Karen's eyes fluttered open as a wave of exhaustion washed over her. A dull ache pulsed through her abdomen, sharp enough to make her wince. Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach, fingers resting protectively over the life growing inside her.
"Mama, is it a baby brother or a baby sister", Jasmine asked curiously
"Well, we don't know yet, cause it's a surprise, Jassy", Lisa, their family doctor said as she rubbed Jassy's head with a smile.
"Karen, you have to be careful cause this pregnancy is going to be a tough one"
"I know but ...."
"Karen, it's your first child with him, we have to be extremely careful", Lisa said quietly as she had Karen's hands.
"Mm, okay, I will try"
"No Karen this is not about trying, we have to be really careful"
The relocation to the capital city, the endless pressure of managing the Clifford Empire, and the weight of responsibilities that never seemed to end. Her body had finally forced her to slow down.
Beside the bed, Lancaster stood with a calm expression, his voice low and reassuring. "It's just a minor setback, darling," he said gently. "The doctor says you just need rest for a few weeks."
Karen studied his face, searching for any hint of what he was really thinking. But Lancaster's eyes, those piercing blue eyes, revealed nothing. She forced a weak smile. "I'm fine, Lancaster. Just a little tired."
But the truth was different. She wasn't just tired. She was drained.
Days passed, and Karen's condition refused to improve. The doctors insisted she step away from work completely. Which meant only one thing. For the first time since founding the Clifford Empire, Karen was forced to hand over control.
Lancaster was appointed Acting CEO. Karen became what the board politely called a background shareholder.
The words sounded harmless. But Karen, knew they were nothing, but chains hidden beneath.
From her bedroom window, she could see the mansion's garden, but inside the house, the atmosphere had changed. Lancaster was always busy now. Phone calls. Meetings. His confident voice echoed through the halls daily as he discussed company matters with executives and board members.
And recently… someone else.
One afternoon, Karen heard a knock on the door. The housekeeper, Mrs. Jenkins, stood outside respectfully. "Mr. Lancaster's secretary is here to see him, ma'am. Should I let her in?"
Karen raised an eyebrow. "Secretary?"
"Yes, ma'am. Miss Cassidy Brown."
The name made something stir in Karen's memory. Cassidy Brown. A woman Lancaster once knew. An ex-girlfriend, if rumors were to be believed.
Karen nodded slowly. "Let her in."
A few moments later, the door opened. The woman who stepped inside looked like trouble wrapped in elegance. Cassidy Brown was stunning. Raven-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her piercing green eyes carried a quiet confidence that bordered on arrogance.
She smiled politely. "Mrs. Gale," she greeted smoothly. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Karen observed her carefully, her instincts screaming at her to be cautious. This woman was not here by coincidence.
"Mm, I heard you're Cassidy Brown, Lancaster's new secretary," Karen said calmly, trying to keep her emotions in check.
Cassidy's smile widened slightly. "Yes. Mr. Gale personally requested me."
Something about the way she said it made Karen's stomach tighten. She knew Lancaster's type, knew how he worked. This woman was trouble, and Karen would have to keep a close eye on her.
As Cassidy turned to leave, Karen's voice stopped her. "Miss Cassidy, I hope you do a nice job, being my husband's secretary. cause from what I've known none of his female secretaries last more than a month the least."
Cassidy's smile never wiped, but her eyes flashed with glint. "No need to worry yourself, Mrs. Gale, I know the description of my job perfectly well."
Karen's mind was racing, her thoughts a jumble of emotions. She knew she had to be careful, had to protect herself and her marriage, for her kids. But as she looked at Cassidy, she couldn't shake the feeling that this woman was the catalyst for something much bigger, something that would shatter the fragile balance of her world.
Days passed. Cassidy became a frequent visitor. Too frequent. Karen began hearing laughter in the halls. Conversations that stopped the moment she appeared. Small things. But small things often carried the loudest warnings.
Then one afternoon, Karen decided to leave her room. The house felt strangely quiet that day. Too quiet.
Slowly, she walked down the hallway, one hand resting against the wall for balance. Then she heard it. A woman's laughter. Soft. Intimate. Coming from Lancaster's study.
Karen froze. Her heart began to pound. Step by step, she approached the half-open door. And then she saw them.
Lancaster. And Cassidy. Entangled together on the leather couch like lovers who had forgotten she existed. Lancaster's hand rested possessively on Cassidy's waist. Cassidy's fingers tangled in his hair.
"Lan, when are we bring Irish back? she misses you a lot",
"Later, let's settle ourselves first, hmm"
"Lan, ah, slow down...., ah, stop biting...., its coming ah, mm"
Karen's world did not shatter. It froze. The room fell silent except for the slow ticking of the antique clock.
The door creaked slightly. Both heads turned. Lancaster's face instantly paled. However, Cassidy simply smiled, as she lifted her chin, with pride sparkling in her eyes
"Well," Cassidy said casually while adjusting her dress, "looks like the queen finally left her tower."
Karen's voice was terrifyingly calm. "Get off my husband."
Lancaster stood quickly. "Karen, listen—"
"Don't." The word sliced through the room. Karen's gaze shifted to Cassidy, then back to Lancaster sharp and cold. "You're sleeping your mistress," Karen said quietly. "Inside my house, under my watch"
Cassidy folded her arms. "And?"
Karen's lips curved slightly." I don't know if I should call it stupidity or lack of common sense, but I can destroy you and this bitch of yours, and probably air this dirty laundry to the media, what do you think Lancaster?"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Lancaster tried again. "Karen, you're overreacting."
Karen laughed softly. Broken. "Overreacting?" she repeated. "You cheated on your pregnant wife with your secretary, on her matrimonial bed and not only that, but you also raised your bastard with my money, and I turned a blind eye to it, if that wasn't enough you want to bring her back to my house?"
Her eyes shifted to Cassidy. "You have three days to disappear from my company."
Cassidy leaned closer to Lancaster, mock sweetness dripping from her voice. "Or what?"
Karen's answer was ice. "Or I expose everything and you know what happens next?, Boom!, the company goes and your dirty rag of a daughter gets talked about."
For the first time, Cassidy's smile faltered. Karen stepped back toward the door. "And Cassidy," she added quietly, "I don't share."
Her gaze shifted to Lancaster one last time. "And I certainly don't forgive betrayal."
She slammed the door behind her. Back in her room, Karen collapsed onto the bed. Tears streamed silently down her face. But deep inside, beneath the pain and heartbreak, something else was beginning to awaken. Something dangerous.
Because this wasn't just betrayal. This was war. And Karen Gale never lost wars.
That night, Lancaster came to their bedroom, trying to explain, to apologize. But Karen wasn't listening. She lay in bed, her back turned to him, her eyes dry and burning.
"Karen, please," Lancaster said, his voice low and pleading. "I'm sorry. It meant nothing."
Karen's laughter was soft, broken. "It meant nothing?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "You were inside her. In my house. On my bed."
Lancaster frowned. "That's not fair, Karen. You've been distant for months."
Karen turned to face him, her eyes flashing with anger. "Distant?" she repeated. "You've been the one who's been distant, Lancaster. You've been pushing me away for years."
Lancaster sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Karen, I—"
"No," Karen said, her voice cold. "Just leave. Get out of my sight."
Lancaster hesitated, then turned and walked out of the room, leaving Karen to her tears and her anger.