"Beneath the Facade"

Chapter 7

Despite her exhaustion, Sarah agreed to attend the dinner with her in-laws, wanting to fulfill her responsibilities and maintain the facade of a harmonious marriage. She and Richard, both weary from their respective days, got ready and made their way to the grand, expensive hotel where their families awaited their arrival.

Upon entering the hotel, Sarah was pleasantly surprised to see her family, their familiar faces bringing a sense of comfort and warmth. The Hartman and Wilson families shared smiles and exchanged greetings, setting the stage for a night of unexpected family bonding.

As they settled around a lavish dining table, the atmosphere buzzed with conversation and laughter. Sarah's weariness faded away as she found herself engrossed in the shared family moments. Despite the complexities of her relationship with Richard, the love and support from her own family provided a sense of solace.

During the dinner, Richard's father, Mr. Wilson Sr., took a moment to address both families. "I must express my admiration for Sarah's exceptional leadership and decision-making skills during the pre-meeting. Her actions have undoubtedly strengthened our collaboration with the Hartman company. I'm truly proud to have her as my daughter-in-law."

Sarah blushed slightly at the praise, her gratitude evident in her eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Wilson Sr. I believe in the power of collaboration and teamwork. It's essential for our companies to work together for our mutual success."

"Haha... you can address me Dad. Mr. Wilson Sr. sounds too unfamiliar. After all you are my daughter-in-law". Richard's dad said humbly.

Richard's father's tone turned somber as he continued, his disappointment apparent. "However, I must admit, I am deeply concerned about my son Richard's actions. I expect him to be responsible, especially given the importance of this collaboration."

Sarah, ever composed, nodded in agreement, avoiding eye contact with Richard. She understood the implications of his father's words without delving into the specifics of her husband's behavior.

The evening continued, the families enjoying the dinner and each other's company. Despite the underlying tensions, the night served as a temporary respite from their complicated lives, allowing them to bask in the warmth of family ties.

Unbeknownst to the families, the complexities of Richard and Sarah's marriage would continue to unravel, leading them down a path filled with challenges and unexpected revelations. As the night came to an end, they parted ways, each returning to their own world, their hearts burdened with the unspoken truths that lay beneath the surface of their seemingly perfect lives

The night of the successful deal with Zubarich company had brought both triumph and heartbreak to the mansion shared by Richard and Sarah. Richard, buoyed by his success, chose to celebrate not with his wife but with his mistress, Lily. Ignoring Sarah's crucial role in the achievement, he invited Lily to their home, knowing Sarah would be late, as she often was.

Sarah, unaware of her husband's intentions, returned home, her heart swelling with pride for Richard's achievement. However, her joy was short-lived. As she entered their shared bedroom, she was met with a sight that shattered her world.

There, on the same bed that she and Richard were supposed to share, lay her husband and his mistress, entwined in each other's arms. The room seemed to close in around her, the air thick with betrayal and despair. "Richard... How could you?" she whispered, her voice laced with disbelief and pain.

Richard, devoid of remorse, met Sarah's gaze with a cold indifference. "You came home early. This is your fault, Sarah. If you hadn't rushed back, none of this would have happened," he accused, deflecting the blame onto her.

Lily, manipulative and ruthless, seized the opportunity to further drive a wedge between the couple. "Richard loves me, Sarah. I am his first priority, not you. You were just a convenience, a means to an end," she declared, her words cutting through Sarah's heart like a dagger.

Sarah, her eyes brimming with tears, felt a mixture of heartbreak and anger. "How can you do this, Richard? After everything I've done for our family and our company, how can you betray me like this?" she cried, her voice breaking with raw emotion.

Richard, unmoved by her pain, looked away dismissively. "Our marriage was never real, Sarah. It was just a contract. You should have known better than to expect anything more," he replied, his words like a cruel slap in the face.

Sarah, devastated by the unraveling of her marriage, stood her ground, her determination shining through her tears. "I may have agreed to a contract, Richard, but my feelings were real. My efforts and sacrifices were real. And your betrayal... that is real too," she said, her voice quivering with a mixture of anger and heartache.

In that moment, the facade of their marriage crumbled, leaving behind a shattered bond and a wounded soul. The pain of betrayal hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over their lives, forever altering the course of their relationship and plunging them into a tumultuous sea of emotional turmoil and uncertainty.

The night of the successful deal with Zubarich company had brought both triumph and heartbreak to the mansion shared by Richard and Sarah. Richard, buoyed by his success, chose to celebrate not with his wife but with his mistress, Lily. Ignoring Sarah's crucial role in the achievement, he invited Lily to their home, knowing Sarah would be late, as she often was.

Sarah, unaware of her husband's intentions, returned home, her heart swelling with pride for Richard's achievement. However, her joy was short-lived. As she entered their shared bedroom, she was met with a sight that shattered her world.

There, on the same bed that she and Richard were supposed to share, lay her husband and his mistress, entwined in each other's arms. The room seemed to close in around her, the air thick with betrayal and despair. "Richard... How could you?" she whispered, her voice laced with disbelief and pain.

Richard, devoid of remorse, met Sarah's gaze with a cold indifference. "You came home early. This is your fault, Sarah. If you hadn't rushed back, none of this would have happened," he accused, deflecting the blame onto her.

Lily, manipulative and ruthless, seized the opportunity to further drive a wedge between the couple. "Richard loves me, Sarah. I am his first priority, not you. You were just a convenience, a means to an end," she declared, her words cutting through Sarah's heart like a dagger.

Sarah, her eyes brimming with tears, felt a mixture of heartbreak and anger. "How can you do this, Richard? After everything I've done for our family and our company, how can you betray me like this?" she cried, her voice breaking with raw emotion.

Richard, unmoved by her pain, looked away dismissively. "Our marriage was never real, Sarah. It was just a contract. You should have known better than to expect anything more," he replied, his words like a cruel slap in the face.

Sarah, devastated by the unraveling of her marriage, stood her ground, her determination shining through her tears. "I may have agreed to a contract, Richard, but my feelings were real. My efforts and sacrifices were real. And your betrayal... that is real too," she said, her voice quivering with a mixture of anger and heartache.

In that moment, the facade of their marriage crumbled, leaving behind a shattered bond and a wounded soul. The pain of betrayal hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over their lives, forever altering the course of their relationship and plunging them into a tumultuous sea of emotional turmoil and uncertainty.