Liora's POV

It was all a lie, and I had fallen for it.

Everything went by in a blur, as documents were signed and congratulations from the board members flew around.

I didn't react; I couldn't react.

Soon the congratulations settled down, and the business discussions began. I was about to take the head seat which my father had always sat in, when Sebastian sat on it first, not even sparing a glance at me.

I hesitated. What just happened?

An assistant pulled a chair by the side for me. 'Mrs Carvers, your seat.'

I willed myself to move and sit, feeling the bile rush up within me. It didn't help that all eyes focused on us, and everyone had seen what just happened.

A board member cleared his throat and began to speak:

'Ma'am,' he glanced at Sebastian then looked at me. 'Given the circumstances, what is your strategy for handling the declining assets?'

'In my opinion...' I breathed a little.

'I'll take that,' Sebastian's voice cut mine smoothly.

My cheeks heated up as I watched him give a detailed, brilliant explanation. It wasn't enough that he took my place at the head table, now he wants to show everyone how incompetent I am?

As I sat there, fuming inwardly, I realized something I didn't want to admit: Sebastian had planned this from the start. Taking over my father's company, humiliating me, he already knew this was going to happen the very moment we said our vows.

After the discussion was over, Sebastian cleared his throat and continued.

'I owe you all an explanation for the rushed arrangement. Given Mr Bennett's prognosis,' he said, 'continuity is essential. My wife, understandably, isn't in the right emotional state for leadership. She will be assisting me in a learning capacity.'

Some board members chuckled, while others nodded their heads as if they understood what he meant.

'A sensible arrangement,' another member agreed.

I felt like screaming, telling them all to go to hell. But I controlled myself and watched in silence.

After all formalities were over, everyone dispersed, leaving me and Sebastian alone in the boardroom.

'Car's outside to convey you back home,' he told me before walking out.

I watched him leave, knowing I was just an object to achieve a means, and he played it well. My chest heaved, with the tears threatening to fall out, but I kept them back.

Not now; not here.

As I walked out, the whispers followed.

'So it's true she's no longer in power?'

'She gave everything up to her husband? She must really love him.'

Love? I scoffed. The only person I loved was my father, but I was already failing him even while he was still alive.

As I got home, I saw Sebastian by the wet bar. I stood for a while staring at him sip from a wine glass slowly, then I let my anger loose.

'How could you?' I snapped at him.

'I was going to get it one way or another,' his tone was nonchalant as he eyed the glass of wine he held.

'Tricking me and everyone else? Do you think that makes you a smart businessman?'

He stared at me for a while before bursting into laughter. 'In the business world, you have to do whatever it takes to get what you want.'

I stared at him, my fists clenched and my chest tightening.

What would my father do if he found out that the company had been handed over to a stranger?

After years of hard work and sweat...

Feeling dejected, I sighed and began to walk up to my room. My body felt heavy; I just needed to rest at that moment.

'Liora!'

I turned abruptly to face Sebastian. It was the first time he had ever called me by name.

He looked at me for a while with an expression I couldn't quite understand. 'You have so much to learn.'

There was no need to reply, so I left without a word.

In my room, I lay there all day and night, eyes wide open. It seemed not only did sleep elude me, but the only thing my father had to his name was almost gone from my grasp.

As I closed my eyes, I thought that maybe all wasn't lost. If I just played along, moved on with Sebastian's schemes, then maybe...just maybe...everything would end up fine.

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of voices and laughter in the living room. Curious, I went downstairs to see Sebastian and his father, Reginald.

'Liora,' Reginald smiled at me.

'Good morning,' I smiled back.

'I thought I should come visit. Sebastian was just filling me in on yesterday's event.'

'How's my father?' That was the only person I could think of.

He hesitated. 'Surgery would soon commence, and after that, George would be back on his feet as before.'

My mind relaxed a little.

'Oh well, enjoy,' I nodded and turned to leave.

I was close to my room, when I thought about what he had said. Did Sebastian really tell him how he had taken over my father's company? Is that why he looked so smug and happy?

In a daze, I turned back to ask him. Questions were bothering me, and only he would have the answers. As I got close to the living room, I began to hear some conversations; some disturbing conversations...

...about my father.

'The surgery has a forty percent survival rate. Even if George survives, he won't regain capacity. The company would bleed out before the year ends without intervention.'

It was Reginald, and it seemed he was on the phone with someone. I edged a bit closer to hear better.

'Which is a good thing the plan worked. Sebastian is in charge and if that old man kicks the bucket, we'll have full ownership. And don't worry about the daughter. She's already taken care of.'

Shock waves ran through my body at that instant, making me pause and replay what I had just heard. In a daze, I turned and raced down to my room, shutting the door loudly. My hands were shaking so badly I could barely twist the door handle.

The only thoughts racing through my mind were how this marriage had been planned to benefit just the Carvers.

And I had been the perfect pawn.

Sebastian's POV

'How do I look, darling?' Vivienne flaunted her peacock dress, the bright afternoon sun making her platinum blonde hair gleam.

'Beautiful as always, my love,' I grinned.

She was really beautiful, I didn't lie.

'I can't wait for our trip to the Cannes Festival next week,' she chimed in. 'We'd be the most adorable couple there, I bet.'

Before I could respond, a movement made my eyes shift from Vivienne to the side. My breath paused for a second as Liora made her way past us, her shoulders slumped, barely acknowledging us.

'Hello wife,' Vivienne twirled in her way, obstructing her movement. 'My. You look worse than my dog Bruno on his bad days.'

I watched as Liora stopped short, her fingers curling into the fabric of her dress. She didn't lift her head, didn't rise to the insult. She simply stepped around Vivienne, as if the words hadn't reached her at all.

For reasons I couldn't explain, that bothered me.

That night, as I lay next to the soft feeling of Vivienne's naked body, I couldn't stop thinking about the way Liora looked, slumped, like she was tired of life.

The handing over of power after marriage was actually predictable; did it really get to her?

The next morning was a slow one. As I skimmed through documents in the office, registers of payments and bills, I realized that there was a whole lot I needed to know. The whole hectic process made me crave going out.

I picked up the phone and dialed Vivienne.

'Hi babe,' he said on the phone. 'Let's go out tonight. Have dinner somewhere.'

'Hey baby,' she said on the phone, her voice sounded bright and effortless. 'Dinner sounds perfect. I'll pick the place.'

'Make it somewhere quiet,' I replied, rubbing my temple. 'I've had enough noise for one day.'

She laughed lightly. 'You're getting old.'

I hung up and leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling.

For some reason, the idea of going out didn't excite me the way it usually did. Vivienne was predictable- beautiful, charming, polished. Being with her was easy. There were no complications and no questions.

And yet...

My mind drifted back to the image of Liora standing there earlier, her shoulders tense, her eyes dulled by something I hadn't put there intentionally, but had somehow allowed.

I shook my head and returned to the documents, forcing myself to focus. I preferred this to dealing with people; numbers were simple and they made sense, unlike people.

People like Liora.

That evening, I got home earlier than usual. The house was quiet, too quiet for a place this large. I loosened my tie as I walked in, glancing around absently.

Liora sat at the dining table, a stack of files spread out before her.

She looked up when she heard me, startled, like she hadn't expected anyone else to exist in the house. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

'What are you doing?' I asked.

She hesitated, then gestured to the papers. 'I asked the assistant for copies of the financial reports. I thought...since I'm assisting you now, I should understand them.'

There was no accusation or bitterness in her tone; just a faint determination that made me look at her longer.

I stepped closer, scanning the documents. She'd organized them neatly, notes scribbled in the margins and highlights. They weren't random or careless, but perfectly arranged.

'You don't have to do this,' I said.

'I know,' she replied softly. 'But I want to.'

That annoyed me more than her defiance would have.

'Don't get any ideas,' I said coolly. 'This doesn't change anything.'

Her lips pressed together, but she nodded. 'I didn't think it would.'

Something in her acceptance unsettled me.

I checked my watch. 'I'm going out.'

She glanced up. 'With her?'

'Yes.'

There was no reaction or visible pain from her. Just a small nod as she returned to her papers.

I paused at the doorway longer than necessary.

'You should eat,' I added.

She didn't look up this time. 'I will.'

Outside, the air felt heavier than it should have. As I got into the car, I found myself gripping the steering wheel harder than needed.

Why did it feel like I was walking away from something important?

Dinner with Vivienne was loud- laughter, wine, compliments from nearby tables. She leaned into me, her hand resting possessively on my arm.

'You seem distracted,' she narrowed her eyes at me.

'Just work,' I said in a nonchalant tone.

She smiled knowingly. 'Well, forget work tonight. Cannes is coming, and I want us in that spotlight. No wives. Can't be having all that baggage."

The word hit sharper than I expected. Baggage.

I lifted my glass, forcing a smile. 'Of course.'

But even as Vivienne talked excitedly about gowns and photographers, my thoughts drifted back to the quiet woman sitting alone at a dining table, trying to make sense of a company that had once been her father's.

And for the first time since this marriage began, I wondered if I had underestimated the cost of using her.

I was thinking too much, and it wasn't a good thing. I needed a distraction- like the pretty blonde woman in front of me.

Once we got back home, I got to it; taking her mouth in mine and feeling her smooth silky body. Usually, this would have worked. Vivienne was always a good distraction for me when I had bad days, but tonight...

Tonight was different.

'Let's just go to bed,' I pulled away from her.

She didn't reply, but I could feel her eyes watching me, like she was trying to read my thoughts. We didn't speak much that night, and the next morning was a drag.

We both sat at the table, having breakfast together; silence hung thick between us. Liora came downstairs later on to join us at the table.

'More spinach, darling?' Vivienne proceeded to scoop more vegetables onto my plate. 'I'm just so happy we're going to Cannes.'

'Hmm,' I mumbled with my mouth full, while taking a glance at Liora, even though I hadn't meant to notice her at all.

She looked thinner than I remembered, much paler, like someone carrying a weight far heavier than the clothes she was wearing.

I frowned and set my mind back to Vivienne, annoyed with myself for noticing.

'Don't tell me you're still sulking, wife,' Vivienne laughed. 'Honestly Sebastian, she's already acting like a widow.'

That did it.

'Vivienne,' I said sharply.

She turned to me surprised. 'What?'

'I have a gathering to be in this morning and we're late,' I said to her. 'Go wait in the car.'

Vivienne pouts but she obeys, giving an exaggerated sigh before leaving.

Liora sat there, unmoving and not eating.

'You should dress better when you leave your room,' I said coolly to her. 'People talk.'

She finally looked up at me then. Her eyes were tired, but there was something else there too.

'I'm sure they already are,' she said in a calm tone before leaving the table.

As she walked away, I realized something I didn't like:

No one had the right to look that broken in my house.

Not even my wife.