A week had passed since Aaron's revelation to Sarah, and they had barely exchanged more than a dozen words. They moved through The King's Castle like polite strangers sharing a hotel, their interactions limited to the basic necessities of cohabitation. Aaron continued his household duties while managing his business empire in secret, while Sarah threw herself into the Crimson Valley project with even greater intensity than before.
The silence between them was deafening.
Meanwhile, in a secure conference room overlooking the city skyline, Natalie sat across from Richard Whitney, the Administrator of the Eternal Bank. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the polished table as they conducted their routine assessment.
"How is our newest member adapting to his responsibilities?" Richard asked, his fingers steepled as he studied Natalie's report.
"He's been performing adequately," Natalie replied, consulting her tablet. "His business instincts are surprisingly sharp for someone with no formal training, and he's shown remarkable composure under pressure. The Carter situation was handled with appropriate discretion."
"However?"
Natalie paused, choosing her words carefully. "He still lacks the necessary ruthlessness for long-term success at the highest levels. His decision-making is compromised by emotional considerations, particularly regarding his wife."
Richard nodded grimly. "That's concerning. In our world, emotional attachments can be exploited as weaknesses. They can compromise not only the individual member but the entire organization."
"I'm monitoring the situation closely," Natalie assured him. "His marriage appears to be deteriorating, which may actually resolve the issue naturally."
"Continue your guidance," Richard instructed. "Aaron Turner has tremendous potential, but he needs to understand that membership in the Eternal Bank requires certain sacrifices. Personal relationships cannot take precedence over our collective interests."
That evening, Sarah's phone rang with the familiar ringtone she'd assigned to her grandmother. She answered with a weary sigh.
"Sarah, I need you to prepare yourself for this evening," Lady Eleanor's voice was crisp and authoritative. "We're hosting a function at the mansion tonight. Important people will be attending, and I expect you to present yourself appropriately."
Sarah rubbed her temples, feeling a headache building. "What kind of function?"
"A networking event. Business leaders, potential investors, people who could be valuable to the family's interests. Your presence is mandatory."
After hanging up, Sarah found Aaron in his makeshift office, surrounded by the usual array of documents and laptops. Their eyes met briefly before both looked away.
"There's a family function tonight," Sarah said to the room rather than directly to him. "We need to attend."
Aaron nodded without looking up from his screen. "What time?"
"Seven o'clock."
They drove to the Prescott estate in silence, the weight of unspoken words filling the space between them. Sarah stared out the passenger window while Aaron focused on the road, both lost in their own thoughts about revelations that had fundamentally altered their relationship.
The Prescott mansion was ablaze with lights, elegant cars filling the circular driveway as guests in expensive evening wear made their way toward the grand entrance. Aaron and Sarah joined the stream of attendees, maintaining the facade of a united couple while feeling anything but united.
Once inside, they naturally drifted to their usual positions. Aaron found a quiet corner where he could observe without drawing attention to himself, while Sarah moved into the crowd of socialites and business leaders, playing her role as the accomplished Prescott granddaughter.
Aaron watched from his familiar vantage point as his wife navigated the room with practiced grace. He observed the Prescotts working the crowd, Lady Eleanor holding court near the fireplace while James and other family members schemed and networked with strategic precision.
It was during this observation that Lady Eleanor approached Sarah with a distinguished gentleman in an expensive suit. Aaron couldn't hear their conversation, but the body language was unmistakable—Eleanor was making an introduction, presenting Sarah to a potential suitor with obvious intent.
The man was clearly wealthy, probably fifteen years older than Sarah, with the kind of polished confidence that came from inherited privilege. Aaron watched as Eleanor gestured enthusiastically while Sarah maintained her polite smile, though he could see the tension in her shoulders from across the room.
A tap on Aaron's shoulder interrupted his surveillance. He turned to find an elegantly dressed woman standing before him, and recognition dawned immediately.
"I didn't expect to see you again so soon," she said with a warm smile.
It was Eleanor Vance from the London auction—the woman who had shown interest in the Fabergé egg, whom Aaron had gifted the piece to after outbidding her.
"Neither did I," Aaron replied, genuinely surprised. "What brings you here?"
Eleanor glanced around the opulent room with a slightly weary expression. "Obligation, mainly. I have business interests that occasionally require me to attend events like this, though I honestly don't enjoy them much."
Aaron smiled, finding her candor refreshing. "I can relate to that sentiment."
"Speaking of which," Eleanor said, her eyes scanning the crowd, "where is that lucky wife you mentioned? The one you chose over my rather forward invitation?"
Aaron gestured toward Sarah's direction. Eleanor followed his gaze, taking in Sarah's elegant figure and animated conversation with the older gentleman Eleanor had introduced her to.
Eleanor's expression shifted as understanding dawned. "Are you the infamous son-in-law of the Prescott family?"
Aaron couldn't help but chuckle. "Guilty as charged."
"Interesting," Eleanor mused. "The rumors certainly don't match what I observed during our encounter in London."
"What do the rumors say?"
"That you married the most beautiful and promising member of the Prescott family for money. That you're lazy, with no influence, wealth, or power. Essentially, that you're a fortune hunter who struck gold."
Aaron raised an eyebrow. "And why do you think the rumors are wrong?"
Eleanor's smile was knowing. "Because in London, you conducted yourself like a true gentleman. You spent more money in a single evening than the Prescotts probably make in a year, and you rejected a rather explicit offer from an attractive woman out of loyalty to your wife. That doesn't sound like the behavior of a penniless fortune hunter."
From across the room, Sarah's attention was drawn to an unusual sight. Aaron was engaged in animated conversation with a stunningly beautiful woman. They were both smiling and laughing, their body language relaxed and natural.
This was unprecedented. During family functions, Aaron was typically ignored, standing alone in corners while others socialized around him. Sarah had never seen him speak to anyone at these events, let alone an elegant woman who was clearly enjoying his company.
For the first time in her life, Sarah felt a sharp pang of jealousy. She didn't love Aaron—she still couldn't answer that question—but the thought that he might choose another woman, that another woman might see value in him that Sarah had overlooked, unnerved her deeply.
Their conversation was interrupted when James approached with his characteristic swagger. "Excuse me," he said to Eleanor with condescending authority, "but you should stay away from this man. He's a freeloader, a parasite who married into our family for money."
Eleanor turned to Aaron with raised eyebrows. "Is that so?"
"According to some people, yes," Aaron replied calmly.
James continued his warning. "I'm serious, ma'am. If you get too close, his poverty might rub off on you. He's an embarrassment to anyone associated with him."
Eleanor's smile turned cold as she faced James. "Thank you for the warning. Now please leave us alone."
James blinked in surprise. "I'm sorry, but I don't think you understand—"
"I understand perfectly," Eleanor interrupted, her voice carrying the authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed. "You're being dismissed. Please go away."
James tried to argue, but Eleanor's expression made it clear that his presence was not only unwanted but actively offensive. He retreated with wounded dignity, muttering under his breath about ungrateful strangers.
"Well, that was annoying," Eleanor said once James was gone. "I don't know how you deal with them."
"Neither do I, sometimes," Aaron admitted.
Eleanor glanced at her watch. "I'm afraid I'll have to leave soon. I have an early flight tomorrow." She paused, looking toward Sarah, who quickly turned away when their eyes met. "I think your wife might be getting jealous. She's been watching us for the past few minutes."
Aaron followed Eleanor's gaze and caught Sarah in the act of quickly averting her eyes.
"Perhaps I should make my exit before I cause any marital discord," Eleanor said with a knowing smile. "But I hope we'll see each other again soon, Aaron. You're far more interesting than the rumors suggest."
As Eleanor walked away, Aaron remained in his corner, acutely aware of Sarah's continued glances in his direction. For the first time in their marriage, he wondered if his wife was finally beginning to see him as something other than a convenient accessory to her life.
The question was whether this realization had come too late to save their relationship.