THE SERVANT HUSBAND IS THE QUADRILLIONAIRE HEIR

Chapter 7

Sarah's eyes widened in shock, as if I'd just slapped her instead of asking for what I thought she wanted.

"Are you out of your mind?" she snapped. 

"Is this because you saw me arrive with Derek? God, Michael, you're acting like a jealous child!"

"I'm not being childish, Sarah. I'm being realistic."

"Realistic?" Her voice rose, drawing glances from nearby guests. 

"I already have enough stress in my life without you throwing tantrums over nothing!"

I kept my voice calm and steady.

 "This isn't what you want? To be with Derek without feeling guilty about it? I'm giving you that freedom, Sarah. I won't stand in your way anymore."

Her face flushed bright red, a mixture of anger and something else I couldn't quite identify. 

Without warning, her hand flew across my cheek in a sharp slap that echoed off the hotel's marble entrance.

But instead of the angry words I expected, she said nothing.

 Her lips trembled, and for a moment, I saw something vulnerable in her eyes—something that looked almost like hurt.

I stared at her, completely confused. 

"Sarah, I don't understand. I'm letting you go. Isn't this what you want?"

She opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it again.

Her hands were shaking slightly, and she seemed to be struggling with some internal battle.

"We'll talk about this after the banquet," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

 "I can't... not right now."

Without another word, she turned and walked straight into the hotel, her heels clicking against the marble floor with sharp, angry steps.

I stood there watching her go, more confused than ever.

 Her reaction made no sense. 

If she really was having an affair with Derek, if she really wanted out of our marriage, why had she looked so... hurt?

My phone buzzed, and I saw Victoria's name on the screen.

"I have the results of your investigation," she said without preamble.

My heart sank. "And?"

"Your wife was indeed at the Royal Plaza Hotel when you called earlier."

I closed my eyes, feeling the last of my hope crumble. "So it's true."

"Not quite. She entered the hotel room with Derek Manning, but she was only inside for less than three minutes before storming out."

"Three minutes?" I frowned. "That doesn't make sense."

"The reason your calls weren't getting through wasn't because she was... occupied. Her phone had been set to forward all incoming calls to Derek's device. He was intercepting your calls."

Relief and confusion warred in my chest.

 "But why was she there at all?"

"That's where the investigation gets interesting, Michael. I've uncovered something that might surprise you." 

Victoria's voice took on a more serious tone.

 "For the past two years, your wife has been secretly paying a significant portion of your foster mother's medical bills."

I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach. "What?"

"Dr. Peterson was extorting money from both of you. While you were working multiple jobs to pay his bribes, she was transferring money from her personal account to cover the actual medical expenses. The greedy doctor just kept demanding more from both sides."

My legs suddenly felt weak. "How much?"

"Over the past two years? Nearly four hundred thousand dollars."

The number hit me like a freight train. 

Sarah had been quietly paying for Mom's care while I'd been struggling and scraping together every penny I could find.

"This time was different," Victoria continued. 

"She needed money for your mother's emergency surgery, but she'd already used company funds earlier this month to cover a previous payment. She was caught by the company auditors and now faces millions in penalties and potential criminal charges."

"Oh God," I whispered.

"She tried everything to raise the money legally—banks, private lenders, even considered selling her car. But with the company investigation hanging over her, no one would approve a loan. Derek Manning was her last resort."

I sank against the hotel's marble pillar, my mind reeling.

 "She went to him for money... for my mother."

"According to hotel security footage, she went to his room to ask for a loan. He demanded... conditions... in exchange for the money. She refused and left immediately. That's when he took her phone and decided to torment you with those calls."

Guilt crashed over me like a tidal wave. 

All this time, Sarah had been sacrificing everything to help me, and I'd accused her of betrayal.

 She'd been fighting alone, carrying burdens I never even knew existed, while I'd been so wrapped up in my own struggles that I'd missed her silent devotion entirely.

"Michael? Are you still there?"

"I'm here," I managed to say. "Victoria, I need you to do something for me right now."

"Of course."

"Book the entire seventh floor of this hotel. Tonight is our wedding anniversary, and I've been the worst husband in the world." My voice grew stronger with determination.

 "I'm going to throw Sarah the grandest party she's ever seen and spend the rest of my life making up for how wrong I've been."

"Consider it done. I'll have everything arranged within the hour."

I hung up and looked toward the hotel entrance where Sarah had disappeared.

 Three years of marriage, and I'd never truly seen her—the real her, the woman who'd been silently carrying my burdens while I'd been too blind to notice.

Tonight, that was going to change.