The first thing she noticed was the money.<\/p>\n
An open black leather briefcase sat on the dark marble coffee table, packed with neat stacks of hundred-dollar bills. There were so many that she could barely see the bottom of the case.<\/p>\n
Eighty million dollars.<\/p>\n
Her husband\u2019s mother had placed it there without blinking.<\/p>\n
\u201cTake it,\u201d the older woman said coldly. \u201cWalk away from my son, and you will never have to worry about money again.\u201d<\/p>\n
The young wife sat frozen on the cream-colored sofa, tears sliding silently down her cheeks.<\/p>\n
Across from her sat her husband\u2019s secretary.<\/p>\n
She was young, elegant, and strangely calm.<\/p>\n
Two identical newborn babies slept peacefully in her arms, both dressed in white onesies.<\/p>\n
Twins.<\/p>\n
Her husband had always told her the secretary was nothing more than an employee.<\/p>\n
But now, the entire situation looked different.<\/p>\n
The older woman slowly opened a small black jewelry box.<\/p>\n
Inside was a diamond necklace worth more than most houses.<\/p>\n
\u201cTake the money. Take the jewelry. Take whatever you want,\u201d she said. \u201cBut leave the marriage.\u201d<\/p>\n
The young wife stared at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
The older woman\u2019s expression did not change.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause my family cannot survive another scandal.\u201d<\/p>\n
That answer only made the young wife more confused.<\/p>\n
She looked toward her husband.<\/p>\n
He stood behind the sofa in a dark navy suit, his face pale, his hand covering his mouth.<\/p>\n
He wasn\u2019t looking at his mother.<\/p>\n
He wasn\u2019t looking at the secretary.<\/p>\n
He was staring at the babies.<\/p>\n
For nearly ten years, the young wife had believed she understood her marriage.<\/p>\n
She and her husband had built a beautiful life together in the city. They had four children\u2014two boys and two girls\u2014and lived in the kind of penthouse most people only saw in magazines.<\/p>\n
Their marriage wasn\u2019t perfect.<\/p>\n
But she had always believed it was real.<\/p>\n
Then, three weeks earlier, everything changed.<\/p>\n
Her husband came home late one night.<\/p>\n
He barely spoke.<\/p>\n
When she asked what was wrong, he simply said there had been an unexpected development at work.<\/p>\n