Chapter 2: The Hidden Queen
Katelyn clutched her phone, her mind racing. She had almost forgotten about her other life—the one she had buried when she married Neil.
“I’ll be there in an hour,” she said quietly before hanging up.
Neil, still half-naked, scoffed. “Who was that? Your next victim?”
Katelyn didn’t even glance at him. She straightened her shoulders, wiped the blood from her lip, and walked out without another word.
One Hour Later – Black Lotus Studio
The sleek, modern design studio buzzed with energy. Assistants rushed between workstations, their arms full of sketches and fabric samples.
A tall woman in a sharp black suit hurried toward Katelyn. “Iris! Finally! Do you have any idea how long Mr. Laurent has been waiting?”
Katelyn—no, Iris—slipped off her wedding ring and dropped it into a nearby trash bin. “Let him wait a little longer. He’s the one offering a hundred million, not the other way around.”
The woman gaped. “You’re insane. That’s Vincent Laurent! The billionaire who owns half the fashion industry!”
Katelyn smirked. “Then he should know better than to rush an artist.”
She strode into her private office, where a man stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his back to her. Broad shoulders. Impeccable suit. An aura of power that filled the room.
“You’re late,” he said, his voice deep and smooth.
Katelyn crossed her arms. “And you’re impatient.”
Vincent Laurent turned—and the air left her lungs.
Damn.
Sharp jawline. Piercing dark eyes. A smirk that could melt steel.
He studied her, his gaze lingering on the faint red mark on her cheek. His expression darkened. “Who hit you?”
Katelyn touched her face absently. “Doesn’t matter. I hit back harder.”
Vincent stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Tell me his name.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Why? You gonna fight my battles for me?”
“No.” His fingers brushed her chin, tilting her face toward the light. “I’m going to ruin him.”
Meanwhile – Neil’s Mansion
Neil stared at the signed divorce papers, an odd emptiness settling in his chest.
Lise draped herself over him. “Finally, we can be together properly.”
But Neil wasn’t listening. His phone buzzed—a breaking news alert.
[BREAKING] Vincent Laurent, CEO of Laurent Holdings, announces partnership with legendary designer IRIS. Hundred-million-dollar deal shocks industry.
A photo accompanied the headline.
And there she was.
Katelyn.
Standing beside Vincent Laurent, radiant in a sleek black gown, her chin lifted like a queen.
Lise gasped. “That—that’s her?!”
Neil’s stomach dropped.
The quiet, obedient wife he’d ignored for years… was Iris?
The most sought-after designer in the world?
The woman Vincent Laurent was now staring at like she hung the stars?
A cold realization hit him.
He had just lost the most valuable woman on the planet.