— If you don’t make a decision, I’ll tell everyone myself. Let them know you’re going to be a father. Let your Eleanor find out.
These threats were more effective than any of her requests. Mark imagined the reactions of his partners, the whispers behind his back. He knew that if a scandal broke, contracts could be lost, and connections severed. A businessman’s reputation is built not just on numbers, but on the perception of his personal life. Confidence, stability, reliability—these were the qualities valued by investors. Scandals destroyed trust faster than any economic crisis.
Sometimes Mark tried a softer approach. He brought her fruit, ordered her car service, and bought things for the baby. But this only fueled her appetite. She wanted more than just care; she wanted proof.
— I need to feel that you’ve chosen me, — she would repeat. — Not her, not the one you live with out of habit, but me. She’s an old woman, and she has no place by your side.
Her words pushed him to the edge, where every choice was a losing one. If he left Eleanor, he faced a brutal division of assets, endless court battles, and a major blow to his career. If he stayed, Amber would never back down; her demands would only grow louder and more insistent.
Mark would sit in his living room at night, staring out at the city lights, running through the scenarios. Maybe he could pay Amber off, set her up in a separate apartment, provide for her, but not tie his life to hers? Or should he try to hide everything, hoping time would smooth over the sharp edges? But he knew Amber wasn’t the type to wait. She wanted it all, right now—recognition, status, money, and a place by his side. Her youth and her pregnancy were weapons she wielded without hesitation.
In those moments, Mark realized that for the first time in his life, he was afraid of a woman. Not because she could physically harm him, but because her words and actions were dismantling everything he had spent years building. She was unpredictable, and in his world, unpredictability was fatal. After so many years with Eleanor, he couldn’t have imagined that a woman could be a walking problem, a perpetual source of drama, and an endless drain on his finances.
He kept returning to one thought: how to protect his assets and his reputation. Everything else—feelings, promises, even his own comfort—faded into the background. He knew Eleanor was too smart to keep her eyes closed forever. David was too observant not to notice his partner’s weakness. And Amber was too determined to stop. The noose was tightening with each passing day, and Mark felt the space around him shrinking. Every phone call, every unexpected visitor, every glance in the office became a test of his resolve. He felt like an actor on a stage where the curtains were already on fire, but the audience hadn’t yet realized the set was about to collapse.
Mark understood with growing clarity that he was facing more than just a difficult choice. He was facing a trial where a mistake would cost him more than money. It would cost him his name, his respect, his very identity. And worst of all, he knew he was no longer in control of the game. Amber had seized the initiative, and her every smile was a warning. She was capable of making the one move he feared most.
With a sudden bitterness, Mark thought of Eleanor. She had always been so sensible and level-headed. Even during her pregnancy, she hadn’t demanded exotic foods or thrown tantrums over things like king crab. When their daughter was sick, Eleanor remained steady, without tears or blame, handling everything with a clear head and practical solutions. She had a knack for staying calm when anyone else would have broken down, a quality that had been his quiet, reliable anchor. Amber was her complete opposite. She wasn’t just manipulative, hiding behind her vulnerability; she seemed to have an innate talent for turning any event into a stage for her own drama. The slightest issue became a grand performance where the roles were pre-cast: she was the victim, he was the villain, and the world was obligated to sympathize and meet her demands. Her actions were driven not just by cunning, but by a thirst for power through weakness, as if proving she could control his life with a single whim was more important than getting what she wanted.
The day of David’s anniversary party was approaching. The air was thick with anticipation for the event, which would bring together a host of guests, partners, and acquaintances. For Mark, it was an ordeal; he was terrified Amber might show up and cause a scene. He fidgeted, changing his tie multiple times, and double-checking the evening’s schedule. Eleanor, however, prepared differently. Her preparation was internal. She practiced her gaze, her smile, her walk, as if reminding herself of the power she could wield if she fully believed in herself.
Two weeks before the party, Eleanor went to a wellness retreat. She spent her days with mineral water treatments, massages, and skincare routines. She would return to her room feeling a pleasant exhaustion and study her reflection. Her skin tone evened out, her eyes shone, and her lips looked full again. When she came home, Mark stopped in the doorway, trying to pinpoint what had changed.
— You look… different. Really good, — he mumbled.
Eleanor just smiled and said:
— Mountain air and mineral water. It’s good to get a change of scenery sometimes.
Mark didn’t reply. His eyes swept over her figure, and then he looked away, as if afraid to admit the obvious.
On the day of the party, Eleanor dressed with impeccable taste. Her makeup highlighted her eyes, and her hair, styled in soft waves, gave her an effortless grace. When she entered the room, Mark was stunned. Before him stood a woman he felt he barely knew. No one could call her old, as David had dared to suggest. She looked fresh, dignified, and possessed an inner radiance that drew every eye.
At the party, David, greeting them at the entrance, didn’t recognize Eleanor at first. He shook Mark’s hand, glanced at his companion, and froze. When he realized who it was, his expression changed. His usual ironic smirk vanished, replaced by genuine astonishment.
— Eleanor, you look absolutely incredible tonight, — he said, searching for the right words.
She smiled faintly and replied:
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