Chapter 6 - The Mistress and the Media
You would think a crushing court defeat would humble them. You would be wrong.
Cornered rats always bite. Desperate for cash, Evelyn and Robert decided to sell a fabricated story to a local gossip rag. The headline read: SCORNED HEIRESS DESTROYS HUSBAND OVER MISUNDERSTANDING. The article painted me as a greedy, vindictive woman who hid a massive fortune and threw my devoted husband onto the streets while grieving.
They also deployed Chloe, the mistress, to cry on social media about how I was "bullying" Robert into a depression.
I was sitting on the deck at Tahoe with Jack, drinking wine, when the article dropped. Jack looked worried. “This could hurt your reputation, Clara. Should we send a cease and desist?”
I laughed, a rich, dark sound. “A cease and desist is too quiet. If they want a public spectacle, I’ll give them a gala.”
I called Victoria. “I want to host a charity fundraiser at the Tahoe estate next weekend. Domestic violence awareness. Invite the mayor, the local press, the elite of the city. And make sure Robert and Evelyn get an invitation.”
“They won't come,” Victoria said.
“Oh, they will,” I replied. “Because the invitation will mention that we will be discussing a ‘generous financial settlement out of court.’ Their greed will override their common sense.”
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Over the next week, Jack and I transformed the estate. Caterers, lighting crews, and valets swarmed the property. It was exhausting, but it was exactly what I needed to reclaim my narrative.
On the night of the gala, the estate glittered like a diamond against the dark lake. The city’s elite mingled, sipping champagne. And right on cue, an hour into the event, Robert and Evelyn arrived, looking smug and expecting a massive payout.
