The Price of His Crown

My husband, Alexander Vance, always told the world that his wife was the most important woman in his life. Yet, he never introduced me to the public. Whenever I asked him to go public with our marriage, he found another reason to put it off. The first time, he claimed he needed to focus on building his career and that the timing wasn't right. The second time, he insisted he was only trying to protect me from ruthless corporate rivals. There was always another excuse. It went on like this until the ninety-ninth time. He finally agreed to make an announcement at his company's tenth-anniversary gala. Except the family he introduced wasn't ours. Sitting at the head table—in the very seat meant for me—was his first love, Jennifer Hayes. Cradled in Alexander's arms was Jennifer's little daughter. The emcee's voice boomed through the speakers, dripping with praise: "Tonight, Mr. Vance has finally introduced us to his beloved wife and daughter! "We've all heard how you two supported each other through thick and thin. Truly, you are each other's greatest anchors." The little girl snuggled into Alexander's chest and whined adorably, "Daddy, are we never going to be apart again?" Alexander didn't deny it. Instead, he gently ruffled her hair. "Daddy promises." A cold scoff escaped my lips. Alexander seemed to have forgotten everything. Every bit of success he enjoyed today was bought and paid for by my family's fortune. I pulled out my phone and dialed the head of our private equity fund. "Pull the plug," I said. "Withdraw our offer for the new round. Tell their board tonight." I'd come to the hotel carrying the proposed financing agreement from our private equity fund. If we'd both signed it, his company would have had a hundred million dollars in new financing. Sick of watching their picture-perfect family portrait, I turned to leave. Tucked away in the darkest corner near the exit doors, I spotted my name card on a secondary table. I grabbed it, tore it in half, and dropped it into a trash bin. A sham of a banquet like this wasn't worth my presence anyway. "Chloe, why are you standing out here?" Alexander stepped out into the hallway. He held a half-empty champagne flute, a gentle smile lingering on his lips. Only, that smile wasn't meant for me. On my phone screen, a confirmation text popped up. [Ms. Crawford, we have halted the signing. The withdrawal notice is going to the board.] Alexander frowned, clearly irritated by my cold reception. "Who was that on the phone?" "The fund manager," I replied evenly. His brow twitched, his gaze immediately darting to the leather portfolio in my hands. "Where's the contract?" I looked up at him, my voice coated in pure sarcasm. "That's all you care about right now? The contract? Don't you think you owe me an explanation about your 'wife' and 'daughter' in there?" Ignoring the biting sarcasm, Alexander's expression hardened as he dropped his voice to a sharp hiss. "Tonight is our tenth-anniversary celebration. Every single investor is waiting for the news of this renewal. "Chloe, keep your personal tantrums at home. Stop making a scene." I looked down at the little girl trailing behind him. "Why does she call you Daddy?" The child, Lily, instantly shrank behind Alexander's leg. "Daddy, that lady is scary." Alexander instinctively shielded her, his tone dropping even lower with warning. "Chloe Crawford, she's just a child. Don't take your anger out on a kid." A bitter laugh slipped out of me. "She's just a child, so that gives you the right to sacrifice me and give away my seat at your own head table? "What about me?" A flicker of guilt crossed Alexander's face. "Lily grew up without a father. Jennifer has had a brutal time raising her alone as a single mother. "The kid just wanted to feel safe for once." Jennifer appeared from around the corner, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Chloe, I'm so sorry. I never meant to steal your spotlight. "Alexander was just worried that if Lily and I sat in the back, the paparazzi would harass us." Alexander chimed in immediately. "Jennifer just moved back to the country. Life has been rough on her, and she needs someone in her corner. "Besides, you're my wife. Everyone in our inner circle knows who you are. "It's just a chair at a table. Do you really have to be this petty?" Alexander's patience was clearly wearing thin. "Alright, Chloe, enough. "When the time comes, go up on stage and announce the renewal funding. "While you're at it, say a few kind words on Jennifer's behalf. "It hasn't been easy for her, raising a child on her own." I stared at him in disbelief. I couldn't fathom how those words could come out of his mouth. "You want me to speak up for her? "She takes my seat, her daughter calls you Daddy, and what's next? Should I just offer her my side of the bed too?" His composure finally snapped. "Can you stop making everything sound so disgusting? "All Jennifer wants is a temporary place to sit! "You have my entire future! "Those two things don't even conflict!" I laughed, practically choked by rage. "They don't conflict?" Ten years ago, he was a nobody with empty pockets. I sold my late mother's sapphire brooch at a private auction to cover the deposit on his first office. Seven years ago, when his co-founder stole the company's cash and disappeared, I spent hours in my father's study persuading him to guarantee Alexander's bank loans. Five years ago, when he was hit with a massive patent infringement lawsuit, the Crawford family's legal team pulled all-nighters for three months straight to win his case. Now, bathed in the stage lights, he stood before me and had the audacity to say that my sacrifices and Jennifer's intrusion didn't conflict. I slowly closed the leather portfolio in my hands. "Alexander, have you ever stopped to think about who handed you everything you have today?" His eyes turned frosty. "Here we go again, bringing up the ledger. "I am sick and tired of this, Chloe! "Every single time I take a misstep, you throw your charity in my face! "Standing beside you doesn't make me feel like a husband. It makes me feel like a debtor!" Jennifer gently tugged on his sleeve. "Alexander, please, don't say that." Lily tilted her head up, blinking innocently. "Daddy, what's a debtor?" Jennifer stroked the girl's hair softly. "It means someone who owes someone else a debt they can never repay." Lily turned her wide eyes toward me. "Does that mean this lady is a mean loan shark?" Alexander didn't correct her. Years ago, when his first startup collapsed, I was the one who held his face and said: "We can make the money back. Just don't let this break you." Alexander was still waiting for me to lower my head and yield. "Give me the contract. "Once I sign it tonight, I'll explain everything when we get home." I shook my head gently. "There is no contract." "What do you mean?" Inside the ballroom, thunderous applause erupted. The emcee announced enthusiastically: "And now, let us welcome Mr. Vance and his most precious family to cut the tenth-anniversary cake together!" Lily squealed with delight. "Daddy! Let's go cut the cake!" Alexander's expression shifted several times, but in the end, he took the little girl's hand. Before walking away, he looked back at me over his shoulder. "Chloe Crawford, I don't care who you just called. "You'd better not use the hundred-million-dollar funding to throw a temper tantrum." I watched him walk over to Jennifer. Under the glittering chandelier, the three of them stood side by side in front of a towering multi-tiered cake. The emcee cheered, "What a truly blessed family of three!" I pulled out my phone and fired off a text to Crawford Enterprises' legal team: [Preserve the records and ask the board for an independent forensic audit. Review the patent licenses and loan guarantees. Send whatever notices the contracts allow.]Right after hitting send on that message, I typed another directive to my attorney. [Revoke my medical power of attorney. Strip Alexander Vance of all authority and reassign it solely to Uncle Robert. I'll sign the digital documents right now. Have the physical paperwork ready for execution.] Only after the confirmation pinged did I notice Jennifer was standing a few feet down the hallway. "Chloe, Alexander is actually terrified of losing you," she whispered, stepping closer. "What's your point?" "Don't be too hard on him," she purred smoothly. "He's been exhausted all these years. "In front of you, he can never forget how pathetic and helpless he used to be. "But with me, he gets to be the brilliant CEO." She paused, her lips curving into a mocking little smile. "Men don't love their creditors, Chloe. "Every time he looks at you, he's just reminded of how much he owes." I met her gaze, totally unbothered. "So? Am I supposed to thank you for taking out my trash?" Jennifer's smirk stiffened. Suddenly, Lily sprinted out of nowhere, hurling a fistful of frosted cake directly at the hem of my gown. "Mean lady! Stop bullying my mommy!" I looked down at my dress. This was a custom gown commissioned by my mother before she passed away. She had told me to save it for my tenth wedding anniversary, to wear it for the man I loved. Tonight, Alexander hadn't spared it a single glance. And now, it was ruined by Jennifer's daughter. Alexander rushed toward us. His eyes went straight to Jennifer's red-rimmed eyes. Then on Lily, trembling and sobbing dramatically. He didn't even notice the smear of cream ruined across my heirloom dress. His face darkened instantly. "Chloe, what did you do now?!" I calmly brushed at the ruined fabric, meeting his eyes. "Aren't you going to ask what she did?" Lily threw herself into his arms, wailing, "Daddy! The mean lady bullied Mommy!" Alexander's gaze burned with sheer disgust. "Chloe, are you hell-bent on ruining tonight for everyone? "This is Jennifer's first public appearance since returning home. Couldn't you just let her have this one moment?" I asked, "Why should I let her have anything? "Alexander, don't think for a second I don't know how much of my wealth you've secretly channeled to her." Alexander's voice turned icy. "Bringing this up again? All you ever do is remind me of my debts! "Chloe, I am genuinely sick of you." Jennifer put on a meek front, softly advising, "Alexander, please don't say that. You'll break Chloe's heart." Her intervention seemed to give him permission to unleash all his buried resentment. "Break her heart? "A woman like her calculates every single penny! "She has no heart—just an old ledger she uses to crush me whenever she wants!" Looking at him, a memory from years ago flashed across my mind. A mob of unpaid vendors had stormed his tiny office, shouting that he was a con artist. I had stepped in front of him, taking a full cup of scalding coffee thrown at his chest. Later that night, he had held me so tight his hands shook, weeping into my shoulder: "Chloe, from now on, if anyone ever dares to hurt you, I will tear them apart." And now, the one tearing me apart was him. I turned my back on them and walked toward the restroom. Alexander called out coldly from behind: "That's enough! The main banquet is about to begin. "You have ten minutes. Get on that stage and announce the renewal funding." I didn't look back. Inside the restroom, I used wet paper towels to wipe the sticky frosting from my gown. A sharp, familiar spasm ripped through my stomach. Gripping the edge of the marble sink, I hit speed dial for my family's old butler. "Uncle Robert, come to the hotel. Now." The voice on the other end tightened immediately. "Miss Chloe? Has something happened?""Ms. Crawford, please get ready. Mr. Vance will signal you to announce the renewal shortly." A staff member knocked on the restroom door, urging me out. When I stepped back into the ballroom, the pain in my abdomen had escalated into a twisting knot. On the stage, Alexander held Lily's hand on his left and supported Jennifer by the waist on his right. The emcee's voice echoed through the hall: "Ten years of relentless grind! Tonight, Mr. Vance stands at the peak of both career and family bliss!" The crowd erupted into thunderous applause. Jennifer hugged Lily close, her eyes glistening. "Thank you, everyone. And thank you, Alexander, for never forgetting about us all these years." Never forgetting them? Where were they during the ten years he struggled in the dirt? Alexander spotted me near the wings and waved me over. "Chloe, come up." I walked onto the stage. The emcee handed me a microphone. "Ms. Crawford, as the steadfast rock behind Mr. Vance, seeing him achieve both immense professional success and family happiness tonight, do you have any words for our guests?" A few muffled chuckles rose from the audience. "Ms. Crawford has always been classy. She'll definitely give her blessings," someone whispered. Jennifer kept her head down, a faint, smug curve gracing her lips. Suddenly, Lily grabbed a microphone. "Lady! Mommy said you're super rich. You're going to give Daddy lots of money tonight, right?" The entire ballroom went dead silent. Alexander's smile faltered for a second. He quickly smoothed it over with a strained chuckle. "Just innocent words from a child." I looked dead into his eyes. "Innocent words, or lines fed to her by someone else?" Jennifer's eyes instantly flooded with tears. "Chloe, blame me if you must, but please don't scare a little girl." Alexander leaned close, muttering a venomous warning: "Chloe, don't you dare embarrass me on this stage." I pressed a hand against my stomach, a cold sweat breaking out across my skin. The emcee tried to salvage the moment, laughing nervously. "Well, Ms. Crawford, regarding tonight's funding renewal..." Alexander thrust the contract folder toward me. "Sign it," he demanded under his breath. "Don't humiliate me in front of all these investors." I looked at him coldly. "Did you give a damn about humiliating me when you put them in my seat?" Anger flared in his eyes. "You're choosing right now to pick a fight?!" Seeing us whispering tensely, Jennifer suddenly swayed and pressed a hand to her temple. "Alexander, I feel faint." Alexander spun around instantly to catch her. "What's wrong?" She shook her head weakly. "Maybe I'm just nervous. Chloe keeps glaring at me. Do you think she—" Alexander swung his head back toward me, his glare dripping with venom. "Chloe Crawford, how can you be so vicious?!" I let out a breathless, painful laugh. The searing agony in my gut was turning my vision dark. "I don't have the energy to fight you right now. I'm sick. "My prescription is in my clutch. It usually helps when the pain starts. "Just let me step off the stage." Lily suddenly darted to the side table, snatched my designer clutch, and hugged it tight. "No! Bad lady is faking being sick to scare Daddy again!" She shoved the bag into Jennifer's hands. I reached out to take it back. Jennifer clutched it against her chest, refusing to let go. "Chloe, please don't act like this. Everyone is watching." She leaned in, dropping her voice so only I could hear: "See that? The only thing Alexander cares about right now is whether you embarrass him." Alexander grabbed the microphone from the emcee and offered the crowd an apologetic smile. "Chloe isn't feeling well. She's going to step down and rest for a moment." Then, he leaned into my ear, whispering harshly: "Chloe, cut the act. "You pull this garbage every single time. Whenever things don't go your way, you threaten me with your health." I stared at him, tasting the coppery tang of blood rising in the back of my throat. "Alexander, it really hurts." His gaze was hollow and unfeeling. "Save the drama. Pull yourself together, then come back." My knees gave out slightly; I could barely stay upright. He gestured to two security guards. "Escort Ms. Crawford backstage to rest. Don't let the media snap any photos of her." As they hauled me off the stage, Jennifer stood bathed in the warm stage lights, cradling Lily. The little girl made a mocking face at me. "Mommy, the bad lady is gone." Jennifer murmured softly, "Hush now. She just wanted Daddy's attention." Behind me, I heard Alexander speak into the mic: "Just a minor hiccup, ladies and gentlemen. Let us proceed." By the time they dragged me into the private dressing room, the pain had curled me completely in half. My phone buzzed weakly in my pocket. A text from Crawford Enterprises' head of legal: [Ms. Crawford, the board has been notified that our fund is withdrawing the unsigned offer. Counsel is reviewing the existing agreements.]"Give me my medicine," I rasped, gripping the edge of the vanity table, my voice barely a whisper. Jennifer walked in, carrying my clutch, with Lily skipping right behind her. "Mommy, Daddy said we get to cut the biggest piece of cake later!" Jennifer shut the door, and the gentle, fragile mask slipped off her face entirely. She unzipped my bag, slowly pulling out the prescription pill bottle. Jennifer pushed the door nearly shut, and the smile slid off her face. I reached out a trembling hand. "Give it to me." She looked down at the label and chuckled softly. "Alexander told me you're the greatest actress in the world. "Back then, when he was just out entertaining clients and had a bit too much to drink, you'd cry and call an ambulance. "Now, just because Lily and I sat at the main table, you're clutching your stomach like you're dying?" Gritting my teeth, I tried to step forward, but the agonizing cramp forced me against the table. Jennifer stepped back, raising the bottle out of my reach. "What's the rush? "You still have to go back out there and announce that hundred-million-dollar check, remember?" I glared at her coldly. "You really think he's ever getting that money?" Jennifer's expression flickered. "What did you say?" Alexander's voice called out from the corridor outside. "Jennifer? Lily? It's time to cut the cake." In an instant, Jennifer snapped back into her helpless, tearful persona, yanking the door open. "Alexander! Chloe refuses to take her medicine, and she says she won't sign the deal tonight!" Alexander strode inside, his face like thunder. "Chloe Crawford, what the hell do you want from me?!" Cold sweat poured down my neck. "Call an ambulance. I need to go to the hospital." He looked at me, his brow furrowing in disgust. "Enough! Over a single seat at a table, you're putting on this pathetic show?!" I forced my head up, gasping for breath. "Alexander Vance, are you deaf?! "I need emergency medical care right now!" Lily suddenly burst into loud wails. "Daddy, I'm scared! The bad lady is lying again! She pushed me really hard just now!" Alexander scooped the girl into his arms, snapping at me: "Chloe, how could you lay a hand on a child?!" I pointed a shaking finger at the girl. "She took my medication first!" Jennifer wiped her eyes, blubbering defensively: "Lily is just an innocent kid! She didn't know what she was doing!" "I do know!" Lily sobbed loudly into Alexander's shoulder. "The bad lady doesn't have any babies, so she hates me!" Every drop of color drained from my face. It wasn't that I never wanted children. In the fourth year of his startup, when his company was on the brink of bankruptcy, I was three months pregnant. I walked miles in the freezing rain accompanying him to meet angel investors. That stormy night, I suffered a violent miscarriage in a cold hospital hallway. When he finally rushed over, he fell to his knees beside my bed, weeping uncontrollably, swearing he would give me a warm, beautiful family to make up for it. After that night, my health was permanently ruined. The doctors said I would likely never carry a child again. Only Alexander and I knew the truth about that nightmare. Alexander froze, the memory clearly hitting him like a slap. But Jennifer quickly began to sob even harder. "I'm sorry, Alexander. I had no idea Lily would repeat that! "She must have heard the staff gossiping! I swear I didn't teach her that!" Alexander stood silent for a few seconds, then looked at me. "Chloe, she's just a clueless kid. Don't hold a grudge against a child." "Alexander Vance," I whispered. "I never realized how good you were at making excuses for other people." Jennifer stepped closer, holding the pill bottle out timidly. "Chloe, please, just take your pills." The moment I reached out my hand, she subtly tilted her wrist. The white pills poured out in a rush, splashing directly into an ice bucket filled with melted champagne. The tablets dissolved rapidly in the golden liquid. I lunged forward, grabbing her wrist. "Jennifer!" Taking the cue, Jennifer let out a piercing shriek and threw herself backward. "Alexander!" Alexander lunged forward and shoved me hard. The small of my back slammed violently against the sharp corner of the vanity table. The agony knocked the air out of my lungs, turning the room pitch-black. Lily ran up and stomped her little patent leather shoe onto the few stray pills that had scattered across the floor, crushing them into white powder. "The bad lady doesn't get to have any!" I collapsed to my knees, my fingers brushing against the pulverized medicine. Jennifer curled into Alexander's chest, shaking with sobs. "Alexander, I just wanted to help her! Why did she hit me?!" Alexander looked down at me, his eyes dead and merciless. "Chloe Crawford, you have crossed the line." I forced my chin up, trembling. "She dumped them on purpose." He glanced at the champagne bucket, then back at Jennifer, who looked like a broken porcelain doll in his arms. He didn't hesitate for a single second. "That's enough! "You would do literally anything to force me to kick her out, wouldn't you?" The pain was ripping my insides apart; I could barely string words together. "Call... call a doctor..." He let out a derisive sneer. "Refusing to sign the contract one second, begging for a doctor the next. "Chloe, do you honestly believe that every time you throw yourself on the floor, the whole world has to revolve around you?!" Warm liquid surged up my throat. I coughed violently, vomiting a dark pool of blood directly onto the plush carpet. Jennifer gasped and jumped backward. Lily started screaming in genuine terror. Alexander froze for a split second, but his expression immediately hardened into cold fury. "You even prepared fake blood packets?!" He genuinely believed it was a prop. "Alexander..." I reached out a blood-stained hand, desperately trying to grab the hem of his trousers. He took a disgusted step back. "Save your pathetic performance for someone else! "Of all the moments to stage vomiting blood, you pick the greatest night of my career! Do you enjoy playing the tragic victim that much?!" He turned to the security guards by the door. "Take her out through the service exit. "Clean up that mess on the floor. Don't let a single reporter see this." Two guards hoisted me up under my arms; my legs had zero strength left. Jennifer stepped forward with false concern, pretending to help steady me, while digging her manicured nails savagely into the soft flesh of my arm. "Chloe, aren't you supposed to be so strong?" she whispered. "Just hold on until Alexander cuts the cake." Alexander turned to walk out. At that exact second, a massive uproar erupted from the main ballroom. Through the cracked door, the audio from the giant projection screen blasted into the corridor. The celebratory anniversary video had abruptly cut to a black screen. A moment later, the fund's statement filled the screen. [Crawford Fund Withdraws $100 Million Financing Offer for Vance Technologies.] Alexander stopped dead in his tracks. His phone began vibrating frantically in his pocket. The panicked scream of his executive assistant burst through the receiver: "Mr. Vance! Everything is blowing up! "The board just got the notice. Our finance team says we can't close the round! "The lenders are asking for an explanation. The audit committee just ordered us to preserve the company's records!" Every ounce of blood drained from Alexander's face. "What did you just say?!"