Chapter 8

**Whispers of Betrayal**

With champagne glasses clinking in timed harmony, crystal chandeliers dripping light, and whispered chats in refined, hushed tones, the Sterling Foundation gala was a spectacle of extravagance. I didn't feel as out of place as I had anticipated. The individuals surrounding me were soldiers, using their words as weapons, while my outfit, which had been specially designed for the occasion, felt like armor.

With his hand lightly resting on the small of my back, Jack was by my side. We appeared to the world to be the ideal power couple. In my opinion, we were only performers in a play, reciting lines from a script that neither of us had created.

He whispered, "Smile," as we entered the opulent ballroom. His voice was powerful and low, and it made me shudder. "People are watching."

I forced a smile on my face that stopped short of my eyes. The crowd moved aside to make room for us, their eyes resting on me in wonder and on Jack in wonder. I could hear the murmurs that followed us, wondering about the sincerity of our unexpected marriage. Their skepticism wasn't totally incorrect.

Jack left my side almost instantly, vanishing into a crowd of fans and business friends. By now, I had grown accustomed to the fact that he could disappear without warning, leaving me to face the social battlefield by myself. I walked to the room's edge, where the air was less stuffy.

Whispers of gossip and bits of discussion drifted through the air like threads in a complex tapestry while I sipped my champagne. It was just innocuous banter, but then I noticed a name.

Someone said, "Sterling," in a contemptuous tone. "Always knows how to play the long game."

As I edged closer to the voice's origin, I turned slightly, feigning admiration for a neighboring floral arrangement. Two men were standing close by, talking intently with their backs to me.

One of them remarked, "Marrying that girl was a stroke of genius," His voice sounded rough, as though years of smoking pricey cigars had worn them down. "Secured everything he needed without lifting a finger."

The champagne in my hand felt like lead, and my heart started racing. I squeezed the glass harder, listening for more.

The second man said, "Still," in a smoother, more measured voice. "Considering the stakes, this is a brave move. If she ever learns—"

"She won’t," said the first man. Jack is too cautious to do it. The girl is unaware that she is merely a pawn.

The words struck me like a blow to the body. The champagne glass slipped from my grasp, and I just managed to place it on a nearby table before my shaking hands betrayed me. As I pieced together the bits and pieces of their talk, my thoughts raced. What were they trying to say? gotten everything he required? A pawn?

I attempted to steady my breathing and turned away, my vision swirling. The air felt too heavy, the room too small. I had to locate Jack. I required clarification.

He was talking to a man I somewhat knew as one of his business colleagues near the bar when I discovered him. As I got closer, he looked up, his face unreadable.

"Amelia," he said in a smooth voice that revealed nothing. "Is everything all right?"

I started to reply, but my words would not come. In front of all these people, how could I face him? Instead, even though it seemed like my face may break from the pressure, I faked a smile. Silently, "I just needed some air," I said.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at me for a while. Then he gave a nod. "I’ll join you shortly."

He wasn't waiting for me. As I turned and headed toward the balcony, the refreshing night air felt good against my red face. Before me, the city lights glistened like a thousand little promises. But they felt empty tonight.

Every word of the whispers I had heard was a dagger as they replayed in my head. Jack had done what? For what purpose had he utilized me? I recalled the hurried proposition and the icy conditions of our agreement. Had it all been premeditated, a part of a larger plan?

I was distracted from my thoughts as I heard footsteps behind me. Jack was standing there with his hands in his pockets and an unreadable expression when I turned around.

He remarked, "You left abruptly," in a deliberately casual tone.

I stiffened my eyes and crossed my arms. "I needed some space."

"From what?" he inquired, taking a step forward. His eyes were keen and inquisitive, but his tone was informal.

The words lingered on the tip of my tongue as I paused. I wanted to ask for the truth and face him. But I was held back by the sound of those two men's voices. Telling Jack what I knew might only benefit him if he really thought of me as a pawn.

Rather, I stepped back, putting some distance between us. "From everything," was my final statement. "This life, this... charade."

His eyes flashed with something too brief to interpret. "You knew what you were signing up for."

"Did I?" With a shaky voice, I shot back. "Because right now, it feels like I didn’t know anything at all."

His jaw tensed, and I briefly believed he was about to say something. However, he turned away, leaving a sharp figure against the city lights. As he whispered, "Be careful where you tread, Amelia," "Some truths aren’t worth uncovering."

He then left, leaving me alone myself on the terrace. His remarks simply confirmed my suspicions and my thoughts raced. What facts did he desperately want to conceal? And how far would he go to ensure their burial?

The nighttime was weighing heavily on me as I turned back toward the city. A seed of doubt had been sown in my mind by the rumors of betrayal, and it was rapidly growing. Even though I had no idea what Jack was concealing, I was eager to find out.

The gala went on inside, the laughing and music a sharp contrast to the chaos in my chest. However, I couldn't get rid of the thought that tonight had been a turning moment as I entered the ballroom again. I was no longer satisfied with being a passive piece on Jack's board because the game he was playing was much riskier than I had anticipated.

Jack put his hand on the small of my back once more as he escorted me to the car as the evening came to an end. We appeared to be the ideal pair to anyone who happened to be watching. However, I was unable to ignore the widening gap between us as I slid into the seat and the door closed behind me.

I also couldn't get rid of the impression that the murmurs I had heard were only the start of something much more sinister.