Chapter 4 - The Hidden Life
The elite guests in the background audibly gasped at the sheer, unadulterated cruelty of the exchange. Dominic was publicly gifting his wife's priceless family heirloom to his mistress right in front of the entire Chicago high society.
Nora didn't beg for the ring back.
An extreme, cinematic close-up focused tightly on Nora’s pale face. The paralyzing shock completely faded away. Her tear-stained eyes hardened into a cold, unbreakable, lethal resolve.
She slowly lowered her trembling hand from her red, slapped cheek. She moved her hand down, pressing it firmly and protectively against her lower stomach.
Dominic didn't notice the gesture. Isabeau didn't care.
But Nora knew exactly what she was protecting. She was eight weeks pregnant with Dominic’s first child. She had bought a tiny pair of baby shoes this morning, planning to surprise him with the incredible news after the gala.
But seeing him physically assault her, steal from her, and parade his mistress in front of the world completely annihilated any love she had left for him. She realized that raising a child in this toxic, abusive billionaire empire would be a death sentence for an innocent soul.
"You will never know this child," Nora whispered in a quiet, decisive, absolute vow that only she could hear.
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Nora slowly pushed herself up from the marble floor, her emerald silk gown stained with the spilled red wine.
👉 What devastating, calculated move is the pregnant wife about to make?
