Chapter 14

Regina had been savoring her peace, lounging in a silk floral gown the exact shade of rosewater, sipping on white wine that cost more than most people's rent. The mansion was quiet, blissfully so.

Daniel was out handling whatever expensive business required his attention, leaving her to enjoy solitude.

Then the housekeeper had appeared at the doorway of the living room with an announcement that ruined everything.

"Mrs. Smith," Margaret said hesitantly. "Someone is asking for you at the door."

Regina barely spared a glance. "Tell them to leave a message."

"It's… Eleanor Smith."

Regina's head snapped up.

Speak of the devil.

She had almost forgotten about her, Daniel's mother, the woman who hadn't barely even spoken to her at the wedding, claiming she had a sore throat. Now, here she was, standing at the door of the mansion without any prior notice.

Regina exhaled sharply, smoothing out the silk of her dress before making her way to the entrance.

And there Eleanor stood, draped in a white Chanel coat, oversized sunglasses perched on the bridge of her nose, and a cigarette dangling between her manicured fingers. Her blonde hair was pulled into an elegant bun. She looked like perfection.

Regina folded her arms. "Daniel isn't in."

Eleanor slowly lowered her sunglasses, her sharp blue eyes piercing through her. "Oh, I know. I didn't come for him." She stepped past her and into the foyer uninvited. "I came for you."

Regina followed her to the balcony, where Eleanor removed her coat and draped it over the chair as though she were the lady of the house. Regina watched, unimpressed, as Eleanor glanced her over, her gaze lingering for a little moment.

"You know," Eleanor started, "…when I saw the photos from the wedding, I thought the dress did a lot of work, but it turns out, you do have quite the figure under there."

Regina arched a brow. "Glad to know you were paying such close attention."

Eleanor ignored her. "I assume that's all natural?"

Regina tilted her head. "Are you asking if my breasts are real right now?"

Eleanor smirked, swirling the wine glass she'd just helped herself to. "You can't blame me for wondering. With the way they're sitting so perfectly in that little pink thing you're barely wearing…" She waved a hand. "One would think you had some enhancements."

Regina scoffed, taking a slow sip of her wine. "I'm flattered you're so invested in my body. But yes, they're real. Sorry to disappoint you."

Eleanor took a drag of her cigarette. "Not disappointed. Just surprised. With a figure like that, I'd assume Daniel would be all over you, but…" She shrugged. "No pregnancy news yet. Makes one wonder."

Regina's fingers tightened around her glass. "Not everyone rushes to get knocked up the moment they say 'I do.'"

Eleanor exhaled smoke with a smirk. "No, but smart women do. They secure their place. They build insurance." She leaned in slightly. "Or is my dear son simply not interested?"

Regina smiled sweetly. "You seem awfully curious about my sex life. Feeling unfulfilled with yours?"

Eleanor let out a sharp laugh. "Oh, darling, I have had more passion in one night than you've probably had in your entire life."

Regina rolled her eyes. "Right, how could I forget? The Eleanor Smith legacy. Pageant queen turned almost Miss USA. Two ex-husbands, countless flings, and that one very public incident with a Saudi prince."

Eleanor's gaze darkened slightly, but her smile only grew wider. "Ah, you've done your research. How diligent."

Regina feigned innocence by shrugging her shoulders. "Who could forget? The deepfake scandal, the leaked photos, the yacht debacle in Monaco. Oh, and my personal favorite, that Parisian designer who claimed you stole his entire collection idea."

Eleanor took another drag of her cigarette, the expression on her face completely unbothered. "All press is good press, sweetheart. You'll learn that eventually."

Regina hummed. "And yet, you are married to a man almost twice your age, using his name to stay relevant."

Eleanor smirked. "Better than having my family's name dragged through the mud over a corruption scandal and labor exploitation deaths."

Regina's jaw tensed.

Eleanor tilted her head. "What was it, again? Your father's foundation, accused of hiring illegal workers? Something about unpaid wages? And then that horrible factory incident—oh, I can't keep up with the lawsuits. Truly, a mess."

Regina set her wine down carefully as she blurted out "At least I wasn't parading around as some high-class escort in my youth, hopping from one rich man's bed to another."

Eleanor laughed. "Escort? That's rich, coming from a woman who only got this marriage because her family needed a lifeline to save their company, shared and whatever else they had before it all went to flames."

Regina's lips curled. "And what's your excuse? What was it? Husband number two left you for his assistant? And husband number one, that's right, he caught you with his business partner in a hotel suite."

Eleanor let out an exaggerated sigh. "Men are so emotional about these things."

Regina shook her head. "You're unbelievable."

Eleanor sipped her wine as though they weren't casually tearing each other apart with words. Then she reached into her purse and pulled out a beautifully wrapped box, sliding it across the table.

"A gift," she muttered.

Regina eyed the gift suspiciously but didn't reach for it. "What is this? A poisoned apple?"

Eleanor smirked, tapping her manicured nails against the table. "I do appreciate theatrics, but no. Go on, open it."

Regina hesitated before untying the ribbon and peeling back the expensive wrapping paper. Inside lay a delicate piece of lingerie, if one could even call it that. The sheer, nearly transparent material left nothing to the imagination. The lace detailing, suggestive straps, and scandalously cut-out sections made it clear: this was not designed for comfort.

Regina held it up between two fingers, unimpressed. "You have terrible taste."

Eleanor let out a laugh, delighted by the reaction. "Oh, come now. A proper wife needs to seduce her husband. From what I've seen, you're spending too much time playing the rich housewife and not enough time securing your position."

Regina set it down with a look of distaste on her face. "I don't need advice from a woman whose marriage last shorter than election cycles."

Eleanor leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Darling, marriage is not about love. It's about strategy. Power. Influence. And right now, you have none."

Regina met her gaze. "And you think parading around in scraps of fabric is the way to get it?"

Eleanor arched a brow. "If it works, why not? Or…" she paused, eyes glittering with mischief, "maybe Daniel isn't interested. I mean, I assumed, seeing as your breasts look fuller that you were already working on giving him an heir. But I suppose that was just wishful thinking."

Regina's jaw tightened. "You're obsessed with my body. Should I be flattered?"

Eleanor grinned. "I'm just surprised, that's all. You don't strike me as the type to waste an opportunity. I know you, Regina. And let's be honest, you need an heir more than Daniel does. If this marriage crumbles, your name is worth nothing."

Regina exhaled, tilting her head. "Right. Because I should take notes from the woman whose reputation is built on affairs, scandals, and a couple of well-timed divorces."

Eleanor clutched her chest dramatically. "Oh, you really want to hurt my feelings dear." Then she smirked, taking another slow sip of her wine. "But let's talk about your family instead. Tell me, how is dear old Daddy handling the lawsuits?"

Regina's fingers curled around her glass so tightly she thought it might shatter. But she refused to let Eleanor see her crack. Instead, she tilted her head, offering the most eccentric smile.

"Oh, you know how it is," she said smoothly. "One day you're on the cover of Forbes, the next, your employees try to ruin you. It's the price of success."

Eleanor hummed. "Success? Is that what we're calling mass exploitation and corporate manslaughter these days? I must have missed the memo."

Regina met her gaze head-on. "Well, at least my family scandals involve business. Yours are just… messy." She took another slow sip of her wine before continuing. "Tell me, mother-in-law, does it ever get exhausting? Being the woman every wife warns her husband about?"

Eleanor let out a delighted laugh, leaning back into her chair as if she were enjoying a private joke. "Darling, wives don't warn their husbands about me. They try to imitate me and fail spectacularly."

Regina scoffed. "Right. I'm sure your last divorce had nothing to do with that attempt at seducing your husband's business partner."

Eleanor smirked. "Oh, you are hilarious, truly. But if we're keeping score, I do believe your family is in a far worse standing than mine. Between the lawsuits, the public outrage, and your father's little foundation crumbling by the second, it's only a matter of time before the name Green is just another footnote in history."

Regina's expression darkened. "You don't know a damn thing about my family."

Eleanor waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, please. I know everything. I make it my business to know. And trust me, no matter how much damage control you do, your name is poison. That's why this marriage is your lifeline. Without Daniel, you have nothing."

Regina's nails dug into the armrest of her chair, but she forced herself to remain composed. "Funny. I was just thinking the same about you." She glanced pointedly at Eleanor's wedding ring. "Your husband is, what? Pushing sixty? Tell me, do you even bother with a prenup anymore, or is it just understood that you'll take half when you leave him too?"

Eleanor's lips curled. "Oh, sweetheart, I don't just take half. I take everything worth keeping." She reached for her wine again, sipping it before adding, "That's why I'm giving you advice. Whether you like it or not, you're in the same position I once was. Young, pretty, and replaceable. So if you want to last in this world, take my gift."

Regina glanced at the lingerie still sitting on the table. She let out a soft laugh before picking it up and twirling it between her fingers. Then, with slow precision, she tossed it back into the box.

Eleanor's brow lifted. "How dramatic."

Regina smiled sweetly. "It didn't suit my taste."

Eleanor sighed, standing gracefully and picking up her coat. "Suit yourself. But don't say I didn't warn you." She strode toward the door, pausing only once to glance back. "Oh, and do consider wearing something less… bubblegum pink next time. It makes you look like a desperate little housewife playing dress-up."

Regina's smile didn't fade. "And you look like a woman who's running out of husbands. Safe travels, Eleanor."

Eleanor chuckled, slipping on her sunglasses. "We'll see who lasts longer, dearie."

And with that, she swept out the door, leaving behind only the lingering scent of expensive perfume and cigarette smoke.

Regina exhaled, sinking into her chair as the fire at the corner of the living room crackled.

She would not be manipulated. Not by Daniel. Not by his father. And certainly not by Eleanor Smith.

But as she lifted her wine glass again, she couldn't shake the feeling that the woman was right about one thing, if she wanted to survive in this world, she'd have to be smarter.

And perhaps… a little more ruthless.