Chapter 2 - The Perfect Image
Vanessa Cole was thirty-four, ambitious, and completely ruthless.
She had convinced Daniel’s board of directors that the merger required a specific narrative.
Daniel needed to be branded as the ultimate "family man."
A devoted father. A loyal husband. A pillar of the community.
To sell this image, Vanessa had scheduled a high-profile feature in a major business magazine.
The centerpiece of the article was supposed to be our new family portrait.
Two days later, Daniel cornered me in the kitchen.
"The photographer sent the proofs," he said, his voice tight with irritation. "I’m not in any of them."
"You weren't there, Daniel," I replied calmly.
"Vanessa needs a family picture for the magazine spread next week," he demanded. "Call the studio. Tell them to photoshop me in. They can use a picture from last year."
For twenty-one years, I would have made the call.
I would have fixed his mistake.
I would have seamlessly stitched him back into the fabric of our family.
Instead, I smiled.
"Don't worry," I said. "I'll handle the photographs for the presentation."
May you like
Daniel exhaled, relieved that his reliable wife was back.
He had no idea I was about to burn his entire world to the ground.
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