Married On Paper To The Billionaire
Chapter 53: A House Of Cards

"I can't believe it! How could she do that?" Chloe cried.

"I'm just as shocked as you are," said Emilia. "for some reason, it just seemed weird. As if Lillian wasn't in her right senses." "Probably not. I should press charges against that bastard for raping me. Maybe that will bring Lillian back to her senses." Emilia shifted uncomfortably on her seat and adjusted her skirt even though there was nothing wrong with it.

"What?" Chloe asked her big sister suspiciously. "You don't want me to do it, do you?"

"Chloe, you know I love you and I will always support you - "

"But?"

Emilia sighed. "The timing isn't right. Kane and I are trying to put a lid on this Serena's issue and it wouldn't help if everyone's attention gets divided because of your issue with Samuel." "My issue with Samuel? I thought we all agreed that he is the scum of the earth who needs to be taught a lesson in decorum?"

"Yes, but if you could just hold on a little longer so that this matter with Serena blows over first..."

"I can't believe you! Why are you so selfish?"

"Oh, God..." Emilia groaned and began to gather her purse.

They were sitting in the VIP lounge of a luxury restaurant that was a hub for celebrities in the city. Chloe's outburst was already drawing curious stares from nearby tables.

"We should probably continue this conversation another time when you're in a calmer mood," Emilia said and signalled the waiter.

"What? Am I embarrassing you?" Chloe asked angrily.

"Stop it, Chloe. I know you're upset but please, don't take it out on me. I wasn't the one that told you to have an affair with a married man who is closely linked to our family." Chloe gasped. Emilia was instantly sorry.

"I'm sorry, Chloe. I shouldn't have said that. Forgive me."

Her little sister looked away and blinked back tears. The waiter showed up to collect Emilia's card and hurried away to ring up her bill.

"I'm sorry," she repeated to Chloe when they were alone again.

"It's fine. You're right. I always do the stupidest things."

"Please, don't say that. We all make mistakes."

"Yeah... that monster is probably blackmailing her, you know?"

"Who?"

The waiter returned with the card and receipts, smiling and thanking Emilia for her patronage. Once he left, she faced Chloe again. "Who are you talking about?"

"Samuel. He's probably blackmailing his wife. Why else would she suddenly change her mind and decide to remain married to him after what he did to me?" "Well... they've been married for over a decade and she probably wants to work things out with him. Don't forget they recently renewed their wedding vows." "To spite me."

"Maybe."

"Have you forgotten what he said to her on the cruise ship? He said he stood by her during her trying time and she should do the same for him."

"We're saying the same thing. Maybe she wants to work things out with him. Don't forget they have a special needs daughter who needs both of them in her life."

"Yeah, well... I may be wrong but I still think Samuel is too petty to not try to wield his power over her. Lillian has a clean public image to uphold, Samuel doesn't. Think about that." Emilia did and it made her restless. After she left the restaurant with Chloe, she called Lillian.

"Hey, Lillian. Where are you? I'd like to have a word with you if you don't mind."

"Dear Lord, have I done something wrong?" Lillian laughed. "You sound like my fifth-grade teacher whenever she finds out that I've left a chewed gum under her desk again." Emilia chuckled. "You haven't done anything wrong. I just thought we need to catch up on some things, that's all. We haven't had a girl chat in forever."

"That's true," she sounded delighted. "I'm on my way to my midweek spa appointment. Why don't you join me there?"

"Great. Where's the place?"

Lillian was just checking in for her appointment when Emilia arrived at the spa. She had to make an impromptu appointment to get the services her sister-in-law was about to get.

"I haven't been to a spa in such a long time," she sighed when they entered the massage booth and the masseuse began to work her magic on Emilia's back muscles.

"That's a crime in my book," said Lillian who was stretched out on a nearby table, getting massaged too. "I do this twice a week. It's so relaxing, I can't live without it." "Hmm..."

After their full body massage, they went into the sauna to work up some sweat in the hot booth with aromatic fragrances wafting around them. They were alone in the enclosure and were meant to be there for fifteen minutes. "Ok, let me just cut to the chase right now," Emilia began. "What's the deal with you and Samuel?"

Lillian sighed. "I knew that was why you wanted to see me."

"So, tell me. What's going on? And please, don't give me the bullshit version, Lillian. I want the truth."

She laughed. "Jeez, Emilia. You used to be so sweet and polite."

"That was when I was Emilia Taylor, now I'm Emilia Beaumont and I have earned my medals in the Beaumont infantry."

"Spoken like a true soldier," Lillian joked but then became sober. "Well... my darling husband is threatening to humiliate me publicly if I divorce him."

"What has he got on you?"

Lillian shuddered before answering. "That animal I call my husband has been spying on me since he found out about my indiscretions from Kendra's blackmail."

"I don't understand."

"He hired a PI to follow me around each time I left the mansion to go anywhere. He has been doing this for nearly four years now."

"What!"

"Yes. He showed me photos, Emilia - " she choked on her words, unable to continue.

"What kind of photos?"

"Explicit photos of me with... with my lovers. Photos and videos that were filmed with long-range lenses. There's no way I can even deny not being the one in the videos or photos." "Wait... have you been - ?"

"Yes, Emilia. I've been with multiple women since I promised to repent. I can't help it. I'm into girls and Samuel is clueless when it comes to sex. I don't know how your sister managed to carry on an affair with him." "Gosh... this is so crazy."

"I know. Why else would I decide to remain married to a rapist? Chloe isn't his first victim, you know? There have been a few accusations over the years that he talked his way out of and I never followed up on." "Who else did he rape?"

"A receptionist at his clinic, a waitress at a restaurant we used to frequent a couple of years ago, a maid at the mansion that I ended up firing and a young volunteer from a charity I work with. She used to work part-time with me but then quit and claimed that Samuel sexually assaulted her when I wasn't around."

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"And you never did anything about these complaints?"

She sighed again. "I'm not like you, Emilia. I hate drama. I simply avoid anything that requires so much mental work and physical follow-up. I simply told Samuel to make all the accusations go away and he did." "Seriously, Lillian!"

"I know, I'm a terrible person. I'm sorry!"

A spa attendant knocked on the sauna door and stepped in with a smile.

"Fifteen minutes are up, ladies," she announced pleasantly. "It's time for your milk bath."

"Ah... my favorite!" Lillian gushed. "We'll be out in a minute."

"Of course," the woman said and left.

"We have to tell Kane about this thing with Samuel," said Emilia.

"No!"

"Lillian, you can't let Samuel get away with this. He can't blackmail you to remain married to him."

"Look, I know you mean well but I don't want Kane to be involved in this mess. He has a lot to deal with already."

"Samuel is a bully and Kane knows how to handle bullies. We will tell him and he'll handle it."

"I don't know..."

"I do and that's final. I must admit, this isn't just about you, Lillian. This might be my opportunity to get justice for Chloe for what Samuel did to her. He shouldn't get away with it."

"There's Crystabel to consider, remember? He's her father. Whatever we do now will affect her and I don't want that."

"You're just afraid, Lillian, and I understand. But if someone hurt Crystabel the way Samuel has hurt Chloe, what would you do?"

Lillian swallowed nervously. "We can't start fighting amongst ourselves, Emilia. Don't you get it? Samuel can't be labeled the enemy. That's like turning our family into a house of cards that is falling apart. We'll become a laughing stock in society."

"If you live your life for public approval, you'll be a very miserable person."

"Oh, I don't know..."

"Yes, you do, Lillian. You know what to do but I won't force you to do it. The ball is in your court."