"Is it possible... that the man responsible for your wife's pregnancy wasn't you, Mr. Gilbert?"

The accusation hung in the sterile hospital air. My expression turned to ice as I faced Joanna. I demanded to know the basis for such a filthy claim.

Immediately, she shrank behind Jesse, eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I'm a doctor. I have no conflict of interest here. I'm simply interpreting your physical condition truthfully. Why would I need to frame you?"

My gaze dropped to the ID badge pinned to her white coat.

Joanna Fox.

The name hit like a physical blow. Memories of the nightmare from ten years ago surged back—the men who had kidnapped and destroyed me. Their leader was Isaac Fox.

Ten years ago, Isaac's sister would have been just a teenager, spared from the legal fallout. But Jesse had sworn to me—promised he had exiled every member of the Fox family so I would never have to face that trauma again.

So why was Joanna Fox standing here, in Harbor City Hospital?

I looked at Jesse, disbelief chilling my blood. I needed an explanation. More importantly, I needed to know if he actually believed her lies.

He didn't answer. Instead, a faint, condescending smile played on his lips as he pulled me into his arms.

"Alright, that's enough. Whether you've had one abortion or ten, you're still Mrs. Gilbert. That hasn't changed."

The dismissal cut sharper than any insult. Ignoring my frozen expression, Jesse steered me toward the exit.

"She's just a young girl, inexperienced and eager. It's no big deal if she misdiagnosed you. Don't make a scene."

Something inside me shattered. The love I'd harbored for Jesse turned to ash. The suffocating possessiveness I once felt evaporated into cold air.

"Fine," I said, voice hollow.

After that day, Jesse began parading Joanna at every major social event. He handed the entire medical equipment division to her.

When she lost hundreds of millions through sheer incompetence, he shrugged it off.

"A beauty's smile is worth a fortune. She's young and naive. Mistakes are part of the learning curve."

But I followed the paper trail. The funds hadn't vanished—they'd been funneled into offshore accounts controlled by the Fox family.

Joanna wasn't as simple as Jesse claimed.

I hadn't planned to engage with her. But now she was encroaching on my territory. Since we were both after money, I couldn't let her stay.

For the first time, I stepped in to clean up Jesse's mess, seizing control of the project Joanna had nearly destroyed.

Jesse seemed amused rather than surprised.

"It seems I spoiled you too much. This obedient version of you is much more pleasing."

He brushed his finger against my nose in mocking affection.

"I hope you stay this way. Even if you were harmed ten years ago because of me—you're damaged goods. Marrying you and tolerating you for a decade was already supreme charity."

Perhaps sensing he'd cut too deep, he produced a velvet box containing an aquamarine necklace.

"Here. Joanna's too young for such a heavy, old-fashioned color. It suits your age better—makes you look dignified."

I'd navigated business long enough to decode the subtext. He was calling me old. Saying I was only fit for cast-offs.

Yet I smiled and accepted the box. "As long as you're happy, Jesse."

The old Tessa would have wept for nights, agonizing over whether her youth had faded.

The new Tessa? Is this worth ten million? Or twenty?

The more distracted Jesse became with his games, the more muddleheaded he'd grow—and the more I could siphon away. Only a fool fights for a husband whose heart has strayed.

I didn't need Jesse Gilbert.

I needed the Gilbert Group.

Clutching the ten-billion-dollar contract Patrick had offered me, I knocked on the study door.

"Grandpa, since I married into the Gilbert family, I am a Gilbert now. I don't need this contract as compensation for the Matthews family."

Surprise sparked in his eyes. He hadn't expected me to refuse such a massive windfall.

"The Matthews family has been in steep decline these past few years. Last year, your market cap barely scraped a few billion. Are you certain you don't want this contract?"

Patrick's voice was gruff, probing. Even after a decade of marriage to Jesse, the old man still didn't see me as a true Gilbert. He was constantly testing me, waiting for the moment I'd prioritize blood over loyalty.

I met his gaze with practiced sincerity.

"To say I'm not tempted would be a lie, Grandfather. But I married Jesse. I'm a Gilbert now. How could I siphon resources from my husband's family to subsidize my mother's? I'm not like those short-sighted women who can't see the bigger picture."

A flicker of approval passed through his eyes.

"Good. Since my granddaughter-in-law has such integrity, I'll give you something else." He leaned back, tapping his cane. "As a Gilbert, you should hold a stake in the company. There's a board meeting at the end of the month. Prepare yourself. When the time comes, I'll cast my vote for you."

My expression stayed calm—neither servile nor arrogant. "I won't disappoint you."

He reached out and patted my shoulder, his grip heavy. "Support Jesse well. He's been foolish lately, blinded by… distractions. But in his heart, he still cares for you."

Cares for me? I almost scoffed. No matter how many lines Jesse crossed, to Patrick, he was still the golden boy, the sole heir.

"He is my husband," I said, nodding obediently. "Standing by him is my duty."

Inheriting everything he owns is also my duty.

The moment the banquet ended and the guests dispersed, the atmosphere shifted. Jesse cornered me in the hallway, slamming his palm against the wall by my head. His face was thunderous.

"You really put on quite a show, didn't you?"

I looked up at him, feigning confusion. "What do you mean?"

Jesse let out a cold laugh. "Did you honestly think playing the magnanimous saint would change my mind?" He leaned in, his cologne suffocating. "You didn't cry, didn't make a scene… for a second, I thought you'd actually matured. Didn't expect your methods to stay this filthy."

I truly didn't understand what he was talking about.

Impatient with my silence, he whipped out his phone and shoved the screen in my face. A call log from Grandpa.

"I brought Joanna to the banquet, and immediately after, Grandpa called to tear strips off me. He even ripped that contract from my hands and gave it to you instead. Do you dare look me in the eye and say you didn't orchestrate that?"

So he'd misunderstood again. He thought I'd run to his grandfather to tattle.

"Think whatever you want," I said flatly.

Jesse froze. The old Tessa would have panicked. The old Tessa would have begged him to believe her, desperate to clear her name.

He scoffed, eyes narrowing. "Fine. Since you refuse to be obedient, don't blame me for embarrassing you."

I assumed he meant he'd take Joanna on another shopping spree or buy her a car.

I was wrong.

On the day of the board meeting, Joanna strolled into the conference room like she owned the building. She walked past me with her chin held high, radiating smug satisfaction, and sat directly beside Jesse.

"I've resigned from the hospital," she announced, her voice dripping sweetness. "Mr. Gilbert recommended me for a seat on the board. We'll be colleagues from now on."

The voting commenced. I passed with unanimous support; my ten years of work spoke for themselves.

Joanna barely scraped by. Only Jesse's faction voted for her.

She didn't seem to care about the numbers. She only cared about the victory. She leaned toward me, dropping her voice so only I could hear. "It took you ten years to get a seat at this table. I did it in two weeks. I think we both know who the real winner is."

At the head of the table, Patrick's face was a storm cloud. The board wasn't a playground for stray pets, yet here was Jesse, forcing his mistress into the inner circle.

Even worse, the Fox family was the very architect of the crisis that nearly bankrupted the Gilberts a decade ago.

Jesse wasn't old, but he was acting like a senile fool.

He caught my eye and raised a brow—a silent taunt: This is the price of your disobedience.

I held his gaze, expression unreadable: As long as your little canary stays in her cage, I don't care.

As we walked out, Jesse caught my arm, halting me in front of the other directors.

"I'm flying to the Middle East tomorrow," he announced loudly. "You and Joanna need to get along. She's new to this. Make sure you mentor her properly."

A ripple of shock went through the bystanders. Asking the wife to train the mistress? Unheard of. A public humiliation.

I lowered my gaze, masking the cold fury burning in my chest.

Patrick, unable to stomach the scene, glared at his grandson, knuckles white on his cane. But Jesse didn't flinch. He wasn't afraid of the old man anymore.

He leaned down to my ear, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper.

"Grandpa is old, Tessa. He won't be around to protect you forever. If you know what's good for you, don't play any tricks while I'm gone."

My love for Jesse had withered years ago—nothing but cold ash. His threats held no power over me.

"Fine," I said, steady. "I won't make things difficult for Joanna. I'll even ensure she's... taken care of."

The moment Jesse's private jet left the tarmac, Joanna unleashed chaos. She purged the executive suite—veteran managers, core team members—all under the guise of "cost-cutting." In reality, she was clearing out anyone who might oppose her, claiming she was merely removing "dead weight."

The ousted employees flocked to me. I played my part perfectly: the helpless, downtrodden wife.

"It was Jesse's direct order," I said, keeping my expression pained. "I'm forbidden from managing company affairs. I may be his wife, but here, I'm still an outsider."

To prove it, I dialed Jesse on speakerphone in front of them.

"Jesse, Joanna is firing the core team. You have to—"

"If she wants to fire them, let her," he cut me off. "We don't need to feed a bunch of idlers. Stop obsessing over Joanna and mind your own business."

Click.

I lowered the phone, meeting their devastated gazes. "You heard him."

Within three days, the brain drain was complete. Panic set in. Minority shareholders began dumping stock. My mother swept in like a hawk—hiring the fired executives at a premium, buying up every available share on my behalf.

Combined with the twenty percent I brought into the marriage ten years ago, the math had shifted.

I was now the majority shareholder.

I had just signed the final custodianship agreement when the office door banged open. Joanna strutted in, Jesse trailing behind.

"Tessa." She sneered. "Pack your things. You've been removed."

I didn't flinch. I looked past her to Jesse. He adjusted his cuffs, expression bored.

"I told you to behave," he said coldly. "But you insisted on provoking Joanna. Consider this a lesson."

Joanna waved a document in my face. "Jesse holds twenty-one percent. You only have twenty. That one percent makes him your master." She turned, snuggling into Jesse's chest. "You promised me this office."

He smirked, stroking her hair. "Who else but you? You got rid of the dead weight. Consider this your reward."

They were so busy congratulating themselves they didn't notice Finn James approaching. The senior secretary's face was stone as he walked toward us, flanked by security.

"President," Finn said.

Jesse glanced at him, annoyed. "What is it? If you're here to beg for Tessa, save your breath."

Finn's professionalism didn't crack. "Young Master." Then he turned to me and bowed. "Madam President, the board members have arrived."

Joanna froze. "Have you gone blind? She's a Matthews, not a Gilbert. How can she be President?"