm. She glanced at Nathan, eyes deep and unreadable. He had brought this up with her once, and she had said no.

But Camille still came anyway. So what was the point of asking her in the first place?

And she seriously doubted Camille came here just to be another office drone.

“There are plenty of magazines out there. Why this one?”

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hayter & Care Gotte rouge

Elena pulled her arm free, her voice flat and cold. The room went quiet.

Camille pouted, softening her voice.

3D

Finished

“Elena, I know there’s been a lot of misunderstanding between us. I just wanted the chance to get closer to you. It would make our parents happy. And I’ve already explained everything about me and Nathan–why keep holding on to the past?”

Every word painted herself as the bigger person. And by contrast, Elena looked petty and unforgiving

Finally, Nathan spoke up. His voice was sharp.

“Elena, it’s just a job. Why are you being so hostile toward Camille?”

Just a job. Elena nearly laughed. She glanced at Nathan, taking in just how quick he was to

defend Camille.

It was obvious now–Camille working at Swiftline wasn’t up for discussion. They were just letting her know after the fact.

“Do whatever you want. I have things to get back to.”

Elena pulled the door open and walked out. Nathan’s eyes followed her tall, graceful figure as she left, a sour frustration knotting in his chest.

Less than five minutes later, he came out and walked over to her desk. He reached out, trying to pat her head–but Elena pulled back quickly, and his hand landed on empty air.

“Don’t be mad. Let me take you to dinner tonight? That steakhouse you love, sound good?”

He lowered his hand and softened his tone. “Her coming to work here, it really wasn’t my idea. Your parents asked me to bring her. That’s all.”

Elena’s tight expression finally began to ease, but her heart felt even heavier.

If it had been Nathan’s decision, at least it would’ve shown he cared enough to act on his own.

“I’m going back to work. I’ll pick you up tonight.”

After he left, Elena sat at her desk, lost in thought. She didn’t move until Andy called her into the meeting room again.

This time, it was just Camille and Andy inside.

“We just heard back from Pinnacle Group,” Andy said, practically shaking with excitement. “Their CEO has agreed to do the interview!”

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