She Was Never Just the Wife novel Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Dusk fell. The city lights came on.

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In the master bedroom of the Stein Mansion, the heavy curtains were drawn tight, shutting out the last traces of daylight. A single bedside lamp cast a dim glow. Laylah sat at the edge of the bed, her shadow stretched long across the floor.

The room was quiet. Too quiet. Only her uneven breathing and the faint buzz of her phone broke the stillness.

The screen glowed blue. An encrypted chat was open. The contact had no photo, just a black icon with a single dot.

A few minutes earlier, a message had come through. It was a photo of two pills sealed in clear capsules, one pale blue, one light pink. Set against black velvet, they looked almost too clean.

Beneath it was a short message:

[The order is ready at the usual place. Blue is for him. Pink is for you. Details on the effects and side effects will be discussed in person. Cash only. No records.]

Laylah stared at the image, her fingers hovering over the screen, trembling slightly. She had the pills, the most dangerous part of her plan.

If she could get Beckham to take the blue one and take the pink one herself, the rest would follow. She knew him well enough. One night might be all it took. After that, she could be carrying the Lucero family’s heir.

This was the path her father had laid out, and the fastest way she could think of to hold her position, maybe even turn things around.

With a Lucero child, those threats about her past would lose their weight. For the sake of their name and their bloodline, the family would have to accept her.

But the line about side effects lingered. Just a few words, yet enough to unsettle her. ‘What side effects? Why didn’t they say it in the message? Is it that serious, or something they don’t want written down?’

She thought back to what she had heard before, the rumors about the drug. People said it was potent but risky, especially for women, though no one could explain exactly how. Those who had tried it either stayed silent or didn’t end well.

A chill crept up her spine. ‘Am I really going to gamble my body and my entire future on this?’ she pondered.

Her phone buzzed again. It was a message from Daphne:

[Hails, I’ve managed to keep those editors quiet for now. The story’s been held back, and they’ve agreed not to run it. But the source knows what they’re doing. The material is solid, and it wasn’t sent to just a few outlets. part of

[This time, money and connections worked. I can’t promise it will again. One of my contacts traced the email. The IP was heavily masked, but it points overseas. Whoever did this is highly professional.]

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Chapter 46

It pointed overseas. Someone professional. Laylah’s heart sank.

‘So it isn’t Celia. Or not just her. Then who? Someone from my past?’ she wondered.

Fear crept back in, cold and tightening.

She squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them again, the hesitation and fear were gone, replaced by a fierce, almost desperate resolve.

There was no way out now. Public opinion hung over her like a blade. Aiyana was a ticking time bomb. Her parents talked about support, but the pressure was all on her. And Beckham remained impossible to read.

She had to hold on to this last option, no matter how dangerous it was.

Laylah quickly replied to Daphne: [Got it. I’ll have the money transferred. Keep watching, and tell me right away if anything changes.]

After that, she opened up the encrypted chat and sent back a single word: [Okay.]

The “usual place” was a high-end spa in the city, strictly members-only, built for privacy. She had handled more than a few off-the-record deals there.

Laylah set her phone aside and walked to the vanity. The woman in the mirror was still composed, but the exhaustion in her eyes showed. Beneath it, something sharper lingered.

Her hand moved to her stomach. Soon, there might be a child there, one that could change everything.

‘For that child, for a place in the Lucero family, and to make sure no one ever drags me down again, what are a few side effects compared to everything I stand to gain?’ she thought.

*****

At the same time, across town in an eastside apartment.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city shimmered with neon lights. Inside, it was quiet. A few lamps cast a soft glow over the clean, modern space. The air carried a faint scent of coffee and freshly baked cookies.

Celia sat curled up on a wide, plush sofa, dressed in comfortable loungewear. A thin cashmere throw rested over her legs.

She held a cup of hot coffee in both hands, steam curling softly into the air. She looked better than she had a few days ago, though her eyes remained calm and unreadable.

Across from her, Haley sat in an armchair. A laptop and a freshly printed report lay on the table. She had taken off her glasses and rubbed her temples, a faint edge of sarcasm in her voice.

“The Steins are really going all in this time.” She took a sip of her coffee. “I checked my sources. The outlets that got the leak, especially the toughest ones, all received large ‘consulting fees’ this afternoon from an offshore account.

“Daphne Cantrell, Laylah’s so-called best friend, has been acting as the middleman. Everything about Laylah’s

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Chapter 46

past overseas and the speculation about Ricardo’s background has been put on hold.”

Celia blew lightly across her coffee and took a small sip. The warmth settled in her chest.

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“Not surprising,” she said. “They may not have deep roots, but they know how to play the game. Money and connections still work. When it comes to a scandal like this, they’ll do whatever it takes to bury it.”

“Should we do something?” Haley glanced at her. “We could send the same material somewhere else. Outlets that don’t play by the rules, or ones they can’t reach.”

Celia shook her head. A faint, knowing smile tugged at her lips. “No need. Sometimes the harder you push something down, the more it pops up elsewhere. Better to let it stay under for now.”

She set her cup down and looked out at the night. “Aiyana’s in trouble this time. Her parents will make her take the fall to protect Laylah.

“But with her personality, do you think she’ll just accept it once the pressure builds and she realizes she’s been used?

“She’s always resented how much their parents favor Laylah. And now, when things go wrong, they don’t even hesitate to sacrifice her for her sister, or expect her to ‘put the family first. That kind of resentment doesn’t fade. It builds.”

Haley mused, “Are you saying it’s only a matter of time before they turn on each other?”

Celia glanced at her, something sharper in her gaze. “People like that always do. Laylah thinks money can fix this. But all she’s done is show where she’s weak.

“More importantly, do you think those outlets will stay quiet? They’ve already had a taste. Next time something like this comes up, they’ll push harder. And secrets like this never stay buried.

“The harder she tries to cover it up now, the worse it’ll be when it comes out. All we need to do is wait. And when the time is right, give it a little push.”

She paused, then added, “As for Aiyana, the legal aid contact you arranged can start letting things slip. Not everything. Just enough.

“Let her realize how her family truly sees her, how her parents have been painting her as the problem, the one who nearly brought everything down, and how all their resources are now being used to protect Laylah alone.”

A flicker of realization and admiration crossed Haley’s eyes. Celia hadn’t just predicted the Stein family’s

response.

She had planted something inside it. She didn’t need to step in herself. By guiding and exploiting their internal cracks, she could sit back and let things fall apart on their own.

That level of control sent a chill through Haley, even as it reassured her. With Celia like this, no one would hurt her so easily again.

“Got it.” Haley closed her laptop. “I’ll handle Aiyana. And there’s one more thing.”

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Chapter 46

She hesitated slightly. “Laylah was seen at Mist & Mirror this afternoon. Alone.”

Celia’s hand paused almost imperceptibly as she lifted her coffee. “Mist & Mirror?”

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It was the city’s most exclusive private club. Known for its impeccable service and airtight privacy, it was a favored place for discreet and sometimes questionable dealings.

“Yeah, she was in and out in under an hour. Looked rushed.” Haley studied her. “Do you want us to check who she met, or what she picked up?”

Celia was quiet for a moment. Someone like Laylah wouldn’t go to a place like that just to unwind, not now, not with everything closing in.

“Look into it if you can, but don’t push it. Be careful,” she said at last. “If I’m right, she’s probably looking for something stronger.” Her voice was soft, but carried a cold, sharp clarity.

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