The CEO's Rejected Wife And Secret Heir novel Chapter 60

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Vivian’s Backlash

Aria’s POV

The headlines were everywhere.

I sat in Monroe Global’s conference room, my tablet displaying a dozen different news sites, all screaming variations of the same story.

"ICE KING MELTS: Damien Blackwood’s Shocking Love Confession"

"Billionaire CEO Gives Up Empire for Secret Son"

"Aria Monroe: From Discarded Wife to Revenge Queen"

But my favorite—the one that made my lips twitch despite everything—was from a gossip blog known for savage commentary:

Vivian Monroe: The Other Woman Nobody Wanted

I clicked on it, skimming the brutal takedown. They’d found photos of Vivian from the wedding years ago, her smug smile as she’d stood beside Damien. Contrasted them with recent paparazzi shots where she looked haggard and desperate.

The comments section was vicious.

"Imagine stealing your sister’s husband and he STILL doesn’t want you"

"Vivian really thought she won lmaooooo"

"The way Damien looked at Aria in that press conference vs how he never looked at Vivian... that’s the difference between love and a mistake"

I should feel guilty for enjoying this. Should be above petty satisfaction at watching my sister get dragged through the mud by strangers.

But I wasn’t above it, not even close.

"Someone’s enjoying themselves." Olivia walked in, carrying two coffee cups.

She set one in front of me and sat down across the table.

"Let me guess." She grinned. "Reading about Vivian’s public humiliation?"

"Is it that obvious?" I took a sip of the coffee—perfect, as always.

Olivia knew exactly how I liked it after years of friendship.

"You have that look." She gestured at my face. "That tiny, satisfied smile you get when karma comes around. It’s very specific."

"She deserves worse than online comments." I closed the tablet. "But I’ll take what I can get."

"The press is destroying her." Olivia pulled up something on her phone. "Look at this interview from this morning."

She turned the screen toward me. It was a video from a morning talk show. The host, a woman in her fifties with sharp eyes and perfect hair, sat across from a panel of relationship experts.

"Let’s talk about Vivian Monroe," the host said. "Because I think she represents something we all need to discuss—women who betray other women for men who don’t even want them."

One of the panelists, a therapist, nodded vigorously. "It’s a tale as old as time. The ’other woman’ who thinks she’s won when she gets the man, only to realize she’s gotten nothing but a man who doesn’t respect women. Damien Blackwood showed his character when he entertained Vivian’s advances while married. And Vivian showed hers when she pursued her sister’s husband."

"But here’s the thing," another panelist jumped in. "Three years later, we see who actually won. Aria built an empire while Vivian..."

She gestured vaguely. "What has Vivian done? Besides desperately try to stay relevant by clinging to a family name she helped destroy?"

I stopped the video. "That’s actually pretty satisfying."

"It gets better." Olivia scrolled through her phone. "Monroe Global’s stock jumped fifteen percent this morning. Investors are calling you ’the comeback story of the decade.’ Meanwhile, your father’s company lost half its value overnight."

"Good." I felt no sympathy. "Charles Monroe deserves to lose everything."

My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.

You think you’ve won? You think destroying me in the press makes you better than me? You’re still the same pathetic little sister who was never good enough.

Vivian. Of course.

I showed Olivia the text as she rolled her eyes.

"Block her." Olivia set down her coffee. "She’s not worth your energy."

"I want to see what she says." I typed back.

At least I didn’t have to sleep with my sister’s husband to feel valuable. How’s that working out for you, by the way? Still can’t get him to commit?

The response came immediately.

He loved me. He chose me over you.

I laughed out loud. Actually laughed.

He didn’t choose you, Vivian. He used you because you were convenient and stupid enough to think it meant something. But when it mattered, when he had to choose, he didn’t pick you. He’s not picking you now. He never will.

Three dots appeared, disappeared, appeared again. Then:

I’ll destroy you for this. You and your bastard son.

Anger flooded my veins. She could threaten me all she wanted, but bringing Noah into it crossed a line.

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