Chapter 1 - The Twelve-Dollar Insult
The bright morning sunlight glaring off the Manhattan hospital driveway offered no warmth as Dominic shoved two crumpled five-dollar bills and two singles into Audrey’s trembling hand.
"Take the bus home, Audrey. My mother can't be late for lunch," Dominic ordered in a dismissive, cold tone, adjusting his tailored dark suit without making eye contact.
Audrey stood in an ice-blue embellished evening gown and a matching cape coat she had thrown on hastily. She was only five days post C-section, holding her fragile newborn tightly in a white blanket against her chest, wincing from the sharp abdominal pain.
Beside Dominic stood his arrogant mother, Victoria, wearing a cream tweed suit, impatiently checking her diamond watch. "Hurry up, Dominic! Our reservations at Le Bernardin are for noon, and I won't lose our table just because she feels a little sore."
Dominic turned back to the hospital valet, tossing a set of luxury car keys to the attendant to retrieve the eighty-thousand-dollar SUV Audrey had bought with her own money before they married.
"I need to take the baby home in the car, Dominic," Audrey whispered, her face pale. "I can't walk to a bus stop in this condition."
Dominic sneered, stepping closer. "Your money is my money now, Audrey. You're a stay-at-home mother. Do as you're told."
Before Dominic could open the SUV door, the deafening roar of heavy engines echoed through the concrete driveway. Three black, armored military SUVs swerved into the loading zone, blocking Dominic’s vehicle completely.
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The heavy doors opened, and a distinguished sixty-year-old military officer with silver hair, wearing a pristine white full-dress military uniform with combat medals and dark sunglasses, stepped onto the pavement.
👉 Read Part 2 to discover why Dominic believed his wife was weak and alone.
