Ch. The Campus Queen’s Billionaire Husband Is My Secret Spouse” 17 The Campus Queen’s Billionaire Husband Is My Secret Spouse” 17

Chapter 17 

Pierce said he’d handle Amber, but the first one to make a move wasn’t Amber. It was Beatrice. 

Dr. Helen brought the news into the lab. 

“Pierce’s mother is throwing a dinner party at the Emerald Crest Estates villa today. Invited her whole Country Club Charity Board circle. Amber is there, too.” 

“And?” 

“She’s publicly announcing that Amber is the future Mrs. Mason. Said you, the temporary wife,’ are signing 

the papers any day now.” 

I tightened the cap on a test tube. 

“How does she even know about the marriage contract?” 

“Amber told her.” 

Amber didn’t know my background or my security clearance, but she’d been digging for info while playing house with Pierce. 

She knew the marriage was a strategic arrangement, and she knew I was rarely home. 

To Beatrice, that translated to: the daughter-in-law is just a contractor, an empty suit with no strings attached, someone who’s just taking up space. 

I set the tube down. 

“What else did she say at that dinner?” 

Dr. Helen pulled out her phone and hit play on a recording. 

Someone she’d paid had recorded it for her. 

Beatrice’s voice was crystal clear. 

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“My daughter-in-law? Three years married, and she’s home less than a month a year. You call that a marriage? You get more affection from a house cat.” 

The ladies around her chimed in with agreement. 

“Exactly. Marriage is something you have to work on. If she’s never even there, how can it work?” 

“Amber’s different, so thoughtful and attentive. Beatrice, you’ve always had such a good eye for people.” 

Amber’s voice cut in right on cue, saccharine and syrupy. 

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“Oh, Beatrice, please, you’re embarrassing me. I just want to take care of you and Pierce.” 

Then Beatrice’s laugh. 

“See? That’s what I’m saying. Amber is the only one who belongs in the Mason family. That girl with the 

Coates name? I’m pushing her out the door.” 

The recording ended there. 

Dr. Helen clicked the phone off. 

“What’s the move?” 

“Wait.” 

“Wait for what?” 

“For Amber to make a mistake.” 

“How can you be sure she will?” 

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“The thing about people like her is, they just can’t help themselves.” 

I headed back to my desk, opened the drawer, and took out an old photo. 

It was my parents in their youth, both in lab coats, standing in front of the old facility entrance. 

Mom was smiling wide, showing all her teeth. 

Dad wasn’t smiling, but his arm was draped over her shoulder. 

There was a line of text on the back in Dad’s handwriting. 

[Eleanor is one month old.] 

I tucked the photo back into the drawer. 

Closed it. 

And went back to work. 

Amber’s next move came sooner than I expected. 

Three days later, a thread popped up on the biggest gossip forum in Veridia Metro. 

The title: [Is the President of Summit Group’s ‘Primary Wife’ actually a homewrecker? An insider spills the 

tea.] 

The post was loaded with photos. 

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Selfies of Amber and Pierce, the angles expertly curated to look as intimate as possible. 

There was an anonymous “insider” statement claiming I’d used shady connections to snag the Mason 

name, and that Amber was the real soulmate. 

There was footage of the wedding day, heavily edited. 

The shot of the government-exempt SUVS arriving had been cut. 

Only the clip of me being surrounded and shoved remained, with a caption: “Subject displays signs of emotional instability, causing a public scene.” 

The comments were a one-sided slaughter. 

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[Since when do homewreckers get this bold?] 

[Crashing someone’s wedding? Gross.] 

[She’s not even that pretty. Amber is a total upgrade.] 

[I feel for you, Pierce. Stuck with a psycho.] 

The post went viral. 

Within two hours, it had over 50,000 shares. 

My face was plastered everywhere., it was blurry, but recognizable. 

By afternoon, the lab’s admin told me three media outlets had called, trying to dig up my personal info. 

Admin said they’d blocked them, but he advised me to report it to Director Harrison. 

Director Harrison read through the thread without a word. 

He took off his glasses and cleaned them slowly. 

“Coates, you wanting to let this slide is your business. But the situation has escalated. This isn’t just about you anymore.” 

“She didn’t name the facility, but someone leaked that video of the SUVS on another platform, and now people are asking what kind of government agency uses those plates.” 

“If the wrong people start connecting the dots, your identity will be exposed. And the projects you’re working on will be compromised.” 

I looked at him. 

“Sir, give me a little more time. 

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Chapter 17 

“How much time?” 

“One week.” 

Director Harrison put his glasses back on. 

“One week. Not a second more.” 

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