Chapter 6
That day, Lewis had indeed gone to meet a client with the new intern, Tiana Phelps. Afterward, he'd managed to convince her to...
He thought he'd covered his tracks perfectly.
He never imagined Phoebe would reach out to a private investigator.
No, not a private investigator. A lawyer.
'When did Phoebe start plotting all this? I didn't notice a single thing!' Lewis wondered, baffled.
Jessie's voice kept going, mercilessly exposing Lewis's secrets one by one, like a scalpel cutting deep.
She said, "I've already got screenshots from the hotel's security cameras showing them going in, as well as the check-in records.
"Plus, your husband owns three properties, two of which were bought after you got married, so they're considered joint assets. He also has two cars and partial ownership in a company.
"We can divide all of this up when you get divorced."
Jessie continued, "As for custody, since you've been a stay-at-home mom and the main caregiver for your child, and given his marital misconduct, the court will most likely award custody to you.
"Of course, he'll have to pay child support until your child turns eighteen."
Jessie broke it all down, clear and logical, making everything easy to understand.
Every word landed like a heavy blow, hitting Lewis and Angelina right where it hurt.
Angelina felt dizzy, clutching the table for support as she pointed at Phoebe, her lips quivering.
Angelina snapped, "You... you heartless witch! How could you dig into my son's business?
"What did the Cortez family ever do to you? Why would you hurt us like this?"
Phoebe gave a cold chuckle, not even bothering to respond to Angelina.
Her gaze never left Lewis.
She was only interested in how he would react.
Lewis's face shifted from ghostly pale to dark with fury.
The veins on his forehead bulged, his chest rising and falling violently. He looked like a ticking time bomb, ready to blow any second.
He never imagined that the wife he'd always considered his to command would deal him such a fatal blow behind his back.
"Phoebe!" Lewis growled through clenched teeth, his voice so hoarse it sounded like sandpaper scraping against wood.
"You dare!" he snarled.
"Why wouldn't I?" Phoebe shot back.
She finally hung up and slipped her phone away.
She stood up and strode over to Lewis. For the first time ever, she met his gaze head-on with a newfound confidence, even a hint of disdain, as if she were looking down on him.
Phoebe said, "Lewis, do you really think I'm still the same Phoebe you could push around?
"You really thought tossing me 30 dollars was some kind of handout or a way to humiliate me?"
Phoebe continued, "No, you're wrong. That wasn't humiliation. It was a wake-up call.
"It made me realize I couldn't keep living like this. It made me realize that my worth isn't for you to define."
Her voice was calm, but every word was charged with power.
She said, "While you were out messing around with another woman at the hotel, did it ever cross your mind that your wife was at home, worrying about how to keep the family going?
"While you enjoyed the comfortable life I created for you without a second thought, did it ever occur to you that I'm a living, breathing person too, with my own dignity and boundaries?
"No, you never did."
Phoebe shook her head, her eyes brimming with disappointment and scorn.
She said, "In your world, I was nothing but a mere appendage, a nanny, an emotionless tool meant only to obey.
"So when you threw those 30 dollars at me, you should've realized even tools get worn out and tossed aside."
Lewis was completely stunned by her relentless questioning, forced to retreat step by step, unable to say a word.
He looked at the unfamiliar wife before him and felt fear rise in his heart for the first time.
He could feel his control over her slipping away faster than he ever thought possible.
Lewis had always believed Phoebe was completely dependent on him.
She had no job, no income, and no friends. Without the Cortez family, he thought she wouldn't be able to survive at all.
But now, she'd not only gotten herself a lawyer. She had hard evidence of his cheating, too.
Phoebe was clear-headed and laser-focused, and every step she took struck right at his Achilles' heel.
'How long has she been plotting behind my back?' Lewis thought.
"No... that's not true..." Lewis tried to defend himself, but his words sounded feeble and powerless.
He said, "I swear, we're just colleagues. We just went to see a client, that's all..."
"So you need a hotel room just to meet a client?" Phoebe snapped, her voice cutting through his excuses like a knife.
That single line left Lewis completely speechless.
Phoebe continued, "Lewis, at this point, do you really think making excuses is going to help you?
"Security footage, check-in records... Those are undeniable evidence. You really think a judge is going to believe your words?"
Lewis was utterly lost for words, completely silenced.
He slumped into his chair, looking like a beaten dog. He was drained and defeated.
'It's all over for me,' Lewis thought, his mind numb.
The persona he'd worked so hard to build, the successful man, the devoted family guy, was shattered in an instant.
Angelina looked at her son, who seemed totally lost and defeated, and her heart broke for him.