Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 118

Chapter 118: Offering A Juicy Opportunity

Nene dialled Olivia’s number and put the call on speaker before it was connected. When Olivia’s voice came through the line, it was desperate and urgent.

“Finally! I’ve been waiting for you to call back. Has Mrs. Scott finished her yoga session yet?” Olivia asked, barely concealing her frustration.

Nene, maintaining her professional demeanour, replied smoothly, “I’ll pass the phone to Mrs. Scott now.” She ignored her questions and directly passed the phone to Aurora.

Taking the phone, Aurora’s composed voice floated through the line. “Good evening, Mrs. Owen,” she greeted, her tone gentle but deliberate, a subtle jab at Olivia’s position.

On the other end, Olivia straightened up, clutching the phone tightly. “Good evening, Mrs. Scott. It’s Olivia Swift. I apologize for disturbing you at this late hour.”

“It’s fine. Please go ahead,” Aurora said, her tone polite yet clipped, making it clear she didn’t intend to entertain idle chatter.

Olivia wasted no time. “Today, I came across something I thought you might want to know,” she began, pausing dramatically to build tension before continuing. “It’s about your husband and my sister.”

Aurora raised a brow, her tone tinged with feigned curiosity. “My husband and your sister? What exactly are you referring to?”

Smirking to herself, Olivia could barely contain her triumph. No woman would be able to resist hearing about her husband, especially when he is involved with another woman likely to threaten their marriage.

“Do you remember me mentioning that your husband has been the grand sponsor of my sister’s champagne? Well, earlier today, Aurora was appointed COO of our family wine company, all thanks to his support. I doubt you’re aware, given how busy you are with your travels.”

“Is that so?” Aurora’s voice held a trace of venom, hinting at her annoyance over the development to Olivia.

“Yes. Mr. Scott single-handedly invited dignitaries to my sister’s champagne launch, which is why her champagne is thriving now,” Olivia continued. “He even went to Vintage Cellar today to congratulate her personally, bringing her a bouquet. They greeted each other a little warmly before leaving together.”

Pausing for effect, Olivia added, “I’ve just sent you some photos I took earlier as proof. Please check your phone.”

“Mrs. Owen, if I may ask, why did you choose to throw your sister under the bus? Isn’t Aurora your sister?” Aurora probed.

“Aurora is my sister,” Olivia confirmed. “But I can no longer condone her ugly attitude of trying to snatch another woman’s husband. I don’t know if you have heard of this, Aurora used to date my husband but he broke up with her because of this side of hers. And she’s also the reason Owen and I are having misunderstandings currently.”

Aurora rolled her eyes and handed the phone to Nene, who quickly navigated to the gallery and found the images Olivia had forwarded. Passing the phone back to Aurora, Nene whispered, “Here they are, ma’am.”

Aurora’s eyes scanned the photos, her expression unreadable save for the slight upward twitch of her lips. She immediately recognized Xander’s grand gestures for what they were—a calculated performance. He must have noticed Olivia snapping pictures and deliberately played along.

It was no wonder he sounded mysterious after he asked for the date the COO position would be announced. It turned out that this was his plan.

“This woman has a lot of nerve,” Aurora murmured, loud enough for Olivia to hear.

Olivia, mistaking Aurora’s tone for anger directed at her husband, smiled triumphantly. She believed her plan to stir trouble had worked.

Aurora, however, quickly dashed her hopes. “Mrs. Owen, thank you for the photos, but I don’t believe in open confrontations. I won’t deal with your sister directly.”

The disappointment in Olivia’s voice was palpable. “Are you saying you will let her continue pursuing your husband? Why would you let this go?”

Aurora’s tone shifted, firm and tinged with offense. “Who said I’m letting it go? I don’t tolerate women overstepping their boundaries with my husband. Never!”

Olivia’s smirk returned. ‘That’s more like it,’ she thought to herself. Aloud, she asked, “So, how do you plan to handle this?”

Aurora’s voice softened, a sly edge creeping in. “You, Mrs. Owen. You’ll help me.”

“Me?” Olivia echoed, genuinely taken aback. “How can I help?”

Aurora smirked, exchanging a knowing glance with Nene before replying, “I need you to get me something on your sister—a worthy private detail I can use as leverage. Once you have it, we will discuss it over dinner at my house. As friends.”

The enticing offer left Olivia speechless. Being invited to Mrs. Scott’s grand home and gaining access to her connections was a dream come true. Olivia’s ambitions quickly overrode any other thoughts.

“Goodnight, Mrs. Owen,” Aurora said before hanging up, not giving Olivia the chance to respond further.

Handing the phone back to Nene, Aurora leaned back with a satisfied smile.

“Ma’am, there’s no way she will refuse this offer,” Nene said, admiration in her tone. “Becoming friends with Mrs. Scott is too tempting to resist.”

Aurora nodded knowingly. “I bet she would need some time to weigh my offer. And if she wants to be smart, she won’t involve her mother on this one.”

Nene chuckled, then asked curiously, “Why did you keep calling her ‘Mrs. Owen’?”

Aurora’s smile deepened. “Her relationship with Owen is already beyond repair. My deliberate act of addressing her constantly as ‘Mrs. Owen’ was to remind her of it.”

—

~OCTAVIA EMPIRE~

In the royal palace of Octavia, the Princess sat in her opulent study, her sharp features illuminated by the warm glow of a nearby lamp. Her secretary entered, bowing deeply before presenting her with a tablet.

“Your Highness, this is the picture you requested.”

The Princess took the tablet, her keen eyes scanning the screen. The photo showed Aurora, poised and elegant in a female business suit.

“So, this is what that woman looks like,” the Princess mused, her voice dripping with contempt.

“Yes, Your Highness,” the secretary replied.

“What about his wife? Any images from the masquerade ball?”

“My apologies, Your Highness. The ball was private, and no photographs were released.”

The Princess’s gaze lingered on the image, her thoughts racing. “The Alexander I know would never cheat on his partner,” she murmured. Then, her lips curved into a determined smile. “It seems it’s time for a diplomatic visit to Wing City.”