Chapter 1

Mark Sterling came back from the tech retreat a different man.

He brought a woman with him, Tiffany Royale, an influencer whose smile was too bright, her clothes too loud.

He sat Eleanor Vance, his wife, down in their minimalist living room, a space she had designed for calm.

There was no calm that evening.

"Eleanor," Mark began, his voice lacking its usual confidence, "things are going to change."

Eleanor watched him, her expression unreadable.

"I want a divorce."

He said it quickly, like ripping off a bandage.

"I'm going to marry Tiffany."

He gestured vaguely towards the younger woman, who preened under the attention.

"Her ideas, her vision... it's the future, Eleanor. She' s a disruptor."

Eleanor' s gaze flickered to Tiffany, who offered a smug little smile.

"She'll be joining the company too, in a significant role."

Eleanor finally spoke, her voice even, smooth as polished marble.

"I see."

Just two words, but they hung in the air, heavier than Mark' s entire clumsy speech.

Tiffany, however, felt the need to elaborate on her triumph.

"It' s just, like, a new era, you know?" she said, her voice a vocal fry drawl.

"Mark needs Gen Z insights, real modern strategies. Not... legacy thinking."

Her eyes dismissed Eleanor, her penthouse, her entire world.

Eleanor almost smiled.

This child thought she understood power.

"If that is your decision, Mark," Eleanor said, rising gracefully, "then I will not stand in your way."

She looked at Tiffany, a flicker of something unidentifiable in her eyes.

"I wish you both... an interesting future."

Mark looked relieved, surprised by her lack of immediate fight.

Tiffany looked like she' d just won the lottery.

Eleanor knew her power wasn't in her marriage certificate, or any title Mark could give or take away.

It was in her blood, her network, her very essence.

And they had no idea.