Chapter 5 - The Affair Was a TrapPreston sat alone in his apartment.
His phone had been ringing for hours.
Lawyers.
Banks.
Investors.
Reporters.
Everyone wanted answers.
He ignored them.
Then someone knocked.
Preston opened the door.
Marcus Vale stood outside.
Preston stared.
"You."
Marcus smiled.
"We need to talk."
"I don't have anything to say."
"You have plenty."
Marcus entered without permission.
Preston shut the door.
"You set me up."
Marcus laughed.
"Don't flatter yourself."
"What do you want?"
"Access."
"To what?"
"Your wife."
Preston's face hardened.
"Stay away from Vivienne."
Marcus smiled.
"Interesting."
"What?"
"Now you care."
Preston grabbed his jacket.
"Get out."
Marcus placed a folder on the table.
"Open it."
Preston hesitated.
Then he did.
Inside were documents bearing Vivienne's name.
Trust agreements.
Asset transfers.
Private banking records.
A photograph of Vivienne as a child.
Preston looked up.
"What is this?"
"Her inheritance."
"I already know she's wealthy."
"You know nothing."
Marcus leaned forward.
"Vivienne doesn't simply inherit Sinclair Holdings."
Preston stared.
"Then what?"
"She controls a private trust worth more than forty billion dollars."
Preston's face went blank.
Marcus continued.
"And there is a succession clause."
"What clause?"
"If Vivienne dies without naming an heir, control transfers."
"To whom?"
Marcus smiled.
"That's the question."
Preston's stomach tightened.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you were supposed to get close enough to convince her to sign."
"I never—"
Marcus interrupted.
"You married her."
Preston froze.
"What?"
"Did you think your meeting was random?"
He remembered.
The charity dinner.
The bookstore.
The coffee shop.
The strange coincidence that Vivienne had been there.
He remembered Marcus recommending an investment to him six years earlier.
He remembered the first time he heard Vivienne's name.
His breathing changed.
"You knew her."
Marcus smiled.
"Of course."
Preston stepped back.
"So Tiffany..."
"Was useful."
Preston's eyes widened.
"You chose her?"
"I introduced you."
The room seemed to spin.
"You destroyed my marriage."
"No."
Marcus corrected him.
"You destroyed your marriage."
Preston stared at the folder.
Then at Marcus.
"What do you want?"
"One document."
"Which one?"
"The Sinclair succession amendment."
Preston shook his head.
"I don't have it."
"You can get it."
"How?"
Marcus smiled.
"Make Vivienne trust you again."
Preston laughed bitterly.
"She'll never trust me."
"Then convince her you're desperate enough to change."
"And if I refuse?"
Marcus looked toward the window.
"You'll have bigger problems than divorce."
After he left, Preston remained motionless.
He had spent months thinking he was cheating on Vivienne.
Now he realized someone had been using him.
May you like
And worse—
Vivienne might be in danger.
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