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I'd never seen someone gaslight so brazenly. I couldn't even be bothered to expose his self-delusion.
If he were truly as innocent as he claimed, why the sudden flood of extravagant gifts every time he came home late after a supposed "business dinner"?
Not to mention the faint lipstick mark still visible on his collar.
Did he really think I was that stupid? It was sickening.
But, deciding to enjoy the show, I didn't let my mother-in-law's people take Chloe. Instead, I insisted she stay in the room next to mine, even saying she could stay as long as she liked.
Alexander was overjoyed. His hostile glare vanished, replaced by delighted surprise, as if saying, 'See, darling? I knew you were the most understanding woman alive.'
Ugh. I almost threw up.
Done with them, ignoring Chloe's venomous glare, I went straight to the office.
I knew what Chloe wanted. She wanted me gone, to take my place as Mrs. Cunningham. But I wouldn't.
Even if I didn't love Alexander anymore, I wouldn't divorce him.
Not because I feared being left with nothing, but because Ihadn't done anything wrong. Divorcing would only reward them, letting them escape consequences.
My role wasn't to flee, but to face this head-on. Secure my position while watching them tear each other apart.
A year passed quickly.
That year, I watched Alexander revolve around Chloe.
Chloe refused to eat? Alexander chased after her like a doting father, spoon-feeding her. Chloe felt stifled at home? He squeezed out weekends to whisk her off on international trips. Chloe wanted jewelry? Alexander bought out an entire jeweler's row for her...
At first, Alexander resisted sleeping apart. He'd still climb over the balcony every night to soothe me.
But every night, Chloe, afraid to sleep alone, would summon him away.
The first month, Alexander would leave with an apologetic look, promising he'd be right back.
By the second month, it was routine.
I had the balcony access sealed. He didn't protest, just set up a cot in Chloe's room the next day.
Anyone with eyes could see the problem.
When I accompanied the Dowager Duchess to events, people would even ask me outright, in hushed tones, about "the little homewrecker" we had living with us.
Complimenting my 'magnanimity' for not kicking her out.
I just smiled, bearing their curious stares, defending Alexander and Chloe: "Please don't say that. My husband and she are just close friends. Nothing improper happened."
Alexander's friends privately gave him thumbs-up, saying he'd 'trained' me perfectly.
More tolerant than an old-fashioned first wife; a picture of domestic harmony.
Alexander's face would turn a spectacular shade of purple whenever that happened.
Because in hismind, he truly saw Chloe only as a sister. He had no ulterior motives. But no one believed him.
He finally tasted the humiliation I'd felt when forced to be 'gracious'.
He started deliberately neglecting Chloe, overcompensating with me.
At every event requiring a couple's presence, he glued himself to my side, playing the perfect husband.
Every gift he gave Chloe, he duplicated for me, twice over.
When Chloe couldn't reach him, threatening suicide, he ignored it, focused solely on me, asking if I wanted him to draw me a bath.
I observed all these changes coldly.
One day, he finally cracked. He approached me hesitantly: "Maybe... maybe it's time Chloe moved out?"
I looked at him, eyebrow raised. He feigned nonchalance: "Chloe's condition ismore stable now... and the rumors are getting nasty... I worry about her reputation... She'll need to marry someday..."
I couldn't hold back a laugh.
Alexander instantly flushed with anger, puffing out his chest: "Stop laughing! Don't you believe me yet? I swear, Chloe is onlya sister to me! Nothing ever happened! I swear on my life!"
He proclaimed it with such righteousness, as if proving his moral superiority.
I cut through it mercilessly: "Alexander, save it. You know perfectly well how unhealthy your relationship with Chloe is."
"Even if you never technically crossed the line, it wasn't because you didn't want to, but because you didn't dare!"
