Shredded Vows: The Billionaire’s Secret Heir novel Chapter 40

Stella had zero interest in other people's personal lives, but after a two-second standoff, she picked it up and flipped it open.

The moment she read the groom's name on the marriage certificate, the breath left her lungs. She stared at the photo. She stared at the date of registry. Absolute shock slammed into her.

Holding the small booklet, she sat there as if turned to stone.

It took her a full ten seconds to drag her mind back to reality and meet Lydia's gaze. "..." She was so stunned she couldn't even form a word.

"Gideon and I were married five years ago. We are husband and wife," Lydia stated the facts plainly, without a shred of arrogance.

Stella's face paled slightly as she handed the certificate back with both hands. For the very first time, she truly looked at the girl standing in front of her.

Lydia's eyes were calm and clear, as if she could see through all the corporate nonsense. Her long dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her beauty lay not just in her radiant complexion, but in her unbothered, ethereal aura.

"I'm not showing you this to brag. I just wanted you to know that my passion for design is entirely genuine. I don't want to ride my husband's coattails, so please keep my identity a secret for now."

Stella nodded in agreement. "About yesterday... I owe you an explanation. I wasn't targeting you."

"I know," Lydia said softly, completely understanding.

But Stella insisted on finishing. "I just figured Serena was a nepotism hire from Mr. Gray. She clearly lacks talent and brings too much drama. I didn't want her ruining the department's dynamic, and since she had it out for you, I..."

"Which is exactly why I don't hold it against you. Don't worry about it." Lydia's lips curved upward. Her smile was as bright and clean as morning sunlight in the mountains, radiating an absolute, untainted purity.

Then she added, "Oh, by the way, I'll need to leave a couple of hours early this afternoon. Gideon is taking me for a dress fitting. Old Mr. Jenson's 80th birthday is coming up, and we both have to attend."

"Yes, absolutely."

"I'll get to work then. See you." Lydia didn't put on a single air of superiority. She was as approachable as the girl next door.

After the door clicked shut, Stella sank back into her office chair and took a deep breath. "My god... Lydia is actually Mrs. Gray!"

"Then what the hell is Serena playing at?"

Before Serena could even formulate an excuse, Stella withdrew her glare and walked away.

The entire room turned their attention to Serena, and she suddenly felt a flush of absolute humiliation. She was just a D-list actress who had forced her way into a room full of elite designers purely to get closer to Gideon.

Left with no other option, Serena frantically opened web browsers, desperately copying and pasting random ideas to cobble something together. Whether it made sense or not was a problem for later.

At 2 PM, Lydia's desk phone rang. It was the executive office. Dave said, "Mrs. Gray, the boss is heading downstairs. He's waiting to take you to the fitting."

"Alright."

When Lydia stepped out of the lobby, she saw the black Bentley idling nearby. Catching sight of her, Larson immediately hurried over to open the car door.

Just beyond the wall of security guards, reporters hoisted their cameras high, the frantic clicking of shutters echoing through the air like rapid gunfire!!

This time, they had finally caught the real star of the show!