Of course, he would resist the divorce. Chris had always leveraged my connections and resources to build his own empire while treating me with disdain. As a housewife, I had devoted myself to maintaining our home and supporting his career, but in his eyes, I was merely a convenient fool.
"It’s perfectly fine if you don’t want to proceed with the divorce," I said coldly, my voice a chilling contrast to the heated argument. "However, you should be prepared for the consequences if these photos and videos get released. You’ll need to devise a strategy to handle the fallout."
Chris’s meticulously crafted image of the devoted husband and loving father was his most prized asset. For over a decade, he had cultivated this facade, using it to gain wealth and power. The collapse of this image would mean the dissolution of everything he had worked for—his reputation, his social standing and his career.
Chris’s face darkened further, his frustration giving way to a dangerous edge. "Eloise, you’re threatening me."
I met his gaze with a steely resolve, no longer swayed by his smooth words. My once blind adoration had given way to a clear-eyed view of his true nature—a manipulative, deceitful man who had taken everything for granted.
"Chris, you’ve ignored my dignity, trampled on the respect I deserve and conducted yourself in the most despicable manner right before our eyes. If you maintain your false image, who will hold you accountable for your actions?"
At that moment, with her eyes swollen from tears, Jennifer reached into her bag and retrieved a pregnancy test. She handed it to Chris with a trembling hand. "Chris, I’m pregnant," she said, her voice fraught with desperation.
"What?!" Chris’s voice was a mix of shock and disbelief, his composure shattering.
I regarded him with a sardonic smile, enjoying the spectacle of his unraveling facade. "You accused me of smearing Jennifer’s reputation, claiming there was nothing between you two. But now, with this revelation, it remains uncertain whether the child she carries is even yours."
Jennifer’s patience wore thin. She glared at me, her face contorted with frustration. "It’s his, it’s definitely his. For years, Chris has been the only man in my life. Eloise, stop making trouble."