Betrayed By My Wife Reclaiming My Crown After Her Dirty Lies

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My wife and I both cheated. She was guilty, and so was I.

But the difference was, she acted with malice; I was merely the victim.

On the very night her affair with her boy-toy was exposed, she drugged me, stripped me naked, and delivered me to a stranger's beda complete setup designed purely to manufacture my infidelity. The camera flashes, the forced, humiliating positions... all captured for evidence.

Our manufactured cheating scandal and her real one were leaked to the public simultaneously. It was a calculated move to deflect the heat from her lover and spread the blame.

A crushing, suffocating wave of nausea hit me, making me gag violently. I was covered in red marks, bruisesphysical evidence of a violation I couldn't remember. I didn't know how many people had touched me, or what they had done.

Seeing the horror on my face, and the way I scrubbed my skin raw in the shower, Geneva Pierce offered a flat, pathetic explanation.

I didn't have a choice, Griffith. Andrews family is very strict. He couldnt handle being called a home-wrecker. He would be ruined.

The internet was a torrent of condemnation. The scandal, the betrayalit all triggered a heart attack in the only family I had left, Grandpa Arthur, who was rushed into emergency surgery.

To protect myself, I had to protect her lie.

As she wanted, I stood under the media spotlight and offered a calm, rehearsed clarification.

There was no infidelity. Geneva and I separated months ago.

...

Seeing me fall in line, Geneva's tension eased. She stood in the shadow of the doorway, having already whisked her lover away to safety.

She gave me a hollow promise. This is the only time. I promise. This situation with Andrew was sudden, I just...

I looked at her, my jaw tight with white-hot fury. Tell me where these marks came from.

A hard knot of bile and anger choked me. I felt so unbelievably dirty. Pinch marks, yes, but otherslike violent kisses. It felt like a freezing, utterly dehumanizing sexual encounter. By whom, I didnt know.

Raised with every privilege and shielded from real cruelty, I had never experienced this kind of raw, physical indignity.

Geneva froze, taking a long moment to realize what I was asking. She rushed forward, desperate to spin the lie. Don't be afraid, Griffith. I put those marks there myself. No one else touched you. It was just for the photos.

I dug my nails into my palms. If I were your loveryour precious Andrewwould you agree to let me have your name ruined, your body violated, just so I could protect my husband?

She avoided my eyes. I don't know. He... he's different from you.

That was it. Whether I was her lover, her husband, or her crisis managerI was never her priority.

I bit the inside of my lip until I tasted blood, and then I shoved her out of my sight.

Disgusting.

Geneva and I were childhood sweethearts, a perfect match in our corporate world, the golden couple everybody envied. We were happy, once. We even had a few years of what I genuinely thought was a loving marriage.

Then she started cheating.

She never hid it from me privately, though she was always careful to keep up appearances for the public.

Well keep it quiet. It wont affect your standing. No one outside the circle has to look down on you, shed insist.

In our world, love was often secondary to alliance.

I had loved her. I had raged. Id even fantasized about going full alpha CEOblowing up our lives in a spectacular, mutually assured destruction kind of way. But then Id remember my upbringing, my familys name, and my grandfather. I always chose to look the other way.

I never thought my deference would allow them to hurt me this way.

Grandpa Arthur must have been utterly devastated to land in the hospital. Geneva remembered her boy-toy couldn't handle the heat, but she completely forgot that the man who loved her like a granddaughter had a bad heart and couldn't handle that kind of shock.

I quickly regained my focus. Divorce. It wasn't the end of the world.

I found Geneva at the company headquarters. The air was buzzingeveryone was fawning over Andrew.

She led me to her office. When she saw the divorce papers in my hand, she frowned.

You dont have to do this, Griffith. The gossip will blow over quickly.

She and Andrew were now openly affectionate in public, acting like star-crossed lovers whod finally found their way to one another. I heard theyd even visited his family. They were living their happily ever after.

I bit my lip hard. While Grandpa was fighting for his life, Geneva hadnt visited once. I felt a crushing sense of pity for my grandfather, who had adored her.

Whenever we argued, Grandpa would always find an excuse for her, even scolding me.

Griffith, hed say. I know youre strong and logical, but love isnt like that. Girls dont like it when youre always so cold and rational.

He believed that was the key to a harmonious home, not realizing a marriage fails when only one party is still fighting for it.

Geneva had checked out a long time ago. What was the use of clinging to an empty shell?

I held the pen out to her. Do you think people are stupid? Sign the real papers. Its the only way to silence the doubters and prevent Grandpa from being shocked again when he wakes up.

Andrew chimed in, annoyingly supportive. Griffiths right, Geneva.

Her expression softened slightly. After the dust settles, well remarry. I told you, your position will never change.

I just smiled, a small, cold curve of my mouth. I wouldn't need it.

The only reason I hadnt filed for divorce earlier was the tangled web of our family businesses. Over the past few years, Id been quietly and deliberately untangling those connections.

I had Geneva to thank for that foresight.

A few years back, Geneva, wanting to punish me for her lover, had deliberately leaked critical intelligence that killed an innovative subsidiary I had just launched.

The reason? I had cut off one of my own credit cards, which Andrew happened to be using. He tried to pay for something expensive and was humiliated when the card was declined.

Geneva didn't ask questions; she just acted. She sat in her lounge chair, utterly unbothered.

Griffith Locklear, you used disgusting tactics to embarrass my Andrew. Anyway, its all community property, and those secrets were tied to our joint assets. I can handle them however I want.

My company tanked. A whole year of relentless work, down the drain. The employees were devastated.

I flew into a rage, slamming my fist into the wall. I didnt do that! Are you even human? How am I supposed to face my employees? Do you have any idea the R&D time and effort that went into that project?

She wouldn't listen. She was consumed by her desire to comfort a tearful Andrew. To force me to apologize, she leveraged her cash flow to put pressure on Grandpa Arthurs main corporation.

To protect the old man, I swallowed my pride. I reluctantly went to Andrew and apologized.

Later, Geneva realized her mistake: she had grabbed my card thinking it was her own before giving it to Andrew. I had only paused my own line of credit.

She apologized to me and tried to plan an anniversary dinner.

I didn't realize I grabbed the wrong card. I'll compensate you for the company, but you never explained it clearly to me.

I laughed, the sound hollow. She had never listened to my explanation, choosing instead to believe my guilt.

The anniversary dinner never happened. Andrew had a headache.

From that day forward, I systematically separated every single asset I owned from Geneva.

After we completed the divorce application, Andrew clutched Geneva's hand, petulant. Lets get married, right now, Geneva. You promised.

Geneva, however, was watching my face. Seeing my indifferent expression, her own face soured. I might have imagined it, but she looked subtly annoyed as she was pulled away by her eager lover.

That same day, Grandpa Arthur woke up.

He was desperate for the truth. Did you really cheat on her?

I wiped his face gently. No, Grandpa. We separated long ago. It was never infidelity.

He couldn't comprehend it. How could that be? You were such a perfect couple. Just recently, you promised me a great-grandchild.

He slammed his water glass onto the table. Tell me the truth, Griffith. What happened to you two?

My eyes burned with unshed tears, but I stood by the lie.

Seeing my carefully controlled pain, he seemed to realize something. He sighed heavily. Never seen you look so reserved, boy. Youve grown up. Its no longer your old mans business.

I finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Grandpa was okay, I could manage. He had such high hopes for Geneva. She was the one person in the world he wanted me to be with.

Geneva arrived moments later. She stopped in the doorway, having overheard his last words. Afraid she would agitate him, I quickly pulled her into the adjoining room.

She looked down. You know, you could have told him the truth. You don't have to protect my reputation. Then he wouldnt put pressure on you. Griffith, we are the best partners, but the love is gone. Your grandfather is right: you're too rational.

I nodded at the second half. For the first half, I gave her a cold smile. I wasnt lying for her; I was lying so Grandpa wouldnt be angry and wouldnt feel guilty for having pushed us together.

Keeping him stable was all that mattered.

As for her? She meant nothing.

Just as we were talking, Andrews shriek echoed from Grandpas room.

Grandpa! I was just being kind and coming to visit!

It was followed by Grandpa Arthurs violent coughing.

Who allowed you in here Get out!

My heart shot into my throat. I rushed back in. Grandpa had fallen out of bed, coughing violently, and pointing a shaky finger at Andrew.

Get out! Youre lying!

Andrew was cowering in Genevas arms, holding his face.

Grandpa was now coughing up blood. He pointed at Geneva and Andrew, his eyes wide with rage, before finally losing consciousness.

Terrified, I yelled for the nurse and he was rushed back to the ER.

Outside the doors, Geneva immediately started a fight.

How could Grandpa strike someone? Look what he did to Andrew! No matter how angry he is, he cant do that, especially when Andrew was only being kind!

Her grating, senseless noise made my head pound. Enough! Ill find out the truth. Don't think Ill let whatever he did go unpunished. I glared at Andrew, wanting to tear him apart.

Geneva blocked my view. Griffith Locklear, Grandpa is completely in the wrong here She rattled on, blaming my grandfather and ignoring the possibility of the truth, stopping only when a doctor opened the door.

Family members?

I stepped forward. When I heard the doctors words, the disease notification slipped from my numb fingers. The last of my fragile control shattered.

I lunged at Andrew. What did you say to my grandfather?!

Geneva held me back with all her strength. Griffith! Dont put this on Andrew! He just came to visit. Hes incapable of doing anything to cause this!

My eyes were bloodshot. Geneva flinched.

I realized then that my heart was utterly dead to her. The sensitive, emotional person they killed was the one they now accused of being too rational.

I glared at them, cold fury radiating off me. You wait. I would get the truth and justice for Grandpa.

There was a camera in the room, but Andrew, with his calculated mind, had positioned himself to block the view. All the recording showed was his back, his mouth moving, followed by Grandpas extreme anger and blood.

Andrew immediately played the victim. I just told him to take care of himself! The old man suddenly hit me! Im the victim here!

It was a flimsy, pathetic lie. Grandpa never behaved like that. Andrew must have spewed some filth.

I grabbed him, shaking him hard. What did you say?! Who the hell allowed you to visit my grandfather? Youre nothing!

He feigned hurt, but his eyes held clear defiance. My grandfather was my only family, and my rage could no longer be contained. I hauled back and slapped him across the face.

Andrew hadnt expected the physical violence. He screamed. We grappled in a corner of the hospital hallway. He was no match for me; his lip was bleeding instantly. A crowd began to gather.

Geneva finally managed to wrench my arm away. In a blind flash of fury, she slapped me.

Look at you! What are you doing? You look like a maniac!

Tears finally breached my control. I had maintained the image of the perfect young executive for my entire life, and I hated looking like a screaming fool, but this was my grandfather! I couldnt be rational.

Geneva, seeing me broken for the first time, attempted to play the magnanimous peacemaker. Lets just end this now. No more fighting.

I stared at her, my voice sharp and disbelieving. Geneva Pierce, dont you forget that my grandfather saved your life once.

Andrew, breathing heavily, wasn't satisfied either. He beat me up! Why should he get away with it?

Geneva pulled out a black card and gave it to him as compensation. She finally looked at me, a flicker of genuine shame in her eyes.

Andrews sudden visit was wrong, but he had no bad intentions. And you still beat him. I will make amends for Grandpa, but I will not allow you to interrogate Andrew like this. You have no proof he did anything wrong.

I stumbled backward, the sting on my face burning.

Geneva Pierce, the biggest regret of my life is meeting you.

I would find the proof. I had just let my guard down today. I never thought Andrew was depraved enough to hurt an old, sick man.

Genevas brow furrowed.

The next second, her own face snapped sideways. I hit her back. My face was not a free-for-all for anyone.

Just then, medical staff rushed out. Who is the family member? The patient needs to speak to the family. Come quickly.