The Husband They Threw Away Runs This Town Now

CHAPTER 2 — The Marriage Life

Warning: Mentioned Abortion, minor violence

Martin Clarke was Dominique’s oldest friend; they went back years in Manhattan's elite circles.

Erick was still holding on tight, trying not to lose his cool. "I'm here with my wife," he said.

“Your wife?” Martin repeated mockingly. He stood and leaned close enough that only Erick could hear him. "Back when we were dating... I remember everything about Dominique. Every single detail."

Erick shoved his hands into his pockets. Martin Clarke leaned in closer, his voice still low. "Dominique used to hate places like this," he said, glancing around the boutique. " Then she preferred dive bars and cheap diners. Funny how people change," he said.

Erick did not remember deciding to swing at Martin Clarke. One second Martin Clarke was talking, and the next, he was on the floor holding his face. Blood poured from his nose. The velvet box flew open. A blue sapphire necklace skittered across the ground.

"YOU PSYCHO!" Martin Clarke screamed, clutching his face. Blood smeared his designer sleeves. "YOU'RE INSANE!"

The boutique security came running. Before they could grab Erick, the dressing room door flew open. Dominique stood there half in her gown, her face pale. Her eyes darted between Martin Clarke, who was bleeding on the floor, and Erick's clenched fist.

"Erick, what the...?" Martin Clarke instantly switched gears. He struggled up holding his nose dramatically. "He attacked me! I was just. He...!"

"He's lying," Erick said flatly. "He said he... "

"ENOUGH!" Dominique grabbed Erick's arm, her nails digging in. She dragged him outside. On the sidewalk she shoved him away like he was contagious.

"You humiliated me, " Dominique snapped. "In front of everyone. You're ruining everything, Erick."

Erick stared at her. "He talked about you like you belonged to him, Dominique," he said.

Dominique let out a laugh. "So what? Maybe I should've stayed with him instead," she said. "I already ruined my life once for the sake of this pathetic marriage with you.

Erick frowned. "What does that mean, Dominique?" he asked.

Dominique crossed her arms tightly. "I wasn't ready, Erick."

"Ready for what, Dominique?" He narrowed his eyes at his wife.

She gritted her teeth. "Can we not do this now? I still have to finish my dress, Erick."

Erick felt something cold settle in his stomach. Dominique finally looked away. "I took care of it, Erick."

Traffic continued behind them. Erick did not move. "You were pregnant, Dominique?" he asked.

She said nothing. 

Erick could not move. "I handled it," she hissed.

Erick stared at her. "Handled it?" he repeated.

Her voice hardened. "I wasn't bringing a child into that family into that life, Erick," she said.

Then she walked back inside without another glance. Erick thought he could have been a father. 

His fingers found the burner phone hidden inside his jacket. It buzzed.

Arias message lit up the screen:

[Boss. Problem. Helix flagged access—core system. Origin: inside the Laurent estate. That camera? No surveillance. Backdoor. Some brute-forcing your network.]

Erick’s eyes narrowed. Michel.

***

The Laurent estate was quiet when he returned that afternoon. He entered through the service door like he always did.

In the kitchen, Mrs. Hollis gave him a look and said nothing. Thirty years in this house had taught her that silence was often safer, around the Laurents.

Erick went to his storage room. A hidden panel clicked open under his touch. He placed the Arias frequency jammer beneath Michel's camera.

He stepped out quietly, closing the door behind him. He was heading toward the kitchen to make tea when he heard familiar footsteps. Mrs. Hollis.

Erick paused in the shadows of the hallway. He stayed still, listening.

A moment later, Mrs. Hollis rounded the corner carrying a tray. "Earl Grey, Mr. Erick?" she asked, pouring steaming tea into a chipped cup. "You look like you need it, Mr. Erick."

He took the cup. When the heat seared his palms, he realized his fingers had gone numb.

"I've watched this family for thirty years," she murmured, setting down a plate of cookies. "They don't know what they're dealing with, the Laurents," she said.

Erick drank. "Most people don't Mrs. Hollis," he said.

A loud laugh cut through the quiet. Michel. Erick raised a finger to his lips. Mrs. Hollis vanished into the shadows.

"… so funny!" Michels voice boomed from his phone speaker as he neared the pantry. "I rigged the feed outside the losers room. Hoped to catch him doing something but nada. Guy just sleeps like a corpse."

"Get off that camera, Michel. "Dominique's voice was sharp.

"Oh, relax…."

"You stole two hundred million from Dad's festival project," she snapped. "He doesn't know yet. If I were you, I'd start worrying, Michel."

"You lecturing me? Don't think I don't know about your secrets, Dominique…."

"That's my business, idiot " Dominique snapped.

The front door slammed.

Mrs. Hollis exhaled shakily.

Erick gazed at his tea leaves.

He set the cup down. "Thanks for the tea, Mrs. Hollis. Got homework to finish Ericks old homework," he said, faking a smile, and left.

Inside the storage room, his smile vanished. A hidden screen glowed behind a panel. Encrypted data streamed across it.

Erick had built GD Tech long before the Laurents ever learned his name.

He scanned the acquisition reports, expecting numbers. Then he stopped cold.

Laurent Corporation.

Partnership Status: ACTIVE.

Victor Hale Industries.

Ericks jaw tightened. Victor, of all people, should have known better.

Five years ago, Erick had trusted Victor with everything at GD Tech.

Trusting Victor Hale had been the biggest mistake of his life.

Victor Hale. Of all the people in the world, his childhood friend and second-in-command should have known better. Traitor.

His phone buzzed.

Aria texted: [Board meeting tomorrow. No-show = Victor controls the story.]

Erick leaned back in his chair.

For the first time that day, Erick smiled for real.