After few minutes, Cloe came down the stairs holding her checkbook.
"How much does your son need to stay alive?" she asked calmly.
"Eight hundred dollars, Mrs. Monroe," the old housekeeper answered, her voice trembling.
Cloe nodded, filled out the check, and handed it over.
The woman's eyes widened. She clutched the paper to her chest, tears gathering fast.
"Thank you. Thank you so much," she whispered, almost shaking.
Cloe stayed seated, watching her without emotion.
"I want your son to live," she said evenly. "I might not like you, but he's innocent. And from now on, don't call or text my husband again. If you need anything, talk to me directly."
The woman nodded quickly and backed toward the door, still crying softly.
Mathias stood frozen, barely believing what he'd just seen.
Cloe had given money to the one person she could barely stand.
For a brief second, he was proud of her.
As soon as the housekeeper left, Cloe turned to him.
"Did you sleep with Izzy?" she asked bluntly. "Have you been sleeping with her?"
Mathias blinked. "Oh, come on, Cloe. Are we really doing this again? Haven't we had enough drama for one day?"
"The way she talks to me. The way she acts around you. It's obvious," Cloe said. "You've slept with her."
He gave a dry laugh. "Wow. So now I've apparently slept with every woman who works for us?"
"Sooner or later, we'll see the truth," she replied coolly, turning for the door. "We always do."
Mathias just watched her walk away, rubbing a hand over his face. He didn't even have the energy to argue.
A few minutes later, her phone rang. It was her store manager.
"Cloe, we need you at the shop right away. It's urgent."
Cloe owned one of the most exclusive jewelry and designer footwear brands outside New York. She specialized in luxury pieces and only catered to elite clients. Every month, she flew out to inspect her stores in person.
She didn't hesitate.
"Book me a flight," she told her secretary. "I'll be there tonight."
Mathias knew she'd be gone soon, but he didn't know she was already setting her next move in motion.
Before leaving, Cloe ordered a set of hidden cameras that could stream footage straight to her phone.
When they arrived, she installed them herself.
One behind the bedroom lamp.
Another tucked neatly inside a flower vase in the living room.
If Mathias did anything stupid while she was away, she'd see it all.
But in her rush, she forgot two critical spots….Izzy's room and the balcony.
That mistake would later matter more than she realized.
After setting everything up, Cloe packed her bags.
Mathias leaned against the doorway, watching her zip the suitcase.
"Leaving already?" he asked quietly.
She didn't look up. "I have to. The shop needs me."
Cloe walked over, placed a light kiss on his lips, and said, "Goodbye, Mathias."
Then she grabbed her purse and walked out.
He watched her car pull away, having no clue that his every move was about to be monitored.
Neither did Izzy.
The house grew quiet as night settled in.
Mathias poured himself a glass of whiskey and sank into the couch. His thoughts circled back to Cloe.
She could drive him crazy sometimes, but beneath all the arguments and suspicion, he knew she still loved him.
"Sir?"
He looked up to see Izzy standing in the doorway, wearing a silk robe that barely touched her knees.
"Would you like dinner now?" she asked softly.
He shook his head. "No. I'm good."
She hesitated. "Are you sure? You've barely eaten all day."
"I said I'm fine," he muttered, taking another sip.
Izzy bent stylishly, pretending to pick something up from the floor, but Mathias wasn't looking.
She said,
"Okay, but don't come to me when you're horny."
Mathias replied faintly,
"I won't be horny tonight."
She lingered a moment longer. "Alright… goodnight then."
Izzy turned, her robe swaying as she disappeared down the hall. But before rounding the corner, she glanced back with a faint smile playing on her lips.
Mathias didn't see it.
Upstairs, one of the hidden cameras blinked quietly in the dark, recording everything.
But Cloe was miles away by then….boarding a flight, unaware that her trap was already in motion.
Would Mathias walk right into it?
Or would he be the one to flip the game?
The night had only just begun.
And someone was bound to lose.