From Neglected Wife to CEO’s Obsession novel Chapter 130

As the hotpot dinner wound down, Jeffery finally got to the point.

He wanted me to be his date for the auction in three days.

I had to give it to him—Jeffery was nothing if not clever.

Everyone in Georgia Bay already knew about the drama between me, Remy, and Julia. If Jeffery showed up to such a high-profile event with me on his arm, he’d instantly become the talk of the town. It was a brilliant move, sure to get people buzzing about him and his company. And, let’s be real, it was also his way of throwing shade at Remy.

Turning up at a major event with someone else’s wife was basically a public challenge.

But I couldn’t figure out why Jeffery was going after Remy. If it was just jealousy between rivals, that felt too simple. With Jeffery’s current status, he wouldn’t risk doing something pointless and reckless for no reason. So what was he really after?

And then there was the whole mystery with his parents. If they were really living in Georgia Bay like he claimed, why hadn’t I ever seen them? Why hadn’t Jeffery come back even once in all these years?

It had been a whole decade. Aside from a couple of brief online chats each year, I hadn’t seen Jeffery or heard anything about his family.

His parents had always been a bit of an enigma.

The summer I turned six, Jeffery moved into our neighborhood with a middle-aged couple, Josh and Brisa. His actual parents supposedly lived abroad most of the time.

His mom was stunning—long hair down her back, bright, intelligent eyes, and a gentle, bookish vibe. Her voice was soft and soothing, and she had these deep dimples when she smiled. Kailynn and I always called her Mrs. Washington.

Jeffery’s dad was just as impressive—tall, handsome, with almond-shaped eyes and silver-rimmed glasses that made him look cool and distant.

I remember once asking my mom why Jeffery used his mom’s last name. She just told me not to ask him about it.

On the drive home, Kailynn—who almost never posts anything online—randomly updated her social feed: Who even cares!

When I got out of the shower, I wanted to ask her what was up, but the post was already gone.

Remy didn’t call again. Julia stopped messaging too. I figured they were both busy nursing their wounds.

But what really caught me off guard was Marissa showing up at my office.

Thompson Corporation had been on a roll these last couple of years, and Marissa always saw herself as someone special. She cared a lot about her image as the perfect high-society wife. No matter how much drama happened at home, she never caused a scene in public.

So when security from the lobby called while I was in a meeting with Elliot and Blake, I was honestly shocked.