2.

ARTEMIS

The weight of the stranger’s words sucked all the amusement out of the room. No one dared to move or speak up to counter the man's words.

Murmurs rose among the guests, and some of them even pointed at the man with wide eyes and awe. He was the first person I had ever met who would dare to talk down to my husband at his party.

It took me a full minute of staring at the stranger to realize who he was. I gasped in surprise, my eyes growing to the size of a saucepan, as I recognized the man before me.

Kieran Archibald.

The man who had slammed Van down with just a few words was Kieran Archibald, and he was standing in my home.

I took an instinctive step back when Kieran glanced at me briefly with an unreadable expression.

I had only seen him on the front covers of business magazines, and they all contained stories of what a formidable force he was in the capitalist world. There were countless rumours about his ruthless strategies and deals, cold efficiency, and ability to turn even the most seasoned businessmen into beggars if he wanted to.

Kieran was said to never attend parties or public outings except those organized by members of his closest circle, but here he was, in my home. I knew Van had no relationship with him, so why was he here?

I had checked the guest list Van had given me a dozen times while I prepared for the party, and Kieran’s name had not been on the list. There was no way I would miss a name as powerful as Archibald on the list.

I turned to my husband, who was frozen in shock like the other guests, but he recovered faster. His body jerked forward in sheer panic as he scrambled towards Kieran.

“Mr Archibald!” Van exclaimed with a stutter, “I…I didn’t know you would grace my humble dinner party with your presence.”

Kieran didn’t respond immediately. He merely eyed my husband with a detached coldness, his dark eyes unreadable. His posture was still, but he exuded the aura that made people shrink before him.

His look unsettled everyone, including Van, who swallowed hard. I felt like I was in a movie, watching the arrogant and confident man I had married struggle to contain his unease. I had never seen anyone who could make Van tremble in fright.

“I like to personally examine the people I tend to do business with,” Kieran finally answered, his voice smooth with a tinge of lethal drawl. “That’s why I came unannounced.”

Van paled instantly. He had joined the list of people who wanted to work for the Archibalds and was expecting the results soon.

Kieran’s gaze flickered towards me. Something similar to irritation crossed his features, but it was gone before I could identify it. It was obvious that he had seen Van’s display, and he was the only one who didn’t look impressed with the show.

Van let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing his hands together before running his hand through his hair. “O… Of course. A brilliant move. Business should be built on trust, good character, and genuine …”

“Spare me the poetry,” Kieran cut in, his tone sharp as a blade, and I noticed that he had used Van’s words against him. Even Van realised what had just happened and flushed with embarrassment.

The room went utterly still, and Van shut his mouth so fast that beads of sweat started to form on his forehead.

“I expected to see a man capable of handling power,” Kieran continued, his tone laced with cruel amusement. “Instead, I see a fool. An arrogant little boy who mistakes cruelty for strength.”

I sucked in a harsh breath and my eyes widened. No one had ever spoken to Van like that before, and I watched as he took in Kieran’s words, amazed at what I saw. I had seen Van angry, smug, confident, cruel, and narcissistic, but I had never seen him scared. This was a first.

Kieran Archibald had managed to strip Van of all his confidence and pride with just a few statements, and it felt like I was in a dream and not experiencing it.

Van's throat bobbed as he tried to salvage his dignity. “I…Mr Archibald, you misunderstand. I…”

Kieran tilted his head, studying Van with the same expression he always regarded me with when he looked at me like I was nothing but a parasite. It made me wonder how he felt to be on the receiving end of that stare.

“Do I?” The question was short, but Kieran's tone was enough to send chills down our spine.

Van opened his mouth, but Kieran’s next words stopped him cold.

“Tell me, Mr Calloway.” Kieran’s voice was quieter now, but somehow, it carried across the room with terrifying clarity. “What kind of man boasts about his authority when the only thing he can control is a woman?”

A sharp, unforgiving silence followed, and Van flinched as if he had been physically struck. The people who had laughed at his jokes shifted uncomfortably, suddenly aware of how pathetic he looked in the shadow of Kieran Archibald and how stupid they had been to laugh with him at my expense.

Kieran let out a slow, disapproving breath and shook his head. “You humiliated your wife in front of a room full of people to make yourself feel important. And yet, the moment you’re faced with a real challenge, you shrink. How predictable.”

Van’s face was turning an ugly shade of red. He looked around, desperate for support, but no one came forward.

The same people who had laughed with him earlier were now averting their gazes as if embarrassed to be associated with him. There was no way any of them would be stupid enough to go against a man like Kieran.

If the rumours were true, he would ruin them before they even had a chance to defend Van. I wanted to feel pity for Van or the guests, but I couldn’t bring myself to muster any as I watched Kieran turn my husband into a mess.

Kieran smirked. “Pathetic.”

Van clenched his fists, his whole body trembling, but, whether it was fear, rage, or both, I couldn’t tell. “That’s not…”

“I don’t have time for excuses, Mr Calloway,” Kieran interrupted coldly. Then, with deliberate slowness, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a black card.

“This is what you want, isn’t it?” Kieran mused, flipping the card between his fingers. “The HiCorp contract. The deal that could change everything for you.”

Van’s eyes locked onto the card like a starving man staring at his last meal. “Y-Yes,” he breathed. “Mr. Archibald, I would do anything you want as long as you grant me the contract to build your new office in the next city.”

Kieran held up a hand, silencing him.

“You want it?” His voice dropped, deadly and mocking all at once. “Fine. You can have it.”

Van blinked. “I…Really?”

Kieran’s smirk widened slightly. “Yes. But the price is simple.”

The entire room seemed to lean in as Kieran turned his attention towards me, and a bad feeling wrapped around me.

I suddenly felt like I would hate the next words that would come out of his mouth when he turned to my husband with a cruel smirk.

“Divorce your wife, tonight.”