\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 4\u00a0<\/p>\n
The third day was Saturday. Marcus claimed he had client meetings-really going to play house with Rain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I acted like I bought his lies and watched him drive off.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, as CEO of Hartwell Industries, I called an emergency board meeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLadies and gentlemen, I have an announcement.\u201d I stood at the head of the conference table, my voice cold and commanding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEffective immediately, all Hartwell Industries partnerships with Zenith Tech are terminated.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The board members exchanged confused glances. Zenith Tech was Marcus\u2019s company.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cVivian, why the sudden change? Zenith\u2019s been a valuable partner,\u201d one director asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause their CEO, Marcus Zenith, has serious character issues,\u201d I said icily. \u201cHis values don\u2019t align with Hartwell Industries\u2019 standards.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut breaking contracts this suddenly will mean penalty fees\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll cover the penalties,\u201d I said without hesitation. \u201cThis is about principles. No compromises.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the meeting, I immediately contacted several other major clients of Marcus\u2019s company.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Using Hartwell Industries\u2019 influence and my network, I quickly planted seeds of doubt about doing business with\u00a0<\/p>\n
Marcus.\u00a0<\/p>\n
By afternoon, Marcus\u2019s phone was blowing up with panicked calls from clients.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sat at home sipping tea, listening to him frantically taking calls on the balcony.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Parker, why the sudden contract termination? Our partnership\u2019s been solid\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Rodr\u00edguez, is there some misunderstanding? We can negotiate pricing\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Thompson, please reconsider-our company depends on this project\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Watching him scramble filled me with satisfaction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That evening, Marcus came home looking defeated and stressed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Husband\u2019s Affair\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 4\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBabe, I ran into some work issues today.\u201d He tried to act strong in front of me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSeveral major clients suddenly want out of their contracts. I have no idea why.\u201d He rubbed his temples in\u00a0<\/p>\n
frustration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThink a competitor might be sabotaging you?\u201d I suggested innocently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe\u2026\u201d His eyes flashed with suspicion. \u201cA few companies have been trying to poach our business lately.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He still has no clue his real enemy is sitting right next to him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t stress about it. We\u2019ll figure something out.\u201d I comforted him gently. \u201cWorst case, my family can help out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Marcus looked at me gratefully. \u201cGod, I\u2019m so lucky to have you. I don\u2019t know what I\u2019d do without you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fake as hell!\u00a0<\/p>\n
If I\u2019m so great, why the hell are you cheating on me?\u00a0<\/p>\n
But he wouldn\u2019t be saying that much longer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Early the next morning, my phone rang.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was Rain Sullivan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Hartwell, I need to talk to you.\u201d Her voice was shaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSure, let\u2019s meet somewhere.\u201d I kept my tone neutral.\u00a0<\/p>\n
An hour later, we met at a quiet caf\u00e9.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rain was wearing loose maternity clothes, her face pale and eyes red-clearly she\u2019d been crying.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Hartwell, I know you probably already know the baby is Marcus\u2019s.\u201d She could barely get the words out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at her silently, showing no anger or shock.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This made her even more nervous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t mean to wreck your marriage.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe told me he didn\u2019t love you, that you were just married on paper\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Exposed My Military Hushand\u2019s Affair\u00a0<\/p>\n
10.5%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 4\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat else did he tell you?\u201d I asked flatly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said your marriage was just for business, no real feelings\u2026\u201d Her voice got smaller and smaller.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I let out a cold laugh. \u201cAnd you believed that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026\u201d She had no answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRain Sullivan, do you have any idea what you\u2019ve done?\u201d I suddenly stood up, my presence intimidating. \u201cYou think seducing a married man and getting pregnant makes you the winner?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She instinctively protected her belly, scared by my intensity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Hartwell, I\u2019ll disappear. Just give me some money and I promise you\u2019ll never see me again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMoney?\u201d I scoffed. \u201cHow much do you think you\u2019re worth?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFive hundred thousand\u2026\u201d she said tentatively.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFive hundred thousand?\u201d My voice rose. \u201cYou think you\u2019re worth that much?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sat back down, crossed my legs, and stared at her coldly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not giving you a damn thing. Because soon enough, you\u2019ll both have nothing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood to leave.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Hartwell!\u201d Rain called after me. \u201cYou can\u2019t do this! I\u2019m carrying Marcus\u2019s son! You can\u2019t just ignore that!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned back, ice in my eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou sure that baby\u2019s Marcus\u2019s?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rain\u2019s face went white as a sheet when she heard my words.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d she stammered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2661 (0)\u00a0<\/p>\n
(0)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Joseph King is an editor and storyteller who ensures every chapter is clear, polished, and engaging for readers.<\/p>\n
Hot Shower, Cold Heart by Mark Twain 13 \u00a0 Chapter 4\u00a0 Chapter 4\u00a0 The third day was Saturday. Marcus claimed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-giving-my-husband-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22881","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22881"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22881\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}