My Husband Let His Mistress Hurt Our Five-Year-Old—Then He Discovered Who I Really Was / Chapter 4 / 10

Chapter 4 - The Arrival of the QueenTwo dozen tall, muscular men in tailored black suits stepped into the ballroom first, forming a flawless security corridor from the entrance straight to the VIP stage.

Following behind them was Arthur Crawford, the legendary chairman whose name was stamped on half the skyscrapers in North America. But he wasn't walking alone.

Arm-in-arm with the titan walked a woman of breathless, terrifying beauty.

Gwen moved across the marble floor with the absolute, effortless grace of royalty. Her black diamond collar caught the light of the crystal chandeliers, throwing sharp, dark fractures across the room. Her eyes were cold, sharp, and utterly unyielding.

Whispers broke out like a wildfire throughout the crowd.

"Is that... Arthur Crawford's daughter?!"

"I thought she disappeared six years ago!"

"Look at that black jade ring on her hand! She’s the head of Crawford Capital’s executive board!"

At the VIP table, Spencer dropped his champagne glass. The crystal shattered against the floorboards, splashing sparkling wine across his shiny patent leather shoes.

Patricia’s jaw dropped so low her mink stole slipped from her shoulders, falling onto the dirty floor.

"No..." Spencer stammered, his face turning a sickly, ghostly white. "No, that's impossible... That's Gwen! That's my wife!"

Cassandra squinted at the stage, her painted face twisting in confusion. "Your wife?! That pathetic girl who wears thrift store clothes?! Spencer, who is that woman?!"

Gwen didn't even glance toward their table. She walked straight onto the main stage, where the Mayor of Los Angeles and the Chief of Police were standing.

The Mayor immediately stepped forward, bowing respectfully as he took Gwen's gloved hand. "Madam Chairwoman Crawford... it is an absolute honor to welcome you back to the city."

Gwen took the microphone from the podium. Her voice echoed through the high-end speakers, smooth, crystal-clear, and laced with absolute authority.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," Gwen said softly into the mic. "Tonight was supposed to be a celebration of economic growth in California. But before we begin the charity auction, I have a few private business matters to settle."